I must say that over the past few years I have noticed a big change in the service part of our O&P industry on the manufacturer's and distributor's part.  I have been in the industry for over 15 years and can remember when restocking fees were the norm.  If you ever had to return a part that the patient may not have been fond of or the item did not fit very well, we were always slapped with a 15-20% restocking fee.  Or if the part was defective, there was rarely a warranty that would cover the item.

Although, in recent years there has been a tremendous change.  Restocking fees have been virtually dropped, and most parts have at least a 6-month warranty and some even 3 years.  Most importantly, some vendors are even providing trial periods.  What this allows the practitioner and the patient is an opportunity to truly provide the best care and allow us to make an educated decision.

I hope the patients and end users appreciate this, because what it tells us is that the manufacturer of that part is definitely behind their product.  I can not tell you how many times I have taken advantage of this wonderful service.  I do know this will make my decision easier for me in the future when I have to decide which company and manufacturer I will use.

I hope the O&P Industry all read this and are proud of themselves for this! And, for those who have not begun this type of service, they should get on board soon!!