That was the best piece of advice I got before I started my shift as a grocery store sample lady. "Say, 'I have a Reuben sandwich for you!' " advised Denise LeClaire, a Lunds & Byerlys food expert.

The economy is rough these days and we could all use a free meal. If you head to your nearest bulk goods store on the weekend, you’ll find a glut of free samples that would fill anyone. But which bulk ...