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Does a brand's gift with purchase offer push you to purchase?


Does a brand’s gift with purchase offer push you to purchase? Do you end up buying more than you planned just to get the GWP?

No, but I’ve never been a big fan of GWPs. I love the idea and concept, but instead, I never use anything in them (except the bags) and end up with scattered minis all around my drawers.

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Jess Avatar

It doesn’t change what I purchase, but it can change WHEN I purchase.
I’ll often stock up on my Estee Lauder moisturizer at xmas time when I can get some free gifts with it.

Roo Avatar

Exactly! I have a few regular products from many brands along with new products I’m interested in. I often wait to buy them until there’s a GWP.

I’ve found a few great products that I never would have thought to try in GWPs.

Sammi Avatar

Yes and no, if it’s a nice gift and I already wanted or needed something from the brand then yes but if I don’t need or want anything or the gift is something I won’t use then it won’t push me into buying.

Mango the mango Avatar

I am an absolute sucker for GWPs, so they absolutely do work on me. I do find myself buying more than I would otherwise, just to meet the minimum limit and get the free gift. I used to go insane with buying stuff just to get them, but now that my makeup and skincare collection has grown to “I’m not gonna be able to use all of this!” I am much pickier. Now it’s like, I’m running low on a Clinique moisturizer, so I might as well buy it from a vendor with a GWP instead of one that doesn’t.

My husband is absolutely baffled at the concept of GWPs: “Don’t they lose massive amounts of money giving away stuff for free?” But I do buy more, and I give money to that vendor, and I occasionally get a sample that’s so great that I return for a full size. Plus, I develop positive associations with that brand. =)

Joyce Avatar

I’ve actually never made a GWP purchase before since I’ve never really paid attention to them xP from what I remember of them, they’re always in cheaper packaging, look like they have less quality, and oftentimes include products I don’t even use or like.

However, if I were to ever, I would only if I wanted to actually purchase something from that brand! So I guess a GWP offer doesn’t push me to purchase 🙂

Kelly C. Avatar

I would not say they push me to purchase, but I do tend to wait to repurchase my favorite products from brands I know do good GWPs often, like Clinique and Estee Lauder. I absolute LOVE the bags, and I have found new favorite products in the samples from time to time, so its a win-win for me.

Liz Avatar

depends on what it is really. If it’s a cosmetic item/minis/delux samples: probably not. If it’s a super crazy amazing deal (5 free full size lipsticks with any purchase) I’ll probably go for it. With bags I see if I can use the bag, and if I like it. Paul & Joe have the nicest gwps.

Oh, one more thing, unless it’s a bag and I can clearly see that the quality is good, I really don’t care about GWPs from drugstore/cheap brands. Whatever extra make up you’d get is usually cheap enough to warrant an impulse purchase.

stacey Avatar

Yes.Yes.Yes. I love GWP especially Estee Lauder and Clarins. When I need one of their products, I go for the GWP. I dont get all of the GWP, only when I see something I like in the bag. And the rest, what I dont like, I immediately give it away….especially the Estee lipsticks…because those frosty pinks dont go with my skin tone.

monique Avatar

i’m always tempted too because it does seem like very god deal, but i tell myself that i’m never going to use all the products. Lancome always does this and the only i end up using is the makeup remover, which is quite amazing. honestly, i don’t even think the freebie products compare, it might just be my imagination, but my mini lancome palettes that came free have very poor pigmentation.

Liz Avatar

I think I would be tempted if there was a product I really wanted to begin with from the brand, or there’s something in the GWP that I really wanted. in reality, I’ve never really bought anything for the GWP, simply because usually, it involves spending more money than you actually need to for the products you want. For example, I’ve noticed that for certain companies, they might have a “GWP when you spend over $35” promotion, but there’s no way you can pick products and spend around $35. You always have to go way over.

Rachael Avatar

For me, it really will push me into buying, especially if I’m on the edge already. The Neiman Marcus/ Saks GWP for Guerlain was awesome. I picked it up since I was buying a bunch of items anyway. And it was during NM’s beauty event so I got another GWP ontop of all that (bagillions of minis!!). I’ve been trying the little minis for all the face and makeup stuff but not the hair stuff. I got a box of Sephora GWP samples a couple months back but haven’t touched a ton of it. But it had a sample of Too Faced Shadow Insurance. I was super impressed! That stuff is nearly waterproof! I can’t get it off! So yes, the samples (if there are enough of them that are good) will put me over the purchasing ledge, so to speak.

Dusty Avatar

I have fond high school memories of Clinique GWP week when my friends and I would skip classes and drive to every Clinique counter within 50 miles (each counter would have a different GWP). We’d go out to lunch along the way and at the end of the day sit down with our many GWPs and swap products back and forth (I usually ended up with ALL of the moisturizers because I was the only one who liked it! LOL)

So I will buy into the GWP now and then… Mostly because it reminds me of those times. GWPs put me in a goofy mood.

Katherine Avatar

Yes and No. I don’t end up purchasing more than I would just to get the GWP but I save my major purchases in order to get the GWP that I want. However, I only usually buy Estee Lauder GWP at holiday times. I purchase the perfumes that my Mother and Daughter like from them (I don’t wear EL perfumes) and then I get the holiday GWP 🙂

Fiona Avatar

I love GWP. I prefer the ones that have a variety of brands like Nordstrom or Beauty.com. Whenever I see one of these I always buy enough stuff to get the gift. I dont use alot of Lancome or Clinique but if I ever do want something from those lines I would not buy it unless it had a GWP because they’re always having a GWP at one of the stores.

Mariella Avatar

I will sometimes buy more than I’d planned just to qualify for the gift but it’s always something I either need or have been wanting to try and would buy anyway. Clarins is having their GWP next week (with the one here, you just need to purchase any 2 products, one of which is skin care) and I’m buying I lipstick I might have waited to buy but would have bought anyway, just so I can qualify for the gift.

Asiya Avatar

I don’t necessarily end up buying MORE because of GWP, but I definitely do end up buying at least one planned purchase around christmas for the gift. Actually, I wait to haul perfumes around this time of year, just to see what deals I can get.

Here in Canada, we tend to get the biggest GWPs from Estee Lauder. Unfortunately, they are not my fave brand for perfumes, so I have to resist their offers.

sarah Avatar

for me it definately pushes me to purchase especially when the free gifts have things I’ve wanted to try but don’t want to buy a fullsized product just to try it out. I love the mini mascara sizes too because I can never finish a full tube in a few months and hate throwing them away with product still in them.

Ani_BEE Avatar

Bore department store brands I’m not interested in the products. With Sephora you have more options as to what you want to pick up which is nice.

A brand I DO like is H20+. The free with purchase skin care sets are great for travel or to try out a new product they have in a smaller size.

Yazmin Avatar

Well the higher brands i buy now, doesnt really come with a free gift now. Its very rare i see gift with purchase. i suppose the next best thing would be like, spend X amount in a store and recieve extra points. I recently took advantage of the debhenams beauty promotions, spend £40 and get an extra 500 points, which means i get aboue 7.00 off in future. I stocked up on things that were running low. Im keeping my points for the mac holiday collections.

Fiaspice Avatar

I used to be influenced, specially when I was buying a lot more at Yves Rocher and they always had those promo you’d get something for free or a free gift if you buy for X$.

Jacii Avatar

Only Clinique. They have the absolute best GWPs. Smashbox has some nice ones sometimes, too. But I have staples from each brand that I buy every few months, so I would have purchased the products anyway…I just generally wait until I see a GWP before I put in my order. Anytime I can try out a product (or multiple, in Clinique’s case) for free, I’m happy.

Yuki Avatar

The Lancome ones always get me. I love their mascara & pencils. The mini products that I don’t use, I give away. The recipients are always appreciative.

ttfn 🙂 Yuki

HBoo Avatar

YES! It’s nice to get mini-mascaras that you use to keep them in various locations, as well as moisturizers and stuff. I am overloaded with bags though, I literally have several bags in bags. Although they always put in something I won’t ever use, and can’t imagine someone using.

Sheena F Avatar

it depends what the gift is…if i have to purchase a lot of items to get one measly sample then i would pass. but one time, i bought a lancome foundation and i got a whole bunch of samples from them that was probably worth the same or more than my actual purchase. and i also like that you can at least select what “gifts” you can get–i mean, provided that it’s a limited selection, but still! i love their leg bronzer sample! it seems like you’re getting so much for a “free gift.”

SuzInQueenCity Avatar

I’m totally guilty. I tend to use a lot of EL skin products and I always check to see who has GWP when I need to replenish my supply. I’ll hold off purchase until someone has a good GWP. I’ve got a ton of good mascaras, lipsticks, and travel products this way. Might as well get as much for my money as possible. There have been a couple of times though that I’ve added a product that I was just curious about in order to get my purchase to the level of a GWP.

Nicole Avatar

I actually just got my first GWP last night from Estee Lauder. I didn’t even know it was going on right now, I just happened to be heading to my counter to try out some new foundations. I didn’t purchase anything extra than what I went there for, but what I bought met the minimum purchase so I got the GWP anyways.

Jem R. Avatar

oh, hell to the yeah it pushes me to purchase. hehe. i’m the kind of girl who can settle for drugstore mascaras and liquid liners and be content. but when there was a recent sale with Lancome (in collaboration with an earn-points-for-purchase website), i justified my nearly $60 purchase with the fact that the Lancome Artliner and Hypnose Doll Lashes i bought came with eight (count that, eight!) generously sized samples.

Karen Avatar

Not anymore. I used to be easily swayed by Clinique GWP, but after many years I found myself actually angry at all those stupid little bottles of yellow moisturizer I had accumulated. “Dramically Different” – ha…it’s actually one of the most basic formulations on the market. Nothing special or different whatsoever.

annicus Avatar

I usually only do when I have to buy something anyway.

But I have a thing for Clinique GWP because 1) it’s cheap (usually 21.50-25 purchase only) 2) I use a lot of Clinique products anyway 3) I usually love Clinique bags because a lot of them are green and I love green and 4) sometimes the samples in the GWP are close to full size and are in better packaging than their full size counterparts! (this is true in particular for moisture surge moisturizer – the jar packaging is awful for keeping antioxidants/etc stable, but the ones in GWP generally come in a tube.)

Steph Avatar

No and no. I will not spend extra to get samples or things that I really do not need. However, if I am planning on purchasing an item and one brand is offering something with that item, I may be inclined. For example (on a drugstore scale), I wanted some tanning moisturizer, and although there were alternatives I purchased Jergens Daily Glow that day because it had a coupon for a free 3 month magazine subscription.

Amber Avatar

Yes and no. If it’s a brand I don’t like then I really wouldn’t. If I was already buying something and say needed to spend a bit more (10-15$) to get the gift….then I’d do it. Like a monthor so ago I was buying an Elizabeth Arden lipstick (I LOVE the vintage red), and they had a gift if you spent $40. I ended up just buying the other lipstick I liked and was looking it to get the gift. I guess that gave me the push to buy it.

Angela Avatar

It won’t change if/what I buy, but maybe when. For example Lancome last year had a fantastic one at Macy’s around Christmas time, so I will probably wait to pick up a new eyeliner until it comes out, or if I don’t quite need it, I will pick it up early.
Also, Lancome is the only brand I have found to have good GWP’s… Especially becomes oftentimes you can pick which colors or products you want.

Carol Rutz Avatar

It depends on the brand and what type of products. If it’s filled with neutrals or a boring shade of lipstick, I’d pass. My best GWP I ever bought was about five years ago when Clinque has a quad with green and purple, a little bottle of lotion, a nice shade of lipstick, all in a cute square traincase like bag. Just recently, I wanted some gold eyeshadow, and LORAC has a 20 dollar set. Ulta gave me a free mini mascara with that, a good thing as I would not spend money on a full sized version. I would like GWPs be filled with wild colors and fancy stuff that are not frosted pinks. Alas, MAC does not do GWP– I’d be spending much more with them if they do that!

Zadidoll Avatar

Not always. I compare the price of the item with the “free” gift to one without. If the prices are the same then I might buy it if it’s something I’ve been wanting but if the price of the item with “free” gift is MORE than without then no I won’t buy it. Unfortunately I’ve seen many companies do that buy offering a so-called “free” gift when the price is higher than normal which makes the gift not free.

Michele Avatar

If it wasn’t a brand that had something I would really use or want than no, I wouldn’t buy something just to get a gift but if it’s a brand I like, than yes, I am much more likely to make an extra purchase. I’ve often found products in the gift that I really like that I probably wouldn’t have tried otherwise and than purchase the full size. My favorite eye cream I’ve used for years I discovered with a GWP from Clinique.

Naomi Avatar

I wouldn’t spend any extra unless the discount i get makes it worth it to get free shipping or something.
I appreciate having samples of higher end mascaras for instance, I can’t justify spending a lot of money on a mascara I won’t wear all that often, because I alternate with other mascaras, so I tend to buy full size drugstore, and I always have some high end samples.
I love getting samples from Sephora though, like the mini perfumes and creams and mascaras. With my UD Naked Palette, I got a decent size sample of Lancôme Doll Lashes Mascara, a pretty good size pot of Dior Night Cream and a Jean Paul Gautier perfume sample.
So I do like to get samples, but I don’t spend any extra to get them.

Saffy Avatar

I am definitely influenced by GWP. I like Clinique’s skincare, so I always wait to stock up during GWP times. I wouldn’t purchase a brand I didn’t use JUST for the GWP, but if the brand you already like has a GWP offer… hey, why not?

cyndi Avatar

yes! definitely its like the extra cherry on top! i was actually looking to buy chanel products today and i realized chanel never does gift with purchase at least i havent seen it anywhere =/ sephora doesnt even sell chanel they must be trying to be super exclusive

Clara Avatar

I usually don’t bother with GWP, but I was really surprised when I ordered Chanel from Neiman Marcus online a few days ago that they automatically applied TWO gifts to my cart. I asked customer service what the gifts were, but they didn’t know. I’d never seen Chanel GWP either. I wonder what it will be!

Christy Avatar

omg yes! I hate to admit it to myself but this is definitely a factor that can push me over to decide to purchase (or decide to purchase when I hadn’t planned at all). I don’t even use minis or samples that much but I moreso hoard them. Wow, this has become cathartic post!

Stephanie Avatar

Yeah it does…I usually wait to buy something I’ve been wanting or I’ll buy something “just because” they are having a GWP. Even if it’s only the mascara sample I use, it’s still worth it to me.

Becca Avatar

If it’s something I want, then yes. For example, I recently bought the thebalm balmbini palette for 20% off and they had a free down boy blush with purchases over $30, but with the discount it was less than that, so I also bought a lip gloss from the brand 🙂

MarciaF Avatar

I just did it today. I was at Ulta and they had a gwp for Bare Minerals new pressed eyeshadows and I bought two duos. I had NO intention of buying them. At least it wasn’t an outrageous amount that I spent.

Suzanne Avatar

I love minis. They’re free and about the amount I want to use out of a new product anyway – especially with make up. So there’s not reason to buy full size

Jenn Avatar

Nope, usually it is stuff I will never use. If this tells you anything, I used to work for Nordstrom’s CS and would do favors for cosmetics and they would give us the free GWP from their brand….and I didn’t even want the then. LOL. Who wants all those cheap bags?

Chris Avatar

I feel kind of silly, because I’ve never actually gotten an actual “GWP.” The only time I can recall getting something like that, is when Sephora had their VIB hatbox with samples in it a couple of months ago. I’m guessing that’s probably because I don’t buy from Estee Lauder, MAC doesn’t do GWP, and I buy Clinique from Sephora. I’m guessing when I go to get a Chanel foundation and powder that they might include a little somethin somethin…

Heidi Avatar

For me, it depends on what the free gift is, if I will use it, and how much $ do I have to spend to get it and if I really need the items that I have to buy to get the free gift. The answers are usually no! I do like those bags of samples that Sephora or beauty.com will give out, I like to try new things but I’m not going to go too much out of my way just to get a free gift. The term “free gift” gets me too, aren’t all gifts free anyways? 🙂

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