Hello from the PNW

[Slynux]

Hi - I'm Dennis from Washington State in the US where I volunteer as a 'fixer' (their term, not mine) at a nearby Medical Equipment Bank. The MEB provides donated DME and supplies to people who would otherwise not be able to afford them.

Most of the stuff we get just needs a brake adjustment or a fastener replaced but we also get a surprising number of powerchairs and scooters that need more technical attention. Come to find that the manufacturers and vendors of these machines are depressingly reticent when it comes to support. I recently retired from 30 years in healthcare IT and apparently I got spoiled. If an IT vendor gave me the kind of brush-off I've gotten from powerchair vendors I doubt they'd last long. Fortunately it looks like there are a lot of intelligent, experienced folks here that are willing to share.

Thanks for providing this resource Mr. Burgerman!

[Burgerman]

Thats because the IT industry lives in the free market competitive capitalist world. Powerchairs live in the massively over regulated and corrupt corporatist and back hander and over complex world. Where its all about big companies and politicians "helping" each other with telephone number contracts and impossible beurocracy.

Thats why you can pick up a phone and get a carpet fitted, bathroom car, pool, air conditioning, plane ticket etc, instantly. They all compete for your cash. The wheelchair industry doesent care about you as an end user. They dont have to please you, the cash comes from elsewhere. No free market? No End user waving the money around? No service. So they are not geared up to sell anything to you. Go buy a jetski, car, new bathroom, a PC, and there will be salesemen fighting over you. You are where their $$$ comes from.

Its the same story in the UK. But not as bad. While BASIC chairs come from the NHS if you dont die first waiting, better chairs ARE paid for by end users. So its at least possible to buy one on most high streets and order parts. They want your £££.

[martin007]

Here in Spain the current trend is the following.
Yesterday I make miles in the city.
Sellers take advantage of people's ignorance.

If the buyer has the empty wallet, they offer him a folding Chinese powerchair.
The sellers even have two units in the store.

If the buyer has a full wallet, they offer him a Permobil powerchair.
In many cases with 6 wheels.

There are affordable and quality alternatives.
There are few Sunrise powerchairs circulating...
Expert buyers aren't welcome in powerchair shops.
Sellers have become scammers.



P.S. What is the difference between store and shop?

[martin007]

Chinese folding power chairs are rubbish and permobil powerchairs are expensive to repair.

[Burgerman]

A store is americanese for a shop...

[Raro]

Welcome Slynux!

As in everything, one always looks at one's own interest, it is not that the free market is that different, because in the end you will pay some standards, you have more options but within some rules.
In Spain they also pay you for the basic chair, I would say that Quickie is the best-selling brand here. Yes, the Chinese chairs are not very good, but as a user of one for seven years I can say that they have not given me a single breakdown with their contained measurements, you can fit them through any door under any table as they are foldable and light, they fit into them. in any trunk without having to adapt the car, what else does that give you? For this reason and because they are "free" they have become one of the best sellers.
Orthopedic products are absurdly expensive and manufacturers - sellers take advantage of their monopoly? definitely yes.

With money everything goes better.

[Burgerman]

it is not that the free market is that different

Regarding living standards, GDP, product quality, choice, competitive pricing, and service it is everything! Literally it controls your complete economic system.

[martin007]

Welcome Slynux!

As in everything, one always looks at one's own interest, it is not that the free market is that different, because in the end you will pay some standards, you have more options but within some rules.
In Spain they also pay you for the basic chair, I would say that Quickie is the best-selling brand here. Yes, the Chinese chairs are not very good, but as a user of one for seven years I can say that they have not given me a single breakdown with their contained measurements, you can fit them through any door under any table as they are foldable and light, they fit into them. in any trunk without having to adapt the car, what else does that give you? For this reason and because they are "free" they have become one of the best sellers.
Orthopedic products are absurdly expensive and manufacturers - sellers take advantage of their monopoly? definitely yes.

With money everything goes better.

Where do they give away those free power chairs you say?
What region do you live in?

[Burgerman]

Something you didnt know about?

They are giving out free chairs and nobody told you.

[Raro]

Where do they give away those free power chairs you say?
What region do you live in?[/quote]

In social security, any rehabilitation doctor will prescribe it to you, if you have the right to do so. Cantabria.

[martin007]

"Preaching is not the same as giving wheat."

How many years have you been a powerchair user?
Is this the first powerchair you bought?

[Raro]

"Preaching is not the same as giving wheat."

How many years have you been a powerchair user?
Is this the first powerchair you bought?

why do you question it? 16 years old, I have more chairs but two of them financed by social security.

I don't know you, I don't know what your situation is.

[martin007]

I question it because that's my reality.
I have a powerchair with many years.
They helped me pay for it.

In theory years ago they would have to help me buy another powerchair.
The problem is that everything depends on a person's signature.
That person (a doctor) decides that there is no money for me.
The doctor tells me to take them as I can.

The law also says that I have the right to have a battery replaced every 12 months, but then there's the fine print.
By magic those 12 months become 24 months.
Now I have to find out in advance when I will need new batteries.
The reason is that I have to have a document dated before the purchase so that they can help me pay for them.
But I can't know for sure if a battery will fail prematurely.


P.S. I live in Castile.

[Raro]

How old is the chair? Depending on which one you buy, you have a period of 4 to 5 years to renew it and the batteries every year.
If you have the right to it, the doctor is nobody to deny it to you. If you have problems with him, change your doctor.

[martin007]

How old is the chair? Depending on which one you buy, you have a period of 4 to 5 years to renew it and the batteries every year.
If you have the right to it, the doctor is nobody to deny it to you. If you have problems with him, change your doctor.

Can you choose which ""specialist doctor"" to visit?
In Castile we cannot choose a specialist doctor.

I know the law, but...
About 2 years ago (or more) I had to spend 500€ on some batteries.
As I have already said, it is now necessary to have a document dated before the purchase of the batteries.
The waiting list meant that they couldn't help me pay for the batteries.
Another factor is that no more than 60 days can pass between the date of the medical prescription and the date of the purchase invoice.
The obstacles are several.

"Preaching is not the same as giving wheat."

Can you tell if a battery is going to fail prematurely?

[Raro]

Throughout the Spanish territory you can choose the doctor you want, another thing is what your autonomous community tells you because they have derived powers but in yours in particular I think it is already possible.
Your doctor can't say no anyway.
As for the date of the invoice, more than one orthopedic will have no problem solving it for you.

[martin007]

Your doctor can't say no anyway.

It's very easy to talk...
...especially in a forum.


What you say is not possible in Castilla y Leon for a prescription of batteries or powerchair.

[Raro]

Be well informed and I tell you this with the intention of helping, not arguing, I have acquaintances from more than one autonomous community and this is the first time I have heard that the doctor refuses to prescribe a chair.

What reasons do you allege?

[Raro]

What reasons do you allege?

the doctor

[martin007]

He claims a lack of budget availability.
The doctor claims that my old chair is still working.
The doctor has told me that if he damages an engine, that I should pay for the repair of the engine.


P.S. Some doctors receive an amount of money for each denied patient.

[Raro]

P.S. Some doctors receive an amount of money for each denied patient.

I do not believe that

If you seriously have those problems, I encourage you to report it.

[Burgerman]

I think its likely similar to britain. Doctors here dont supply chairs. But as far as all edical care goes they get x amount per patient. So if they have 1000 customers that never visit a doctor they have more to spend on the rest The less they spend the more £££ to share out at the end of the year. They do not like patients like me with monthly expensive prescriptions for e.g.

[martin007]

The health system rewards some doctors who save money to the "system".
It's an open secret.

The system saves money by cutting back on those it deems expendable like me.
Some people are glad about that...
Other people waste that money.

[Raro]

It's very easy to talk...
...especially in a forum.