Comparison
Samplr vs On-Ground Sampling Agencies
On-ground sampling — promoters handing out product at malls, colleges, corporate parks, and roadshows — is a proven way to catch consumers face to face. It solves a different problem than a digital sampling agency does, and the two are usually complementary rather than substitutes.
Who actually receives the product
Samplr
Every sample goes to a specific consumer who completed a demographic and lifestyle profile in advance, so the recipient is known before dispatch.
On-Ground / Experiential Sampling
On-ground teams sample whoever passes a given footfall location on a given day — a real strength for raw reach, but the recipient's fit with your target buyer is unknown until after the fact, if at all.
Feedback and review capture
Samplr
Every recipient is asked for a structured review within a fixed window, feeding a dashboard the brand can actually analyse.
On-Ground / Experiential Sampling
On-ground handouts rarely have a built-in feedback loop — most brands never hear from the consumer again after the sample leaves the promoter's hand.
Geographic reach
Samplr
Runs by pincode nationwide, including cities and neighbourhoods where staffing an on-ground team isn't practical or cost-effective.
On-Ground / Experiential Sampling
Limited to wherever a brand can staff and coordinate promoters — typically a handful of high-footfall locations in major cities.
Cost structure
Samplr
Cost is fixed per sample dispatched, with no promoter staffing, venue permissions, or travel logistics.
On-Ground / Experiential Sampling
Requires promoter hiring, training, venue/mall permissions, and day-of logistics — real costs on top of the product itself, and hard to scale linearly.
If you're searching for a sampling agency in a specific city and what you actually need is measurable, targeted trial with a review attached to every unit — rather than staffing a physical activation — Samplr is built for that half of the problem. For immediate-consumption categories that benefit from a live, in-person moment (a mall food counter, a college fest), on-ground activation still has a role Samplr isn't trying to replace.
Get Started FreeFrequently Asked Questions
Is Samplr better than On-Ground / Experiential Sampling?+
It depends on what you need. Who actually receives the product is one area where the two differ meaningfully: Every sample goes to a specific consumer who completed a demographic and lifestyle profile in advance, so the recipient is known before dispatch. Review the full comparison above before deciding — "better" depends on your specific campaign goals.
Can brands use both Samplr and On-Ground / Experiential Sampling?+
Yes — most brands don't treat sampling agencies and other trial-generation methods as mutually exclusive. Many run Samplr alongside on-ground / experiential sampling and compare results directly.
What does Samplr do differently from On-Ground / Experiential Sampling?+
If you're searching for a sampling agency in a specific city and what you actually need is measurable, targeted trial with a review attached to every unit — rather than staffing a physical activation — Samplr is built for that half of the problem. For immediate-consumption categories that benefit from a live, in-person moment (a mall food counter, a college fest), on-ground activation still has a role Samplr isn't trying to replace.