If you’re a seller on TikTok Shop aiming to get more creator content but aren’t ready to give away free samples, Refundable Samples offer a flexible and performance-based alternative. This feature lets creators purchase your product, promote it, and receive a full refund only if their content drives sales within 60 days.

It’s a low-risk, result-driven way to attract creators and you only spend when there's real return.
 

What Are the Benefits of Refundable Samples for TikTok Shop’s Sellers?

TikTok Shop Refundable Samples are a performance-based way to work with creators. Instead of giving away free products upfront, you only refund the sample cost if the creator’s content generates sales.

Here’s why it’s useful:

• Attract More Creators: Creators are more likely to try your product since they know they can get a refund if their content performs.

• Pay Based on Results: You only spend money if you get actual sales, so it’s less risky than giving free samples to everyone.

• Better Content Quality: Because refunds depend on performance, creators are more motivated to make high-converting content.

• Cost Control: You set the sales target, and refunds are processed automatically once the goal is reached. Lazada also returns the commission fee charged on the original order.
   

How to Set Up TikTok Shop Refundable Sample

You can only use Refundable Samples for products listed under Open Collaboration.

Here’s how to set it up:

1. Add or Edit a Product under the Open Collaboration program.

2. In the Affiliate Settings step, turn on the Refundable Sample toggle.

3. Set a Sales Target: this is the number of sales the creator needs to drive within 60 days in order to get their sample cost refunded.

You can offer both Free Samples and Refundable Samples for the same product to appeal to different types of creators.
 

How to Fulfill TikTok Shop Refundable Sample Orders

When a creator requests a Refundable Sample, you can process it like a normal order.

Where to Find the Orders:

• Go to Affiliate > Sample Requests > Refundable Sample, then click Arrange Shipment,
  OR

• Go to TikTok Shop Seller Center > Manage Order, then filter by Refundable Sample

Shipping Fees:

• Handled the same way as regular orders.

• If you're part of the Shipping Fee Program, any extra fee paid by the creator will also be refunded once the refund conditions are met.

Discounts Still Apply:

• Any existing discounts or promotions on the product will still apply when the creator buys it as a Refundable Sample.
   

How TikTok Shop Refund Tracking Works

Once you ship out a Refundable Sample, the system will keep track of whether the creator meets the sales target.

• Pending Criteria: The sample is delivered, but either:

  • The creator hasn’t posted any content yet, or

  • They’ve posted content, but haven’t hit the required number of sales.

• Refunded: The creator meets the sales goal within 60 days. The refund is automatically processed, and you’ll see:

  • How much you refunded

  • The refund date

  • The creator’s content and how well it performed

• Not Refunded: The creator didn’t meet the sales goal within 60 days, no refund is issued.

• Cancelled: The creator canceled the order, so it doesn’t count toward the program anymore.
   

What Happens If the Product Is No Longer Available?

If your product becomes unavailable for any reason, TikTok Shop will automatically refund the creator, even if they never posted any content. This applies when:

• You remove the product from your shop or from Open Collaboration

• TikTok Shop takes the product down due to a policy violation

• Your shop is inactive for over 10 days

Why? Because creators paid for a sample expecting to promote it. If the product can no longer be sold, TikTok Shop ensures fairness by giving them their money back.

Keep Everything Aligned with BigSeller

Refundable Samples offer sellers a smarter way to collaborate with creators where you only refund when their content actually delivers sales. But managing these collaborations requires clear visibility over your product status, variants, and updates.

With BigSeller, sellers can:

• Instantly view content quality suggestions for product titles, images, and descriptions

• Check product status at a glance to ensure only eligible products are open for collaboration

• Use filters and bulk editing tools to quickly optimise listings before enabling samples

• Sync product updates from Seller Center to keep product info accurate on TikTok Shop

Whether you’re publishing products manually, scraping from marketplaces, or copying across stores, BigSeller gives you full control over what creators see and request.

Try BigSeller for free and claim your 7-day VIP trial coupon.

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