Trial size vs. Travel size - is there a difference?

[dmsmith11]

Hi, newbie here. I never thought about using coupons for trial size products. This is allowed? That's awesome if they are since they're usually only about $1 each especially at my store that doubles coupons. If you have a coupon for .75 and the store doubles and the product is regularly priced $1, does that mean I get a credit for .50?
Does anyone know if CVS also takes coupons for trial size?

[motherofmolly]

you can use a coupon on a trial size as long as it does not exclude that size. make sure to read the fine print.

cvs does take coupons on trial sizes, but you will run into issues if the coupon is for more than the item.

as far as store doubles, most do not give overage. so if the item is $1 and your store doubles the .75 , you will get $1 thus making the item free. no overage as we call it.

now with that said, you have to be prepared for the cashier that will say no way just because it isnt pictured, it is a trial size, it is free, the computer says no so it must not be so, etc. it can be a ymmv deal

[dmsmith11]

thanks

[maconachange]

I've found that my Walmart is the best no fuss store for trials. We try not to get too many just because the kids we help need full size bottles but with the disasters down here, its been pretty useful.

[amylynne01]

I haven't had many issues at Target on trial size items lately.

[Paintbrush]

I tried skimming the basics and did a search, but can't seem to narrow it down properly, so I figured I'd just ask.

The coupons always seem to say "Excludes trial size", but what exactly is trial size? To me, a trial size shampoo comes in a little packet that you tear open and squeeze just enough out for one or two washes. But a travel sized shampoo is what you find at the dept store in a small bottle that usually costs about $1 or so.

I'm guessing stores like to count them as the same thing, but isn't there technically a difference?

Oh... and is there a reason why a B1G1 free q would exclude this? I mean... what difference does it make if you are getting 1oz or 5oz of something? You're still getting it at half the cost, right? Company is still providing twice the product, regardless of size. Do they really prefer to give more away free?

Maybe I'm thinking too much.

I just figure having more understanding about their reasoning will help me with couponing in the future.

[gctattoo]

Nope, no difference IMO. I've had free samples from manufacturers that are the same size as the travel sized items. A sample is a trial. So that would mean sample/trial equals travel size. And that's how I've always interpreted coupons that reference trial size.



There were P&G coupons awhile ago which didn't exclude trial size so you could get two Secret trial size deodorants and then get $5 off an Olay body wash. At WM, that meant spending about $2 OOP and getting the body wash free since it was $5. Nice little coupon and I used a few. Can't do it anymore since the exclusion of the trial size. And that's no coincidence.

[Paintbrush]

Nope, no difference IMO. I've had free samples from manufacturers that are the same size as the travel sized items. A sample is a trial. So that would mean sample/trial equals travel size. And that's how I've always interpreted coupons that reference trial size.



There were P&G coupons awhile ago which didn't exclude trial size so you could get two Secret trial size deodorants and then get $5 off an Olay body wash. At WM, that meant spending about $2 OOP and getting the body wash free since it was $5. Nice little coupon and I used a few. Can't do it anymore since the exclusion of the trial size. And that's no coincidence.

Have companies only been doing this since "that show" or do they go in waves of changing the coupons back and forth? I mean, you say that's no coincidence, but do you mean that the company noticed the redeemed q's on the trials more often and decided to switch it once and for all? (which... why didn't they do that sooner, I'd imagine it's happened before) or is it because "that show" broadcast it to the world and now the companies are tightening the stuff until it passes? Or both? Or ???

[CW&M Mom]

The only difference I have found is toothpaste. Go to walmart or Target and look at the trial/travel section....you will see the trial section which is the tiny little size of toothpaste. And the travel section....which is bigger then that...but still small enough (under 3 oz I guess) that you can fly with it being in your carry on luggage. That toothpaste will specifically say on it "travel size"

Otherwise...if you find it in the trial section...I generally consider it trial size.

and yes those little bottles of shampoo are trial size not travel size. By your definition of trial..well you can't even buy those...so nope nope nope..those little bottles of shampoo are TRIAL SIZE. That is what the manufacture is wanting you to not purchase with there coupon. It has nothing to do with the store other then they don't want to be screwed out of there money from the coupon.

The reason why a B1G1 free will put that..is because people have purchased the trial size with the "buy one" while getting the free one that is full size.

[CW&M Mom]

P&G started changing there coupons before the show aired (they change coupons generally about 9 months before those coupons are printed...if that makes sense).

It actually probably has more to do with all of us and what we are able to "get away with" with that coupon. They learned with that coupon that gctatoo mentioned that they didn't exclude the trial size..so we used it to our advantage. EC had nothing to do with it.

Sometimes though, the manu may be more willing to do that kind of coupon if they are putting out a new product and want us to get hooked on it more then they are concerned about losing money on it.