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Mobility scooter advice sorely needed

(31 Posts)
TillyWhiz Wed 04-Jul-18 16:49:48

DH has mobility problems, and the family having broached the subject gingerly of aids, he has decided he would like a mobility boot scooter which we can take in the car and use at our destination. So we went to the local mobility shop where we were shown just one newly in and most expensive and got a take it or leave it attitude. So of course DH left it!
I then phoned Age UK Mobility central number who said they would get someone to contact me. Only it was a man at a company from Guiseley, many many miles from us, who didn't know why I contacted them as they only do stairlifts!
Any advice would be very much appreciated as I am feeling quite frazzled!

Anniebach Fri 06-Jul-18 09:11:44

Thank you, had no idea what it meant, how green can a person be ?.

I did love that scooter , i could get to the mountain roads on one like that , oh well, dream on Annie . And as younger daughter said - get to the Pen y Fan lane when you can’t even get to end of the front path. ?

NfkDumpling Fri 06-Jul-18 08:29:07

There was a vacancy here for a mystery shopper a few weeks back. DH refused to let me apply. All that pretend shopping and no expense!

NanaandGrampy Fri 06-Jul-18 07:47:58

Sorry Anniebach , mystery shopping is where someone goes to a shop and pretends to be interested in purchasing something .

In this case a scooter . They have a checklist of all the types of questions you would ask and after the visit they complete a feedback form .

This allows the shop to work on areas where they didn’t score well , maybe service or customer care .

It’s used extensively in retail .

NfkDumpling Fri 06-Jul-18 07:06:49

Don’t forget you’ll need one with space in the footwell for a little dog! There’s a lady who zooms past here with a little white dog riding in the footwell, twitching nose to the fore!

NfkDumpling Fri 06-Jul-18 07:04:34

That’s a shame. But at least now you know what sort to look for second hand.

Anniebach Thu 05-Jul-18 20:27:06

It doesn’t belong to the person next door, have never seen her but know it isn’t hers , she is a recluse .

NfkDumpling Thu 05-Jul-18 20:08:18

Let them know you want one like it but can’t afford it. There’s a good chance they’ll not use it for long or know someone who has one for sale and the second hand value is very low!

Anniebach Thu 05-Jul-18 19:54:06

Just saw exactly the scooter I want, really want, it’s parked next door.

Googled it, with vat relief it costs £2,789.00

Perhaps if I write to he who delivers gifts on a sleigh drawn by reindeer?

Anniebach Thu 05-Jul-18 11:50:08

Not through DLA Nina. Thank you

Anniebach Thu 05-Jul-18 11:48:24

Thank you humpty, so kind of you x

ninathenana Thu 05-Jul-18 11:46:22

If you are getting one through DLA they will come to you and bring samples to test drive.
They did this for my friend and her daughter who arre both blue badge holders.

Anniebach Thu 05-Jul-18 11:44:23

NannaandG, I don’t want one which fits into a car I haven’t got a car.

Have never heard of mystery shopping , no idea what it is, would you mind explaining please, I would be so grateful

humptydumpty Thu 05-Jul-18 11:42:39

There is a brand new scooter advertised on Amazon at £499

www.amazon.co.uk/Livewell-Portable-Travel-Mobility-Scooter/dp/B07B4KQ8J7/ref=sr_1_5_a_it?keywords=mobility+boot+scooter&tag=gransnetforum-21&ie=UTF8&qid=1530787305&sr=8-5

NanaandGrampy Thu 05-Jul-18 11:30:03

If you telephone a dealer who has been mystery shopped and accredited by RICA you'll get someone VERY friendly not at all pushy and knowledgeable.

I know because Ive mystery shopped a few in my time and one of the key criteria is not to be pushy. Also most will bring 2 or 3 scooters out to you Anniebach for you to try.
My scooter breaks down to go in the boot and I used to do that one my own. Its too heavy for me now ( the biggest part weighs 55lbs) so instead I had a hoist fitted to my car. If you are a Motability customer these work out from as little as £100 , and that makes getting the scooter in and out a doddle. However your car must be a hatchback and have sufficient lift room but the company can advise you on that. I use Brygaid - and have done for some years.

Anniebach Thu 05-Jul-18 10:05:27

Nfk, thank you, locally for us is Cardiff, Swansea or Hereford ? , this is the problem, the joys of living in Mid Wales .

NfkDumpling Thu 05-Jul-18 09:42:02

You may have to listen to the sales drivel Annie but at least they’d give the makers names of the ones which are stocked locally. You can then research on the internet and ask them to look out for a second hand one for you. Most dealers around here do trade ins, sell them on serviced and service them for you. (Replace batteries, etc). Hopefully the same happens in your area.

Anniebach Thu 05-Jul-18 09:24:21

I am finding it very difficult to buy a scooter. Can’t get to Cardiff or Hereford, don’t want one which folds up to go in a car. If I telephone a dealer for advice will it just be sales talk.

Tartlet Thu 05-Jul-18 00:14:44

I spent ages a couple of years ago looking at mobility scooters and comparing prices and just want to warn you that mobility shops, both online and high street, charge very high prices.

This site was recommended to me and has the cheapest prices I was able to find anywhere. Several hundred pounds cheaper than the same model in a high street mobility shop. I was a bit naughty and used the high street shops to look at and test ride the scooters but then bought on line.

www.lloydspharmacy.com/en/mobility-scooters#first

The boot scooters are very convenient but can be quite heavy to lift in and out and are a bit of a faff. Also, you wouldn’t want to use them to go any distance because they don’t normally have any suspension and the wheels are hard so the ride isn’t particularly comfortable. And the battery mileage is more limited than the bigger on road types.

I bought the Pride GoGo Traveller Elite Plus four wheel. I have to admit that it hasn’t had a lot of use. I can’t use it when alone, which is much of the time, as I can’t lift it in and out of the boot as one of the dismantled parts is both big and heavy and I don’t use it when not out in the car because it’s not that comfortable after a while and I’m worried about the battery life going and getting stranded.

I think those combination of things are the reason so many scooters get so little use.

You can buy lighter types which just fold up but they’re still beyond me alone to lift and I felt very unstable on one when I tried it in our cobbled town centre. It’s a problem.

We don’t realise how lucky we are to have full and easy mobility until we lose it.

NfkDumpling Wed 04-Jul-18 21:02:01

Four wheels feel much more stable than three, with the weight of the battery at the back they’re quite stable - as long as you don’t drive recklessly.

NanaandGrampy Wed 04-Jul-18 21:01:00

This site www.rica.org.uk/ can point you in the direction of a dealer who has been mystery shopped before they are accredited .

They can also offer lots of advice .

maryeliza54 Wed 04-Jul-18 20:40:16

Some places rent them out - it might be worth doing that to really test it out before buying.

Galen Wed 04-Jul-18 20:30:03

I use a ‘smartie’ which self folds and is brilliant.
Not cheap but very adaptable

TillyWhiz Wed 04-Jul-18 20:19:05

Luckygirl Thank you for the link and we shall certainly do some Googling. Thank you all for the advice.

At least he got a test ride on the expensive one and I took it apart and put it together so we have some idea what we are looking for and need now!

The frazzle has eased with your help and support!

Luckygirl Wed 04-Jul-18 19:44:28

You do have to be sure that you get one you feel stable on. As some folk might know, my Dad tipped his over and it landed on him, fracturing his pelvis, which led to his slow inevitable demise. It was his fault though - he tried to do a 180 degree turn on it.

I think most people would use theirs a bit less recklessly. The bigger they are the more stable they seem; but they are of course much heavier.

Davidhs Wed 04-Jul-18 19:38:27

Look on EBay lots advertised S/H, pick one in good condition we bought a really good one for Wife's father for £150. To fit in a car some are light enough to lift in, some you need to take apart.