Ask for samples.

[Bromeo]

Don't be afraid to request free samples from your favorite nutrient company or hydro supply Co. Last year when i first started growing my wife and i would send out sample requests to different companies in our spare time. I got the name of companies from catalogs and hydro magazines. Looked them up online and sent them a polite email. Some were sent to my house and some I had to pick up at my local garden center. In total I received four complete nutrient systems, 11 guano sample packs, 16 compost and soil amendments, 5 bloom boosters, 2 root boosters?, magazine subscriptions, t-shirts, off the wall additives, hats, pens stickers etc. It didn't cost me a dime. Just some time sending polite emails. If you try this and you get a soil sample sent to you, my hats off to you. My only fail. Good luck.

 

[alley_walker]

LOL! I love it! I love free stuff. I just might try my local grow shop as we have a "working" relationship. Goes like this.. I spend a lot of money and they take it! So I might try something similar.

 

[wg]

I was thinking of doing this again, I did it when Bloombastic became so popular. I tried to get powder samples of the soluble line but had no luck. Did you ask for specific products or how did your e-mail go? I asked specifically for powder samples because I owned the Root Doctor line and the Base 3 part line.

 

[Eekman]

Tell them you are currently using their "competitor's" products, and wanted to see if their product was better. Might help.

Eek

 

[Duck Commander]

On it like a car bonet

 

[Bromeo]

I did not ask for anything specific. I was just careful to keep the line of communication open. Oh and remember to give your local supply store the heads up or they will give your sample away. This actually helped my hydro store. They are now very happily carrying a line I sampled.

 

[wg]

Which companies required you to interact with the hydro store? I'm just curious as the closest hydro store for me is ~2.5 hrs each way trip!

 

[Bromeo]

Which companies required you to interact with the hydro store? I'm just curious as the closest hydro store for me is ~2.5 hrs each way trip!

I don't want to get brand specific but i would mention that in your email. They might just ask you to pay shipping. The reason they want to send to your hydro store is so they can try to sell there product to them as well.

 

[Bromeo]

I'll mention names if its OK to do so in here.

 

[wg]

I'm not a moderator, but mods and admins don't even mind outside links to tutorials on other forums as long as they're related to the topic and helpful. I feel AFN is more of a networking site than it is a "THIS IS THE FORUM THIS IS THE RULES" site. Just mentioning the names of the companies that required us to interact with a brick and mortar store would definitely be okay. If you don't feel comfortable posting it, send me a PM!