Free samples!

OK. Forgive me.

No giveaways here.

But I'm testing the theory that freebies are the best way to drag you in the store -- or in my case, the blog.

Sam's does it. United Supermarkets do it.

They station the folks with the little carts and microwaves and bites of pizza on napkins or cheese squares on toothpicks.

We eat our way through the stores, and I'll be the first to admit I'm apt to put something I like in the cart no matter how much willpower I try to summon.

I'm a product sample pushover.

Do you buy? And when you cave in, what do you get? Do you become regular buyers of something you sampled or is it a one-time fling?

If you can't recall your sampling behavior, you'll have another chance to experience it at United Market Street, 2530 S. Georgia St., in Amarillo this weekend.

United's Market Street locations will host a Best of Texas Expo from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Complimentary samplings may include Texas Gulf Shrimp and Cooked Crawfish farm-raised in Wichita Falls; Fredericksburg's Opas Smoked Sausage Wraps with Texas Mustard; Casa Rica and Mi Pueblo Tortillas from Plainview; and Market Street's own Patio Sangria.

So, munch! And let me know about your discoveries.

I may need to try them.