In my opinion, a trial period is a marketing gimmick used to make people think they have options for product return.
Think about it… If you need glasses, would you try them and then go without if they didn’t work or get them working so you can see and function better in life? If you needed a knee brace would the doctor or physiotherapist say if you don’t like it just return it when you actually need it, or would they fix whatever isn’t working so you can have full benefit of the correction?
If you understand the need and purpose of hearing aids – nerve maintenance, cognition, and hearing – you would insist on a successful outcome not a product return. Hence the trial period is an out-dated, misleading marketing gimmick.
I’m a Doctor of Audiology. I’m not a salesperson here to sell you something, I’m here to diagnose and rehabilitate your hearing specific to your needs.
How I see it:
If you need hearing aids for nerve maintenance, cognitive benefit and improved hearing and maybe even tinnitus management, and we do our job so you understand the technology you have chosen and what it can do, and therefore have realistic expectations, and if we do our job right with special fine tuning strategies to make it work well for you so you want to wear it, then it is a medical necessity to improve today’s quality of life while securing your future quality of life. I will coach you through adaptation of 300+ hours of wear time so you can be successful.
How they sell it:
If you need hearing aids but don’t understand the implications for your nerve, cognition, hearing and tinnitus, have unreasonable or uninformed expectations about the technology, and it is fit without attention to detail just following basic practice standards, and you don’t feel like you’re getting the benefit you pay for, then it is a consumer purchase that you may put off at the expense of your present and future benefits, with future risks that you may not be informed about, and yes, go ahead and enjoy the trial, and then return it when it fails to meet your needs and expectations. They will sell you.
For my patients, I personally guarantee full satisfaction within the limitations of your hearing loss, nerve loss, hearing in noise loss, tinnitus and/or any ear-related physiological conditions and the limitations or capabilities of the technology I fit them with that they choose. They will be fully informed and therefore will know all of your options, have realistic expectations, know everything they need to about the product and pros and cons of using it properly. I provide full disclosure about their medical and consumer options and my fiduciary duty is to them. This is my promise. If they are still unsatisfied I will give them their money back within up to 3 months of purchase. I am not arrogant, I am confident in my 30 years of experience, doctorate level education and specialized expertise.