Graduation season comes with a fun side tradition: mailing your announcement to a brand you love and seeing what comes back. Some companies are known for replying with a small gift, a coupon, or a warm congratulatory note. It is not an official program at any of them, so think of it as a friendly long shot.
Results vary from person to person and year to year, because this is a word-of-mouth trend that spread on social media. A few grad-season deals listed on company websites, near the end of this guide, can round out your 2026 plans.
Company programs, addresses, and offer terms change often, so treat every brand and offer below as a lead to verify, not a promise. Confirm current details on each company’s own website before you mail anything or make a purchase decision.
Restaurants and Food Brands: The Mail-In Tradition
- Chick-fil-A: This is one of the most commonly mentioned brands in the trend. Some grads report a small plush cow, a branded hat or sweatshirt, stickers, or occasionally a meal voucher.
Mail your announcement with a short, genuine note to Chick-fil-A’s corporate office roughly six to eight weeks before your ceremony. Confirm the current mailing address on chick-fil-a.com first, since this is an unofficial trend and a response is never guaranteed.
- Crumbl Cookies: Responses vary widely because the chain is franchise-run. Some grads report a handwritten card, stickers, or an occasional cookie gift card from their local store.
Mail your announcement to a nearby Crumbl location or reach out by email, since individual stores are more likely to respond than headquarters. This is not an official corporate giveaway, and a store that says yes one year may not repeat it the next.
- Raising Cane’s: Some grad reports mention branded merchandise like hats or t-shirts, and occasionally a small gift card. Results can vary by region.
Mail your announcement to a local Raising Cane’s or the corporate headquarters, and mention your favorite order in your note. It is not an advertised chain-wide program, so treat it as a fun long shot rather than something to count on.
- Chili’s: Some graduate accounts mention gift cards or small merchandise, though responses are inconsistent across locations.
Try mailing an announcement to a local Chili’s or to Brinker International’s Dallas headquarters, and mention a favorite menu item in your note. Because this is not an official, publicized program, avoid building any real graduation plans around a reply.
Beauty, Toy, and Everyday Brands Worth a Letter
- LEGO: LEGO has a reputation among grads for sending a personalized congratulatory letter, and some report a small LEGO set as well.
Mail your announcement and a brief, sincere note to LEGO’s U.S. consumer relations address, and verify that address on LEGO.com’s contact page first. This is an unofficial trend rather than an advertised LEGO program, so both the response and any gift are inconsistent.
- Rare Beauty: Grad reports mention occasional sample or full-size makeup products along with a congratulatory note.
Reach out to Rare Beauty’s customer care team through rarebeauty.com and ask for a current mailing address before you send anything. The brand does not advertise a graduation program, so treat any positive story you have seen online as one person’s experience rather than a rule.
- Tru Fru: Some graduate accounts mention sample boxes of its chocolate-dipped fruit snacks, sometimes along with a coupon.
Check the contact page on trufru.com for a current mailing address, then send your announcement with a short note. This is unofficial and inconsistent, so a snack sample or coupon in your mailbox is a pleasant surprise rather than something to expect.
- Sun Bum: Some grads report sunscreen or lip balm samples, stickers, and small branded merchandise.
Contact Sun Bum through its official website and ask for a current mailing address before you send your announcement. Responses can vary by region, and nothing here is guaranteed.
- Takis: Takis has appeared in graduate roundups as a brand that occasionally sends new chip-flavor samples, a card, and some branded swag through its U.S. maker, Barcel USA.
Check takis.us for current contact details before sending your announcement. The brand does not advertise a graduation program, so this remains a try-it-and-see option.
- Glossier: Some grad accounts mention a celebratory note along with signature beauty products, such as a lip or brow product.
Mail your announcement to Glossier’s New York office, and confirm a current address through glossier.com first. Responses are unofficial and inconsistent, so don’t count on hearing back.
- Sanrio: Grad reports mention character merchandise, stickers, or a handwritten note, especially if you name a favorite character like Hello Kitty in your letter.
Mail your announcement to Sanrio’s U.S. office, and check sanrio.com for a current address before you send it. This is a fun long shot rather than a reliable source of free items, so keep your expectations modest.
- Sesame Workshop: The nonprofit behind Sesame Street is reported by some grads to send congratulatory letters and occasionally a signed character photo.
Mail your announcement to Sesame Workshop’s New York office, and confirm the current address on sesameworkshop.org. As a nonprofit educational organization rather than a retailer, any response is best understood as a goodwill gesture, not a guaranteed gift.
- Urban Outfitters: Some grad roundups mention apparel, home decor items, stickers, or coupons, which can be handy if you’re furnishing a dorm room or first apartment.
Mail your announcement to Urban Outfitters Inc.’s Philadelphia headquarters, and confirm the address on urbanoutfitters.com. This is not an advertised retailer program, so treat it as a bonus rather than a plan.
- Jellycat: Some graduation roundups mention handwritten cards, stickers, and occasionally a small plush toy.
Look on jellycat.com for current U.S. contact details before you mail your announcement. Jellycat does not advertise a graduation program, so treat any reply as a pleasant bonus.
- Not Your Mother’s: Some grads report hair-care samples or full-size products in response to a mailed announcement.
Find current contact details on notyourmothers.com before you mail your note, and consider mentioning your hair type or a favorite scent. The brand does not advertise this, so treat a reply as a bonus.
- Bath & Body Works: Grad roundups mention possible mini products, samples, or coupons.
Mail your announcement to the corporate headquarters in Columbus, Ohio, confirming the address via bathandbodyworks.com, and mention a favorite scent in your note. It is not an advertised program, so approach it as a maybe rather than a sure thing.
- Kendra Scott: This jewelry brand shows up in a few “brands that respond to grads” roundups, though what grads actually receive varies.
If you’d like to try, mail your announcement to Kendra Scott LLC’s headquarters in Austin, Texas, and confirm the current address via kendrascott.com. Because individual reports differ, treat this as a long shot rather than an expectation.
- American Eagle: Some grad-season roundups mention a coupon, sticker sheet, or small accessory for grads who mail in an announcement, which is useful if you’re stocking up on clothes for a first apartment or new job.
Mail your announcement to American Eagle Outfitters’ Pennsylvania headquarters, and confirm the current address on ae.com. This is not a published retailer policy, so treat any response as a pleasant surprise.
- Build-A-Bear Workshop: Some grad-season lists mention a small plush item, coupon, or card for people who mail in a personal note, separate from the official birthday offer for its Bonus Club members.
Mail your announcement to Build-A-Bear’s St. Louis headquarters, checking the current address on buildabear.com. Treat this as an unofficial, inconsistent long shot rather than a confirmed graduation offer.
- Insomnia Cookies: Some graduate accounts mention a free cookie coupon or small treat from a nearby store when you mail or drop off an announcement, similar in spirit to other food brands on this list.
Reach out to your local Insomnia Cookies shop directly, since individual stores are more likely to respond than the corporate office. You can find your nearest location on insomniacookies.com, and responses depend entirely on the store you contact.
- Dutch Bros: Some grad roundups describe local stands handing out a free drink coupon or sticker pack to grads who stop in and share the news. This is far more informal than a mail-in program.
Check with your nearest Dutch Bros location, which you can find on dutchbros.com. This varies by location and isn’t a corporate policy, so a friendly ask is the most you can plan on.
- Yankee Candle: Some roundups mention a sample candle, coupon, or congratulatory note for grads who mail in an announcement, which can be a nice touch for a first apartment.
Look up a current mailing address through the customer care section of yankeecandle.com before you send your note. This isn’t an official graduation program, so treat any reply as a bonus.
- Vera Bradley: Some grad-gift roundups mention a small accessory, sample, or discount code for grads who write in with a mailed announcement, fitting its reputation for bags and travel accessories popular with new graduates.
Mail your announcement to Vera Bradley’s corporate address, confirming it on verabradley.com. This is not a stated corporate program, so don’t count on a response.
Beyond the Mailbox: A Few Real Grad-Season Deals
Mailing an announcement isn’t the only way to save around graduation season. A few offers come straight from the companies or their local restaurants, so you’re not relying on a mail-in reply.
- Golden Corral: Some participating locations of the buffet chain have offered grads a free meal for showing up in cap and gown on graduation night. The offer varies by location and year, so call your local restaurant to confirm before you go.
- Amazon Prime Student: College students can check Amazon’s official Prime Student page for the current offer. It has included a free trial of Prime’s shipping and streaming benefits, followed by a discounted student rate.
- Automaker grad programs: Ford, Nissan, and Toyota have run college-grad purchase or lease incentive programs. Dollar amounts and eligibility windows change regularly, so check each manufacturer’s official college program page for the current terms.
Get Free Products Through Yotpo Sampling’s Peek Community
Another route to free products is Yotpo Sampling, which brands use to get products in front of real shoppers. Peek is its shopper community.
You join the community, and when a brand’s campaign suits your profile, you receive an email invitation. You answer yes or no, and if you say yes, the brand ships the product to you.
After you try it, you write an honest review in your own words, favorable or not. A match is never guaranteed, so think of it as a nice extra rather than a plan.
Smart Tips and How to Avoid “Free” Scams
Grad season brings out a lot of genuine goodwill from brands. It also brings out opportunists who use the word “free” to collect personal information or money. A few habits will keep you safe while you chase these offers.
- Never pay to unlock a freebie. Skip any shipping fee, processing charge, or “verification” deposit for something advertised as free. A site asking for a credit card “just to cover shipping” on a supposedly free item is a common scam pattern worth walking away from.
- Go straight to the source. Use a company’s official website or verified social media account, not links in unsolicited emails, texts, or ads promising free samples, gift cards, or student discounts. Look-alike domains are common during graduation season because so many real programs exist to imitate.
- Protect your personal data. Share only what is reasonably needed, such as your name and mailing address for a physical item or a school email for student-discount verification. Be wary of any offer that asks for a Social Security number, full birth date, or financial account details in exchange for a “free” item.
- Expect some silence. Store locations, franchise owners, and corporate customer service teams can say no, go quiet, or simply not have a formal policy for these requests. A lack of response usually means the brand doesn’t participate, not that anything went wrong.
- Give offers plenty of time. Mail-in requests tied to the announcement trend can take several weeks, if you hear back at all. Plan ahead rather than mailing your one and only announcement copy right before your ceremony and expecting a fast reply.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is mailing a graduation announcement to a company guaranteed to get you free stuff?
No. This is an informal, crowd-sourced trend spread mostly through social media, not an official program at any of the brands mentioned here. Some grads report receiving a note, a small gift, or a coupon, while many others receive nothing at all, so it’s worth trying as a low-cost experiment rather than something to count on.
What should I include when mailing an announcement to a brand?
Most successful reports involve a copy of your actual graduation announcement or invitation, plus a short, genuine, handwritten note explaining who you are and what the brand means to you. Keep it brief and sincere rather than a long request, and always double-check the company’s current mailing address on its official website before sending.
How early should I mail graduation announcements to companies?
A common recommendation from grads who’ve tried this is to mail about six to eight weeks before your ceremony, since responses (when they happen) can take time to process through a company’s mailroom or customer service team. Mailing at the very last minute reduces the chance of hearing back before your graduation date.
Are there official graduation deals worth checking in 2026?
Some restaurant promotions and student discount programs come directly from companies or their local locations, such as graduation-night offers at participating restaurants or verified student subscription discounts, rather than from informal reports. Even for these, always check the current terms and dates on the official page, since promotions and eligibility windows can change or end.
How can I tell if a “free graduation gift” offer is a scam?
Be suspicious of any offer that asks you to pay a fee, provide financial account information, or enter sensitive personal data like a Social Security number in exchange for something free. Go directly to a company’s official website or verified account instead of clicking links in unsolicited messages, and remember that legitimate free offers don’t require payment to redeem.
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