I have been giving a free gift for two different reasons:

1. If they buy a postable item and pay by direct deposit I state the gift is include and what it is. 

2. I have recently started giving free vintage knick knacks with furniture items if they fit the theme and these will be photographed and state in the listing

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@great_buys_cheap_price wrote:

What ever happened to the old Ebay tradition of sending a small free gift with every purchase? We've been doing this for years now, because we enjoy doing it and buyers love it too. With a bit of creative thinking, it doesn't  cost much to do and I think it is still a nice touch. We've even received unexpected feedback from delighted and suprised buyers, telling us that they felt valued as a customer, simply by receiving a little extra something that may have cost all of 40 cents. As a buyer, I have not received a free gift with my purchase in a few years now, except from one or two exceptional sellers, and  from a seller in China, who sent a 1cm piece of green string in a tiny cello bag, with 'free gift' written on it. I am not sure as to whether they 'got the idea' right with that one?! Anyway, with so many aggressive impatient buyers and distrusting resentful sellers operating on Ebay these days [am i correct?], perhaps a free gift with every purchase, would at least work towards something positive, in calming all those stormy oceans ...

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. Eg. 2 porcelain trios with a vintage table.

This works for me. I enjoy it and thats the main thing.