In August 2015, consumers had access to a variety of free magazine subscriptions and product samples through specific promotional programmes and sweepstakes. These opportunities ranged from digital and physical magazine subscriptions to sample packs for personal care, food, and household products. Access to these freebies typically required completing online forms, surveys, or entry forms, often without any purchase necessary. The availability and specific requirements for these offers varied, with some being time-sensitive and limited to certain quantities or geographic locations.
Free Magazine Subscriptions
A notable promotional sweepstakes was run by Seventeen magazine in August 2015. The "August Freebies" sweepstakes allowed participants to enter for a chance to win a grand prize. The entry period ran from 30 July 2015 to 10 August 2015, and participants were required to fill out a form on the seventeen.com/freebies website using a smartphone. The official rules stated that no purchase was necessary to enter or win, and a purchase would not increase the chances of winning. The winner was to be selected via a random drawing from eligible entries received by the sponsor, Seventeen magazine.
Beyond specific sweepstakes, platforms existed dedicated to sourcing free magazine subscriptions. One such platform, RewardSurvey, operated on a model where users could earn credits by completing short surveys. Upon signing up and completing an initial survey, a user's account would be credited with $20, which could be used to request free magazine subscriptions. The platform's availability and inventory of magazine titles fluctuated over time. For instance, from 2015 to 2021, it was noted as a reliable source for high-quality free magazine subscriptions, including titles such as Sports Illustrated, ESPN, Rolling Stone, People, and US Weekly. However, the platform experienced a period of reduced activity in 2022 and 2023, with fewer updates and available offers. The service required a mailing address for delivery but did not require a credit card or payment information. Users were advised that the purpose of these free offers was for the sponsoring brands to collect contact information for marketing purposes.
Another resource provided an auto-updated list of current free magazine subscription offers. This list, dated from around the time of the query, included a variety of titles such as D Magazine, Philadelphia Magazine, Boston Magazine, Indianapolis Monthly, Vogue, Cigar Aficionado, Afar Travel Magazine, Whisky Advocate, Sports Illustrated, Wine Enthusiast, Reason, ESSENCE, Wine Spectator, Conde Nast Traveler, Harper's, GQ, LEGO® Life Magazine, and Time Magazine (digital subscription). The list also included offers for physical items like a "Yellowstone Ranger Pack." The availability dates for these offers ranged from November 2025 to January 2026, indicating they were current at the time the list was compiled.
A comprehensive catalogue of free sample issues for various magazines was also available, organised alphabetically. This list included titles across numerous categories, such as A Needle Pulling Thread (quilting), Aeroplane, Aesthetic Medicine, Air Britain News, Airfix Model World, AirForces Monthly, Airgun World, Airliner World, Airsoft Action, All About History, Amateur Gardening, Amateur Photographer, American Miniaturist, Angling Times, Antiques Trade Gazette, AQ: Australian Quarterly, Argyllshire Advertiser, Arran Banner, Art Collector, Artists & Illustrators, Artists Back to Basics, Artist's Palette, Artlink Magazine, ArtReview, Attitude, Australian 4WD and SUV Buyers Guide, Australian Birdkeeper Magazine, Australian Cardmaking Stamping and Papercraft, Australian Country, and Australian Cupcakes and Inspirations. The source of this list, Pocketmags, offered these as "free magazine issues and taster editions."
Free Product Samples
In addition to magazine subscriptions, August 2015 offered several free product samples across different categories. These samples were typically distributed through promotional campaigns, often requiring online requests or sign-ups. The availability of these samples was frequently limited by quantity, state (for US-based offers), or time.
A round-up of freebies still available in August 2015 included the following offers:
- Magazines: A free subscription to US Weekly magazine.
- Health & Personal Care: A free sample pack of Always Discreet products; a free sample of Centrum VitaMints Multivitamins; a free sample of U by Kotex (noted as a new offer at the time); a free sample of Dove or Degree Dry Spray (available only in select states); a free sample of Biossance Revitalizing Moisturizer; a free sample of Hugo Boss The Scent Men’s Fragrance; and a free sample of Astroglide Lubricant.
- Food & Beverage: A free Butterfinger Bar from 7-Eleven, available on 29 and 30 August; a free Walmart Back to College K-Cup sample pack; and four free Lindsay Olives product coupons (available only in select states).
- Household & Other: A free Toys R Us 2015 Holiday Toy Catalog that included coupons; a free imPRESS Nail Manicure Set, with an initial limit of the first 50,000 requests; and a free sample of e.l.f. (brand unspecified).
Some offers required applying to host a themed house party. These included opportunities to host a Healthfull Bread Ultimate Sandwich House Party, a McCormick Skillet Sauces House Party, and a Command Brand Spook-ify Your Halloween House Party. The house party model typically involves the selected host receiving a package of products and promotional materials to use when entertaining guests, in exchange for sharing the brand experience.
Access and Eligibility Considerations
The methods for accessing these freebies varied. For magazine subscriptions, users often needed to provide a valid mailing address and sometimes complete a survey. For product samples, the process frequently involved filling out an online form on a brand's or promotional website. For some offers, such as the 7-Eleven Butterfinger Bar, redemption required visiting a physical store on specific dates.
It was important for consumers to note that many product sample offers, particularly those listed as available in "select states," were likely part of US-based promotions and may not have been available to UK consumers. The geographical restrictions were explicitly stated for offers like the Dove/Degree Dry Spray and Lindsay Olives coupons.
Furthermore, the source material indicates that some platforms, like RewardSurvey, explicitly advised users that the free offers were a means for companies to collect marketing data. Users were informed that their contact information could be resold to marketers. In response, the source suggested that users could consider using non-personal information when signing up for such services, as the delivery of magazines was still possible to a provided address even if the name used was not the recipient's legal name.
Conclusion
The landscape of freebies in August 2015, as documented in the provided sources, was diverse, encompassing both digital and physical products. Free magazine subscriptions were a prominent category, accessible through dedicated survey-based platforms and promotional lists. These subscriptions ranged from popular fashion and news titles to niche hobbyist publications. Concurrently, product samples were available across personal care, food, and household categories, often distributed through time-limited or quantity-limited campaigns. Access to these offers generally required providing basic information, such as a mailing address, and completing simple online forms. Consumers were advised to be mindful of promotional terms, data collection practices, and geographic restrictions when seeking these free samples and subscriptions.