When it comes to something new, we all want to ‘try before we buy’, and that’s even more important when it comes to our wellness, not to mention a significant outlay, because as we all know, we get what we pay for.
With Kratom there are many advantages to trying samples; it can be a minefield trying to navigate all the different strains, and while there is plenty of information out there about which strain has what properties, nothing beats personal experience.
But another good reason for trying samples is that the industry is peppered with unscrupulous vendors who are only too happy to take your money and sell you rubbish – trying a vendor’s wares before committing to a full purchase is a great way to find out a little about the company you are buying from.
But even with samples, it’s entirely possible to get scammed.
1. There’s No Such Thing as a Free Dinner
Of course, by dinner we mean sample. Now, if you are thinking ‘hang on a minute, samples should be free, right?’ in some instances, absolutely. But with Kratom, it’s different. This is a high value commodity, and as such, decent vendors can’t afford to give their wares away for free. There’s the production costs, the testing costs, the import costs…it’s an expensive business.
Furthermore, can you imagine how much money vendors would lose if people got hold of the fact that they were giving their stock away for free? It takes seconds to set up an account in many different names, and sending free samples to people who are taking advantage would see smaller vendors going under in no time at all.
You will invariably see some companies offering Kratom completely free, with the option of joining a subscription service once you realize how ‘delighted’ you are with the product. But in order to get that free sample, you will be required to give your financial details. And that’s where they get you – you think nothing more about it, until a couple of weeks later, when you find that money has been taken from your account and you’re tied in to a subscription service you don’t want. Even worse, you discover that it is really hard to get out of it.
A legitimate vendor, on the other hand, may well offer a free sample but charge postage costs, or maybe put together a starter kit for a nominal fee. This actually works twofold – the vendor doesn’t get people just claiming loads and loads of freebies, and the buyer knows they are dealing with a reputable, decent company.
2. Buy Local
We don’t mean the corner store, because that is also a bad idea (fast profit, substandard product, no experience), but we do mean buy from US vendors. Don’t be tempted to buy directly from source.
The reason for this is simple: when US companies buy from places like Indonesia, for example, they will then send off samples of the Kratom to independent labs to get it tested. This testing includes looking for things like mold, heavy metals, pesticides, and other contaminants that could at best give you a rubbish experience, but at worst make you extremely ill.
When you buy directly from the growers, there’s a very good chance that the Kratom is not tested in any way, shape, or form – they want the most money for their product, so why would they then pay a (very expensive) lab to test it?
Buying from a US vendor is much safer, which brings us to the next point…
3. Check Out the Company You’re Buying From
Now, not all US vendors are created equal, and there will still be companies who want to sell you, the buyer, untested products.
It’s time to do your homework. Check out the company you’re looking at before you buy. Take a good look around their site, find their policies and read them. There should be information about their testing policies; any vendor who uses 3rd party testing will be mightily proud of the fact, and that information will be all over their site.
Look for their contact details – if they’re a legitimate, ethical company then their contact details will be there for all to see. But if they’re cutting corners and selling substandard goods, then they won’t want to be easily accessible when the inevitable complaints come rolling in.
And finally, check their reviews. Look for evidence that they have sold contaminated products. Don’t just look on their own site; type their name plus reviews into the search engine and see what’s being said on forums etc. If they are selling bad Kratom, word will get out, believe us!
4. Play Detective
Don’t just take their word for it that your samples are pure, get a magnifying glass out if you have to and inspect it for signs of mold or things that shouldn’t be there.
Quality Kratom should have a fresh, earthy smell, or maybe the smell of freshly cut grass. What it shouldn’t smell of is damp or mold, so get your nose in there and breathe deeply.
If something seems ‘off’ about it, get rid of it, it’s really not worth the risk.
And Finally…
If you do want samples – and we highly recommend that you do if you are new to Kratom – we offer excellent quality, tested Kratom with no charge apart from the postage.
Every batch we sell is independently tested, and certified free from heavy metals, toxins, mold, or any other contaminants, so you can be sure of a safe, rewarding experience. If you are new to Kratom, why not choose a sample or two for the cost of postage? Or, if you are an old hand who just fancies trying a new strain, how about adding a sample to your next order on us? After all, you already know how good our products are!