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Someone mentioned the Asian markets, the H Mart near me gives out tons of samples on the weekends. You could practically eat lunch there just trying all the samples.
Wegmans gives out samples too, but not as much as they did the first couple years when they opened. But the cheese samples are pretty awesome.
Both stores have attendants there, the food is not just left out in the open for anyone to just grab and paw at.
Depends on the sample -- I enjoy trying new things, but if I know I won't like something why bother -- and occasionally I've purchased an item or two after sampling it.
Whether or not the workers -- wearing gloves, no less -- have washed their hands within the last 24 hours is the least of my worries on a daily basis.
At BJ's, our sampler carts are manned by attendants who provide individual servings in little sample cups, so customers have nothing they can dip their fingers into.
My sister and I joke about having free lunch at BJs when we need to go shopping there, because there's usually enough sample carts to fill our stomachs if we have just one of each and maybe seconds on one or two of the entrees.
As a result, I've started adding an occasional "Smart Ones" rigatoni with chicken in alfredo for emergency lunch when I'm stuck for a long shift at work, and there's some weird kind of freeze-dried fruit chips that come in 4 varieties in the box of 12 individual serving packs, that I've puchased a few times. Sometimes the cart has hummus and pita chips, and my sister and I already buy that stuff even without the samples. So we just sample them as part of our "free lunch" treat
I usually don't try any of the health drinks, or fat-free stuff, or yogurt drinks, or anything that substitutes sugar for artificial sweeteners, because I don't like that stuff.
They also had samples of sauce, that they offered with a few wheat crisps. I didn't like the sauce, but I did buy the wheat crisps for a party and people really liked them.
At BJ's, our sampler carts are manned by attendants who provide individual servings in little sample cups, so customers have nothing they can dip their fingers into.
My sister and I joke about having free lunch at BJs when we need to go shopping there, because there's usually enough sample carts to fill our stomachs if we have just one of each and maybe seconds on one or two of the entrees.
As a result, I've started adding an occasional "Smart Ones" rigatoni with chicken in alfredo for emergency lunch when I'm stuck for a long shift at work, and there's some weird kind of freeze-dried fruit chips that come in 4 varieties in the box of 12 individual serving packs, that I've puchased a few times. Sometimes the cart has hummus and pita chips, and my sister and I already buy that stuff even without the samples. So we just sample them as part of our "free lunch" treat
I usually don't try any of the health drinks, or fat-free stuff, or yogurt drinks, or anything that substitutes sugar for artificial sweeteners, because I don't like that stuff.
They also had samples of sauce, that they offered with a few wheat crisps. I didn't like the sauce, but I did buy the wheat crisps for a party and people really liked them.
That's the way Costco does it, too. No hands touch the food until you do - and some of the things require a spoon, which they also provide.
The farmers market here also has samples - they are opened containers of dried fruits, nuts, crackers, etc., and they have spoons for getting the samples out. Since we've been shopping there (six months), I've never seen anyone not use the spoons.
My friend loves Costco, especially "grazing" on all of the samples of food.
1. Do you try the samples, or walk by them?
2. If you try the food, are you more likely to buy the item being demonstrated?
3. Have you ever sampled something, and wish you had not?
I will usually try some things, but not all of them. Sometimes, I do buy what I sample, especiially if I am really hungry, and not too long ago, I tried some calamari, . Yuck. That was horrible stuff to me.
I love sampling the things, I really would love to buy, but won't...because of my diet, the other day, they were giving out samples of "chocolate tuxedo cake" ....oh, that was a bite of chocolate delicousness! Creamy, chocolatey...yum! I was strong though, it did not sneak into my cart.
Do any of your local grocery stores offer food samples on a regular basis? Right now we only have one market that does...How about warehouse stores in your area like "Costco" and "Sam's Club" etc.? Do they offer samples everyday or on weekends?...I love samples! I wish all stores offered them on a regular basis. How about you?
Sam's for sure, more on Thur-Sun, but everyday there are some. Our fav local store only has a few and only occasionally. Our newest store, which is part of a local chain but upscale, almost a specialty store has lots of grazing foods right now. I think, after we all get accustom to shopping there (for those who do) the samples will not be so readily available.
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. Yuck. That was horrible stuff to me. 
