sample
A sample is the supposedly sacred giveaway provided at physical or online counters with the seller’s sweet lies of “try before you buy.” In reality, it serves as a lure toward the main product, boasting an inconspicuous presence and a magic power to loosen wallets involuntarily. Those who sample feel intellectually superior, only to discover the harsher reality of an expensive upgrade waiting just around the corner. Since its true value is unleashed outside the sample, it paradoxically becomes the most effective unpaid advertisement.