Going to buy an electric wheelchair

Ironside69

Hi there, apologies if this is not in the right category, please move it if I posted in the wrong place. Okay, I am in the process of purchasing a brand-new electric wheelchair. I know what wheelchair I want so I'm not actually shopping around. The salesman came to see me yesterday and we spent a good 2 1/2 hours discussing what I wanted.

Today, he e-mailed me a quote. I was quite surprised to see that it was about £3000 more expensive than I was expecting, however I have been budgeting on last year's prices. What I want to try and do is negotiate a better price, but like most people I'm not really very good at doing things like that, I get a little bit embarrassed asking for money off. I'm sure that there is someone on here that could give me some good tips on how I might go about getting some money off.

Thanks in advance

rogerblack

Simply email that you've got only X available, and see where he moves.

Ironside69

Yes, this is something I was contemplating Roger. Get this, I have got a 2011 price list for the wheelchair I want. If I bought the wheelchair last year it would have cost me £15,590, they are now asking £18,299, an increase of £2709. I know that things do increase each year, but that is pretty extortionate in my books.

fadetogrey

Ironside69 wrote: »

Yes, this is something I was contemplating Roger. Get this, I have got a 2011 price list for the wheelchair I want. If I bought the wheelchair last year it would have cost me £15,590, they are now asking £18,299, an increase of £2709. I know that things do increase each year, but that is pretty extortionate in my books.

Ironside I have to say I rarely curse but when I saw that price it just came out.I realise they are a specialised item built to last but even so how can they justify charging the price of a brand new family car for a motorised wheelchair? I never knew the price of one and if asked I would have said £5/6 thousand at most,I would most certainly get a few quotes from other suppliers before buying,best of luck.

Ironside69

fadetogrey wrote: »

Ironside I have to say I rarely curse but when I saw that price it just came out.I realise they are a specialised item built to last but even so how can they justify charging the price of a brand new family car for a motorised wheelchair? I never knew the price of one and if asked I would have said £5/6 thousand at most,I would most certainly get a few quotes from other suppliers before buying,best of luck.

Yes, being disabled can be pretty darned expensive when it comes to buying wheelchairs, cars and just about anything that is made especially for disabled people.

Chorlie

Get a quote from another supplier then go back to the first and tell them to beat it, treat it like buying a car, but consider the aftercare service.....the cheapest my not be the cheapest in the long run or if it takes long to repair.

If you work, consider Access To Work to see if they will pay towards the cost.

Last thing to know is most wheelchairs have at least a 30% mark-up some even 40%-50% so a 10% discount should be easy to get, it's the least I expect.

Ironside69

Chorlie wrote: »

Get a quote from another supplier then go back to the first and tell them to beat it, treat it like buying a car, but consider the aftercare service.....the cheapest my not be the cheapest in the long run or if it takes long to repair.

If you work, consider Access To Work to see if they will pay towards the cost.

Last thing to know is most wheelchairs have at least a 30% mark-up some even 40%-50% so a 10% discount should be easy to get, it's the least I expect.

Thanks, some good advice here. I totally agree, I would imagine that wheelchairs do have quite a markup. I remember watching a programme on BBC one two or three years ago, Dominic Littlewood presented it and help people get a bargain, I remember one time when somebody wanted to buy one of those mobility scooters, they got an absolute fortune knocked off the asking price, it was quite amazing. What really annoys me is that if I had ordered an December 31, 2011 I would be paying just under £16,000, a month later the prices increased by £2700, absolutely ridiculous.

Just to add, as far as I know there is only one supplier of Permobil in the UK, but I will check this to make sure that I am correct.

Richie-from-the-Boro

Is it the 'street' ?

- read this - users should NOT be transported in any kind of vehicle whilst in their wheelchair
- single source UK supplier, your choice, you want one - you may well pay full whack my friend !

Ironside69

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

Is it the 'street' ?

- read this - users should NOT be transported in any kind of vehicle whilst in their wheelchair
- single source UK supplier, your choice, you want one - you may well pay full whack my friend !

The permobil has been crash tested, I've used it in my van while driving for over 10 years without any problems.

I've now discovered there are what I think at least four other companies in the UK who sell permobil. So if this is the case, at least they will want to compete for my business, I hope.

I'm still really angry over the fact that a wheelchair can increase by £2700 overnight, I'm amazed that they are allowed to get away with doing it. But I suppose if it is your company you can charge what you want

Parva

Can I just recap here. You're looking at a wheelchair that costs £15,000?

The perm bill has been crash tested, I've used it in my van while driving for over 10 years without any problems.

I've only recently lost my right leg (I mean, ummm, it's gone) so I need to look into one of these Porsche electric wheelchairs! I need one of these!