That is indeed interesting. I guess it is just to give a good representation of the color, not the paint? I know they did offer me the sample paint when I asked for a quart. I too took the quart instead, but honestly this was the first time that I was not thrilled with the color so I kind of wish I had selected the sample. I wonder too because when you ask for a quart, they mention that there is more variance with quarts - so maybe the "sample" is truer color qualities but not coverage and wearability issues?
Ya live and learn. I am curious to see any paint experts chime in here.

I have a ton of SW sample paints - and they sure seem like real paint to me! I just grabbed a sample, and it has all the 'normal' paint warning on it. They do say on the jar, that "they are for sampling only, and that they must be topcoated for beautiful finished results.

I've had a similar story line given to me at SW - basically saying that the "sample" is a lessor grade, not suitable for final wallcoating.

I have become very guarded of business story lines, finding them to be less advisory than self-promoting. I therefore suspect, without evidence, that they want to sell a more costly item.

That said, I purchased a quart of "sample" well over a year ago for a very small project. Plenty remains should a recoat be necessary but I haven't experienced chalking, fading or other deterioration thus far.

I have used my $5 sample quarts as the base coat to use them up and never had a problem. I know its a lesser quality paint, but still considered it paint.

They told me the same thing last week. That the sample quarts don't have the "bonding" qualities that regular paint does. Whatever.

I really think they are just doing their job and trying to make sure we buy the more expensive paint for the entire square footage.

I didn't know this but it makes sense given that you get a lot more SW paint for $5 compared to BM teeny jars for $4. I'd rather deal with SW for numerous reasons and we like their paint much better. We buy the Duron I think.

I think SW is doing their job in telling customers this. They would be remiss otherwise.

There are different grades of paint even within a certain "line" (contractor grade versus homeowner grade). I'd imagine that to keep the cost of the sample quarts down, they used the cheapest paints/chemicals (whatever goes into making up paint) possible. They certainly wouldn't want someone to use a sample quart as real paint and then be so dissatisfied with the long-term quality of it that the paint quart got "bad-mouthed" about to other people, so that's why they issue the disclaimer.

I'm very happy that they offer the cheaper sample quarts--I went through over 30 of them in choosing colors/shades for our new basement last year! When we built our house 10 years ago, the contractor sent us to a regional paint company that they use. They didn't have "samples", so you had to get actual quarts of paint--at $12 a quart, I didn't sample very many! That is also what kept me from choosing different colors in separate rooms--it was hard enough getting the right "overall color".

I agree with mqmoi--I'd rather pay $5 for a SW sample quart than $4 for a small BM sample. Even when I wanted to sample a BM color, I took it to SW for matching, but then I was painting 2'x4' pieces of drywall as my sample boards--I needed much more than a little patch of paint on a wall to decide.

Tracey

Yes, I have heard that from many. here on this forum. The paint experts on the paint forum will tell you why.

I don't quite understand what the problem is?? I've bought at least 4 of the samples at SW in the last year, and they work great for their intended purpose--to sample the color. When I found one I liked, I went back and bought a gallon of paint in that color to do my bathroom. They are not intended to be purchased in bulk, for eg, 4 quarts to paint the bath, anymore than the Ralph Lauren sample packets are for buying in bulk or the Ben Moore sample jars, or the Ellen Kennon sample aspirin-size jars.......they are really just to try the color on in a big enough patch so that you can really see what you are looking at.
They are not formulated exactly the same as a quart of SW paint, but they do carry the same colors. I just think they are fabulous, because I would much rather burn $5 and decide against a color, instead of putting out more than twice that much just to try.

Red

Thanks all for the replies. Sounds like I not the only doubting thomas... Red- it isn't a problem particularly, but having been in sales many years, I'm aware of the corporate spin on things. In this case, it's just a small fun project my daughter is working on. I don't need it to hold up as if it were going to be my kitchen. But it will be outside, and I don't want her to put all the work into it that is required, and then in the words of one of the SW employees, find that 'all the paint has worn off in a few months." I truly find that hard to believe. So as we said, we paid $28 instead of $10... no biggie over the long-run, just like to know when I'm getting ripped off!