One of my ancestors was a Clock maker. His name was Eli Terry, and we have a Terry Clock made in 1825. It has wooden gears, a beautiful pillar and scroll design, and great potential to keep time. The clock holds a place of honor in our dining room.
Clock makers from New England were plentiful, just as audiologists are today. But, Eli Terry was a skilled clockmaker who changed America. He developed methods to mass produce clocks and hired drummers or door-to-door salesmen to market the new, inexpensive clocks. The drummer would stop by the farmer's house, demonstrate the clock, offer it for sale for $3.00 or so, and the farmer would decline such an expensive acquisition. The drummer would persuade the family to keep the clock for a month or so, and he would pick it up on his return of his route. With few exceptions, at the end of the month, the family got the money together to purchase the clock.This changed middle America to follow time on a clock rather than following the sun.
So, There was a professional who understood the value of a 30 day trial to help families experience the life altering experience of living by the clock rather than by the sun. He was the first manufacturer to mass produce anything in America, preceding Henry Ford by nearly one century.
The lesson is as fresh as the technology of today. Offering a change in quality of life, for a fair price, often requires a trial to experience personally the benefits of such a change. Whether it is time, or a sensory change such as hearing, often a trial enables clarity with regard to the benefit and value of the acquisition.
That's why Appalachian Audiology always offers a 30 day trial period for all hearing instruments purchased through our practice. Wisdom with time......a lesson learned.