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Letter from a passionate espresso coffee roaster
To be very frank, we do not like sending out samples for free. Not anymore.
Please keep reading after this punch because I'd like to talk to you very sincerely.
Thank you.
I'm sorry for the rudeness of the above statement, but we have determined that it is no longer in our - and your - interests to do so.
In the past we sent out hundreds of free samples, based on 'urgent' requests from coffee businesses, only to find them languishing for weeks at the Customs, or on recipient' desks, or on coffee shop counters.
Many samples went lost, or just forgotten, with no regard for coffee freshness.
This is upsetting for three reasons:
1. Firstly, we may not be a coffee house known world-wide, but we have made our reputation by roasting the highest-quality coffees, and our good brand stands on the EXCELLENT quality of our coffee.
So, when people who should evaluate our coffee wait too long to prepare it, they cannot enjoy the flavors and aromas that we worked hard to create.
We do not like this, the quality suffers and the value of our products gets diminished.
2. Secondly, we are not interested in working with businesses that do not look for the highest quality products.
You see, we do not just sell first-class coffee: we do sell first-class coffee at the right price. We supply you with first class coffee at a price which is so well-centered that allows you to make a profit that nobody else can probably guarantee.
Have you ever heard the 'value for money' slogan claimed by many marketers? Well, here you are, with Coffee'IT you can really get it.
But you need to be looking for a very high-quality product, not just for ... another Italian coffee...
3. Thirdly, we do like to spend to promote our 'jewels'. But we are also conscious. We like to invest, not to waste.
Sending samples abroad may cost up to USD 300-500 per shipment. If we send out 10 sample boxes per day, it is USD 5,000 per day in shipping/carrier costs. It is 100,000 USD per month. It is 1,000,000 USD a year.
Does it worth?
Yes, if we ship to businesses that are seriously determined to evaluate and make a decision.
No, if the samples were requested just because they are free, or too early in a decisional cycle, or without any real intention to evaluate them.
Any evaluation process can get to a positive decision or to a negative one, this is the game and we like to play such game.
It does not matter if you will say YES or NO to us. What matters is that you are willing to share with us what are your needs and expectations, your timeframes, and your final outcomes.
The more transparently we talk each other, the better we can start creating that trust which is fundamental pre-requirement of any new business relationship.
As a result, we have decided not to offer free samples anymore.
Let me explain.
Coffee businesses can still request samples, and according to the urgency declared we can ship to any address via carrier (2-3 working days to get to destination) or through priority mail (10-15 calendar days).
And we are not trying to make any money out of coffee samples, of course: samples are always free, and there is virtual no limit to the number of different coffee types that we send in the sample kit.
But shipping costs are charged.
By limiting our sample shipments to customers willing to 'invest' on their side too, we can focus on businesses who are genuinely committed to quality, and serious about the evaluation process itself.
Should the evaluation get to a positive end, we will credit the entire cost of the sample shipment to your first purchase.
Thank you for understanding. |
