A common pushback by email
Buyer email
Subject: question on sample fee
i saw other supplier said free sample. why u charge 120?
PlushToys.Fun reply
Subject: Re: question on sample fee
Fair question. Our $120 covers a sample built specifically from your spec — pattern making, fabric and filling, and sample-room labour. A "free sample" can mean two different things depending on the supplier: in some cases it is a stock product that is close to what you want; in other cases it is a real custom sample whose cost is folded into the bulk unit price. Both can be reasonable; they are just different deals. Below is what to ask any supplier so you can compare like-for-like.
What the $120 covers
The fee is structured around three kinds of work. The split shifts a little depending on whether your design is brand-new or close to something we have made before, but the total stays in the same range.
Pattern making
Building the pattern for your design
A pattern maker breaks the sketch or reference photo into the panels that will be cut, then iterates seam lines so the body sits the way you want it. Pattern work is the part of a sample that does not exist for stock products — it is created specifically for your design.
Materials
Fabric, filling, eyes, embroidery thread
Bulk inputs are cheap per unit at 1,000 pcs. At one piece they are not — there is no economy of scale yet. If your sample includes embroidery or printed labels, the setup cost is the same as for the bulk run; we just pay it once on the sample.
Sample-room labour
An experienced sewer on a single piece
A bulk-line sewer makes hundreds of identical pieces; a sample-room sewer is one of the more experienced people working on a single piece, often correcting the pattern in real time. That hour or two of skilled time costs more per unit than any bulk-line operator's hour.
If your design needs a second-round revision sample (most projects use 1 to 3 rounds), additional rounds are quoted separately so you see the cost upfront. The exact way this works for your project depends on order size and decoration — we will spell it out in the quote before you commit.
When "free sample" works, and when it does not
Free samples are not a scam — but they cover different scenarios. Knowing which scenario applies to a given supplier lets you compare two offers honestly.
Scenario A — A close stock product, free, to demonstrate quality
A factory with a deep stock catalogue sends a similar-looking item from inventory so you can feel the fabric, filling, and finish. This is genuinely useful when you want to evaluate manufacturing quality before committing — you are checking the supplier, not your specific design. It does not show how the supplier will handle your custom shape, but that may be acceptable at the screening stage.
How to confirm this is what you are getting: ask "is this from your stock catalogue, or made from my pattern?" Both answers are honest; you just need to know which. ask "is this from your stock catalogue, or made from my pattern?" Both answers are honest; you just need to know which.
Scenario B — Custom sample, cost amortised into bulk price
The sample is genuinely custom-made, but its cost is added a few cents at a time across the bulk order. This is reasonable accounting and quite common — but it changes how you should compare quotes. A supplier with a "free sample" and a slightly higher unit price may be telling you the same total cost as a supplier with a $120 sample and a slightly lower unit price.
How to confirm this is what you are getting: ask "is the sample cost amortised into the bulk unit price?" An honest supplier will say yes if it is — and you can compare totals, not line items. ask "is the sample cost amortised into the bulk unit price?" An honest supplier will say yes if it is — and you can compare totals, not line items.
Scenario C — Free, custom-made, no amortisation, no commitment
This exists at very large factories with marketing budgets allocated to sampling, or at trade-show season. It is a real benefit if you find it. The trade-off is usually that the factory has a high MOQ floor, slower sample turnaround, or expects a strong commitment signal (signed PO intent, deposit on quote, etc.) before they invest the time. Worth asking up-front what the implicit commitment is.
How to confirm this is what you are getting: ask "what do you expect from me in exchange for the free sample?" If the answer is nothing, that is a real free sample. ask "what do you expect from me in exchange for the free sample?" If the answer is nothing, that is a real free sample.
When comparing two quotes, what matters is total project cost — sample, bulk, decoration, packaging — not whether the sample line says zero or $120.
Sample-readiness checklist
The closer the inputs below match what you want, the closer the first sample lands to approval-ready.
- A reference image, sketch, or — best — a similar product to handle. Multiple angles help.
- Target size in cm (height seated and standing if it matters).
- Fabric direction: a Pantone code, a hex colour, or a specific reference to match.
- Filling preference: firm, soft, or medium — and a reference product if possible.
- Any decoration on the sample — embroidered logo, printed label, hangtag — or "leave decoration off this round".
Send what you have. Anything missing can be filled in once we reply.
What happens to the $120 when you order bulk
Sample fees are typically credited back into the bulk order on most projects, but the exact way it works depends on order size, decoration, and how many revision rounds were used. The arrangement for your specific project is part of the quote, so you can see the total cost — sample plus bulk — before sending a deposit.
Start the sample
If most of the readiness inputs are ready, email is the fastest path. Reference photos and tech packs attach more cleanly to email than to a chat thread.
- Email the reference and the readiness inputs to start.
- Lock the artwork and target size — that is when fabric is cut.
- First sample usually lands within a week or two of lock-in.
