What are samples?

As a TikTok Shop creator, you can easily request and receive samples from certain sellers. You can also purchase samples and receive a refund once you've posted promotional content that generates sales.
Once you receive your sample, bring the product to life by demoing and showing off what you love, what you don't and more to your followers in a public short-form video or 10-minute TikTok LIVE. In Manage Samples, you can see what samples have been approved or purchased, which still need content, and how your content performed. You'll get to test and review lots of fun items, your viewers get to hear what you think, and you can form partnerships with sellers and brands for future collaborations.

Free Sample Eligibility

How do I get samples?

Discover samples in the Product Marketplace or via Collab Invites

After finding a product you’d like to promote, either in the Product marketplace or in your Collab Invites, you can check to see if the product has samples available by checking the product details page. If it does, a Get Sample button will be shown. You can get samples from sellers or from TikTok Shop - for more information on TikTok Shop Sample Points, view this guide.
Note: Once you apply for or purchase a sample, the product will appear in your showcase. This will make it easy for you to promote the product once your sample request has been approved.

Discovering samples in Product Marketplace:

Tip: Toggle on the Free Sample filter to quickly find products with samples available

Discovering samples from Collab Invites:

Request Samples from Sellers

When you request a sample from the seller, sellers reserve the right to approve, reject or ignore a sample request. After pressing Request from seller, complete the required information to receive your sample, including size, contact details and shipping information.
Number of Seller sample requests: The number of sample requests under review, waiting for shipment and with content pending cannot exceed five (5) at any given time if you have less than $5K in monthly GMV. If you generate between $5K-$150K in monthly GMV, you can request up to 20 samples at any given time. If you generate more than $150K in monthly GMV, you can request up to 50 samples at any given time.
Notes:

• Withdraw requests: After the sample request has been submitted, it can be canceled or withdrawn prior to the seller processing the sample for shipment. You can withdraw the request via the Withdraw Request button on the Request Details page.
• If you have already purchased a Refundable Sample and that order is in progress, you won't be able to request a sample from the seller.

Sample Posting Reminders

If you've requested a sample from a seller, you are required to post promotional content within 14 days of receiving the product. It is important to do this in a timely manner, as samples are tied to seller inventory and seasonality. Repeatedly missing these required timelines could result in receiving fewer sample opportunities or being removed from the program.
We'll be sure to notify you 3 days and 1 day from when your 14 day posting window expires to remind you to post your content.

How do I re-apply for samples?

You can re-apply for samples immediately after withdrawing your sample request by visiting the Sample Order tab and clicking 'Get It Again'
You can re-apply samples 30 days after your sample request is disapproved, expired, or canceled by visiting the Sample Order tab and clicking 'Get It Again'

Purchase a Refundable Sample

You can also purchase Refundable Samples from sellers - once you post content that generates the sellers' desired amount of sales, you will be entitled to a refund of the sample purchase cost, including product cost, shipping and tax - the whole order! Unlike requesting samples from sellers, there are no GMV restrictions on how many Refundable Samples you can purchase.
After pressing Order refundable sample, select any relevant SKUs, then complete the required information to purchase your sample, including contact details and shipping information. You can apply promotions and coupons to your purchase just like a normal TikTok Shop order, although some types of promotions will not be applicable to Refundable Samples.
Notes:

• If you have requested a sample from a seller and that request is ongoing, you won't be able to purchase a Refundable Sample for that product

Canceling or Returning a Refundable Sample

If you no longer wish to receive your Refundable Sample Purchase, from the Order Details Page, select Cancel Order. If the sample has already shipped, you can also request a return or refund if you are within the specified timeframe.

Track the status of your samples in Manage Samples

Track your sample activity in Manage Samples, where you can see the status of each request or purchase, when it shipped and the status of any promotional content creation.
For Refundable Samples, you can also track your order status and Order details in the TikTok Shop Order Center, under the Samples section and within Orders -> Earn. On your Order Details, you can cancel your order or request a return within a specific timeframe.
You'll also be able to review the specific seller criteria that you need to fulfill for a refund within individual sample order details pages. For instance, generate 3 sales

Create content for your followers

Show, demo and bring the sample product to life in a public short-form video that's posted for at least three (3) days or a 10-minute TikTok LIVE. Don't forget to include the product link.

To showcase the product on your TikTok LIVE, follow these steps:

1. From your Device Camera's Pre-LIVE screen, look for the Shopping Bag icon and Products.
2. Tap Add Products.
3. Tap Add for all the products you want to promote in your LIVE.
4. You will see all the products added to your LIVE and can remove products as well.
5. Tap Go LIVE!
6. Make sure you pin the sample product during your live stream for the live sample fulfillment to be considered valid.

To showcase the products on your Short Videos, follow these steps:

1. In the Post details page, tap Add Link.
2. Tap Product.
3. Tap Add for the product(s) you want to promote in the video.
4. You will see the tagged products and can remove products as well.
5. Tap Post!

Receive your Refundable Sample Refund

Once you’ve met the seller’s refund criteria (within a 120-day window), your refund will be issued to your original payment method.

• If your original payment method is no longer valid, the refund will be issued as TikTok Shop credit.

You can track your refund status by checking the sample order details via Manage Samples or Order Center.

Refund Processing Timelines:

• Standard Products (excluding campaign products):
• Campaign Products (e.g. seasonal campaigns):

FAQ

1. Who can receive samples?

Any creator in TikTok Shop (+5K followers) can apply for or purchase samples if the seller is offering them. Creators may also obtain samples with Sample Points offered by TikTok Shop.

2. Why can't I apply for more seller samples?
   1. The number of samples you can request at any given time is based on your monthly GMV:
      • Creators with less than $5K monthly GMV can request up to 5 samples from sellers
      • Creators with $5K-$150K monthly GMV can request up to 20 samples from sellers
      • Creators with more than $150K monthly GMV can request up to 50 samples from sellers
   2. These limits include any sample requests in review, waiting for shipment or with content pending.

3. I know that a Seller is offering samples for a product, but when I search for the product in Product marketplace, I'm unable to request a sample from the seller. Why can't I request a sample?
   1. While you may meet the eligibility requirements to request samples, keep in mind that Sellers can set their own thresholds for sample requests.
   2. If you don't meet a Seller's individual sample request thresholds, the option to request a sample won't appear. You may still be able to purchase a Refundable Sample if the seller offers this option, in which case you purchase the sample, post content that generates sales, and receive a refund for the purchase cost.
4. How can I fulfill my sample posting obligation？
   1. Try out the sample you receive from the seller and share your thoughts! Post a short-form video for at least three (3) days or a LIVE that's approximately 10 minutes long.
   2. If your sample is a Refundable Sample, make sure you check out the sellers' criteria that you need to meet in order to receive a refund
5. Can I request more than one sample from a seller?
   1. You can request up to one (1) of a particular item from any seller only once. You can request different kinds of samples from the same seller if available or similar items from different sellers. It's best to only order a single type of item from a single seller since the intention is to promote the product for that seller.
      • Examples:

You can request one red heart T-shirt from seller ABC, but not two red heart T-shirts from seller ABC.
You can request one red heart T-shirt from seller ABC, and if offered, you can also request one blue miniskirt from seller ABC.
You can request one red heart T-shirt from seller ABC and one red-and-white tree T-shirt from seller XYZ.

6. When do I have to post my promotional content by?
   1. For samples requested from sellers, content must be posted within 14 days of receiving the sample.
   2. For Refundable Samples, you must post content within 90 days of receiving your purchased sample in order to be eligible for a refund. View full Terms and Conditions here.
7. Can I post multiple times about the same Refundable Sample in order to meet the seller's refund criteria?
   1. Yes, you can make multiple pieces of content about the same Refundable Sample.
8. What happens if the seller's product goes out of stock for a Refundable Sample that I need to post content for?
   1. If a product goes out of stock, we will notify the seller in order to get them to replenish their inventory. In the meantime, your 90 day timeline for posting Refundable Sample content will be paused for 10 days. If after 10 days the seller has not restocked the product, we will automatically count your Refundable Sample criteria as having been fulfilled and no further action is required. You will receive a refund without needing to post content.
9. Where can I learn more about how sellers set up and manage samples on their end?
   1. You can reference this TikTok Shop Academy article to learn more about sellers' sample set up.