Refundable samples

07/07/2025

Affiliate Plan

Summary

What is the Refundable Samples feature on TikTok Shop and how does it benefit sellers?

Refundable Samples lets sellers collaborate with creators by refunding product costs only when creators meet sales thresholds, driving performance-based marketing. Sellers see 25% higher ROI compared to traditional free samples.
It helps sellers discover motivated creators, control marketing spend, and scale strategies from launches to bestsellers by adjusting sales thresholds.

What are the key changes to Refundable Samples starting April 3, 2025, and what actions must sellers take?

Refunds will be issued solely based on creators meeting sales thresholds, not just content creation. Sellers using content-based refunds must update settings before 4/3/2025 or lose sample availability.
Sellers can reset or edit refund criteria via the Open Collaboration tab, with default sales thresholds set to 1 sale but adjustable between 1-3.

How do sellers set up and manage Refundable Samples on TikTok Shop?

Setup involves toggling refundable samples under Offer Samples in Affiliate Center’s Open Collaboration and selecting sales thresholds.
Creators purchase products at full price intending to promote; if sales thresholds are met, creators receive refunds, enabling sellers to identify high-performing creators for partnerships.

What considerations should sellers make when determining sales thresholds for Refundable Samples?

Sellers should base thresholds on product price, margin, and business goals; lower thresholds (e.g., 1 sale) suit new products or audience expansion, while higher thresholds fit established products.

Can sellers still use free samples or SKU-level controls with Refundable Samples?

Yes, free samples remain available separately, but SKU-level sample controls apply only to free samples, not refundable samples.

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Overview

Refundable Samples is a TikTok Shop feature that allows you to connect with creators through performance-based collaborations. Starting 4/3, sample refunds are exclusively tied to sales performance rather than content creation alone.

Benefits

Higher ROI: Sellers using Refundable Samples see 25% higher return on investment compared to traditional free samples*
Performance-driven investment: Control your marketing spend by ensuring refunds are tied directly to sales
Creator discovery: Identify motivated creators who believe in your products enough to make the initial investment
Scalable strategy: Adapt thresholds based on your business goals, from product launches to scaling bestsellers

*Source: TikTok Shop Sample Analysis US, Feb-March 2025

How It Works

Set up your refundable samples in Affiliate Center
1. Navigate to Open Collaboration
2. Under Offer Samples, toggle refundable samples
3. Select your sales thresholds
Creators purchase your products
- Creators buy your products at full price with the intention to promote
- They create content featuring your products
Sales-based refunds
- If a creator's content drives your specified number of sales, they receive a refund
- You identify high-performing creators for ongoing partnerships

FAQs

Q: What changed with refundable samples?A: Starting 4/3/2025, refunds will only be issued when creators meet sales thresholds you set. Refunds for content creation alone will no longer be available.
Q: What happens to my existing refundable sample settings?A: If you're currently using content-only refund requirements, you'll need to update your settings before 4/3. If you do not update the settings, the sample will no longer be available to creators.
Q: How do I determine the right sales threshold for my products? A: Consider your product price point, margin, and business goals. Lower thresholds (1 sale) work well for new products or audience expansion, while higher thresholds are ideal for established products.
Q: Can I still use free samples? A: Yes, you can still send free samples to creators. Visit our Sample feature guide to learn more.Q: Can I set up SKU-level samples for refundable samples?A: No. SKU-level control applies to free samples, not refundable samples.
Q: What action do I need to take if I am using content-based samples?A pop-up message will appear, indicating how many of your products were previously using the content-based refund criteria.

You will be able to view a list of products that were previously set up with content-based refund criteria. Once you click confirm, all listed products will be switched to sales-based refund criteria. With a default threshold of 1 sale, you can also edit any number between 1-3

You can view your settings in open collaboration

If you close the pop-up, you can still reset your refundable samples by navigating to the Open Collaboration tab and clicking the Reset Refundable Samples button.