Summary
Page restructured from Q&A format into executive-summary format with bullet points. All existing sample request rules (14-day posting deadline, GMV-based quotas, 120-day sales eligibility, one-item-per-seller limit) retained unchanged.
Why it matters
This is a presentation-only redesign. No new enforcement actions, eligibility criteria, or posting obligations were introduced. Creators and sellers continue to operate under existing rules; the change improves navigation and readability only.
Recommended action
No compliance action required. Review the restructured layout to ensure team familiarity with the new presentation format, but no behavioral changes to sample request workflows or deadlines are necessary.
Guide to Samples:
Free and Refundable 06/10/2026 Select Products and Get Samples Summary
One-line takeaway: Samples let eligible creators request or buy products, then post content to fulfill obligations.
Thresholds & Requirements:
① +5K followers to apply/purchase ② free-sample access needs sales in last 120 days ③ seller requests capped at 5/20/50 by monthly GMV
Actionable Steps:
① Find items in Creator Center via Product Marketplace/Collab Invites ② tap Get Sample or request from seller ③ post a public video or 10-minute LIVE with product link
Red Lines & Compliance:
① Post within 14 days of receipt ② repeated misses may reduce opportunities or remove access ③ only one of the same item per seller
Immediate next action: Open Creator Center and check Get Sample availability
Show more Show less What are samples?
Tik Tok Shop makes it easy to get sample products to feature in your content.
There are two ways to get samples: Refundable Samples and Free Samples.
Refundable Samples are available to all eligible creators.
You purchase the product, create content, and if your content drives the required number of sales within your window, you get your money back automatically, including shipping and tax.
No seller approval needed.
Free Samples are available to creators who have generated sales on Tik Tok Shop within the last 120 days.
You request a product directly from a seller at no cost, subject to eligibility and seller approval.
Once you receive your sample, bring the product to life by demoing it and sharing what you love in a public short-form video or a 10-minute Tik Tok LIVE.
No content was removed in this update.
Affects: Creator, Seller, Video
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!
Refundable Samples
Purchase a sample directly and earn a full refund, including shipping and tax, once your content drives the seller's stated sales goal.
Refundable Samples let you skip the free sample approval process and get products without it counting against your free sample quota.
Sellers usually require 1 to 3 orders generated.
There are two ways to get a Refundable Sample: through the Product Marketplace or directly at checkout when purchasing a product you already plan to feature.
For the checkout option, see [Refundable Sample at Checkout].
Get samples without the wait: Discover and grab refundable samples from tons of brands with zero approval hassles.
They don't count against your free sample request quota, so you can keep exploring new products.
Show brands you drive conversions: Go beyond just making content and show brands you're a sales-driving force.
This is your chance to prove your impact and turn viewers into buyers.
Turn your sales power into a free product: Show off your influence by creating content that drives purchases.
When your viewers buy, your sample becomes free.
Flexible timing: Unlike free samples, there's no hard deadline to post after receiving your product.
As long as qualifying sales clear the refund period before your 120-day window closes, you're good.
Step 1:
Order your sample Find a product you're excited about and tap the Order refundable sample button.
Select your preferred options like size or color, fill in your shipping details, and complete the purchase.
You can apply most coupons and promotions to the order, though not all will be applicable to Refundable Samples.
Step 2:
Create and post your content Once you receive your sample, film your video or plan your LIVE session.
When you post, make sure to attach the product link so your sales can be tracked.
You have 120 days from receiving your sample to generate the required sales.
Aim to hit your goal within the first 90 days, since this gives your orders time to clear the 30-day return period before your window closes.
Step 3:
Hit your goal and get refunded You can create multiple pieces of content about the same Refundable Sample to hit your sales goal.
Once you do, the system will initiate your refund after the 30-day return period for each qualifying order ends.
Sales generated close to the end of your 120-day window may not have time to clear the return period before the window closes, which is why we recommend hitting your goal within the first 90 days.
Check for open requests first.
If you already have a pending free sample request with a seller for a specific product, you won't be able to purchase a Refundable Sample of that same product.
Clear one before trying the other.
Post more than once.
You can create multiple videos or go LIVE several times for the same product.
All sales from content featuring that product link will count toward your refund goal.
Only sales made to other buyers count.
Purchases you make yourself don't qualify, only orders from other buyers count toward your goal.
Canceling is an option.
If you change your mind, you can cancel the order from your Order Details page before it ships.
If it has already shipped, you can request a return within the standard return window.
Refundable Samples FAQ
Can I post multiple times about the same Refundable Sample?
All qualifying sales from any of your content featuring the product will be combined to help you meet the refund goal.
What happens if the product goes out of stock after I've bought a Refundable Sample?
If a product goes out of stock, Tik Tok Shop will notify the seller to restock it.
Your refund timeline will be paused for 10 days to give them time.
If the seller doesn't restock within 10 days, your refund goal will automatically be marked as complete and you will receive a full refund without needing to post any content.
How long do I have to meet my sales goal?
Your Refundable Sample window is 120 days from the date you receive your product.
Aim to generate the required sales within the first 90 days so your orders have enough time to clear the 30-day return period before your window closes.
Free samples are available to creators who have generated sales on Tik Tok Shop within the last 120 days. You can request samples directly from sellers through the Product Marketplace or via Collab Invites. Note: This only applies to public free sample requests and not targeted sample campaigns or Target Collaborations. Free Sample Eligibility
Creators without historical sales in the last 120 days may have limited access to free samples. In order to activate or maintain free sample requests, creators can use refundable samples or search by image to create Shoppable Videos and LIVEs. Once a creator starts to earn GMV, free sample requests will be available on Tik Tok Shop. Note: this only applies to public free sample requests and not targeted sample campaigns or Target collaborations. How to Discover and Request Free Samples
Start in Creator Center and browse the Product Marketplace or check your Collab Invites.
On a product details page, if samples are available, you'll see a Get Sample button.
You can get samples from sellers or from Tik Tok Shop directly.
For more information on Tik Tok Shop Sample Points, view this guide.
When you request a sample from a seller, they reserve the right to approve, reject, or ignore your request.
After pressing Request from Seller, complete the required information including size, contact details, and shipping information.
Requesting Multiple Variations: Multi-SKU Sampling
Want to request more than one variation of the same product, like different shades, sizes, or flavors?
Multi-SKU Sampling lets you do that.
You can return to the Get Sample page multiple times to request different SKUs of the same product until the seller's stock or your quota runs out.
Note that you must post unique content for every SKU you receive.
This applies to both free and refundable samples, giving you maximum flexibility to cover a full product line.
For full details, see [Multi-SKU Sampling].
How many free samples can I request at once?
The number of free sample requests you can have active at one time depends on your monthly GMV: Under $5K monthly GMV: up to 5 active requests at a time$5K to $150K monthly GMV: up to 20 active requests at a time Over $150K monthly GMV: up to 50 active requests at a time The total number of free samples you can request also depends on your creator badge level: Badge Available Free Sample Requests Bronze and Silver Up to 20Gold40Platinum50Ruby to Diamond100How to request samples in Product Marketplace:
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