Where to buy an affordable wheelchair..new/used

[pat fan]

My DM has been using a wheelchair at the mall etc..and we were going to rent one for our WDW trip from a company in Orlando. Now I'm thinking we should just buy one. It's not like her legs will get any better, only worse.

So....I can't find anyone local that sells used chairs and a new one is like $500-$600....not something I can afford, even if my siblings and I split it. Any ideas? A reputable on-line company that is reasonable? Anything?

 

[Chuck S]

Have you tried the thrift stores in your area (Goodwill, etc.), sometimes they will have used wheelchairs, walkers, etc. Also medicare/medicaid or her insurance will pay for a chair if your her doctor determines she needs one. By the time you pay $70 or so for a weeks rental, you'll nearly have paid 50% of the cost for a lower end basic chair.

Transport chairs (4 small wheels, needs someone to push) are about $100 to $150 new.

Also, I did a quick Google for "wheelchair purchase" and there are some basic wheelchairs with the standard larger rear wheels starting at about $120 at a company called 1-800-wheelchair.com with free shipping. I haven't done business with any of the internet companies, so I can't personally recommend them, it would be at your own risk...but they are cheaper than $500.

 

[SueM in MN]

If she is going to be pushed in it, you might want to look at Transport Chairs, rather than wheelchairs. Rather than having 2 small wheels in the front and 2 large wheels in the back, they have 4 small wheels. The person using the wheelchair can't propel themself because of the small wheels, but they can be easily pushed by someone else.
There are several advantages to them:
- they are less expensive
- they are lighter weight
- they are smaller and easier to get into a vehicle

I don't know if this link will work, but it's a link to a transport chair on the Sears website.
If the link doesn't work, go to www.sears.com and do a search for wheelchairs in the health and wellness section. The one the link is to was $259, but they have others at $179 and $159.

If you belong to Sam's Club, they have a a wheelchair (not a transport chair) for sale $193.

If you go to www.amazon.com and do a search for wheelchairs, you will come up with a lot of choices. If you go to the individual items, look under "Availability". The companies that are selling the item are listed. If you click on the company, it gives a rating and comments from people who have used that company. So, at least you have some feedback to go by. The particular one I went to was made by Invacare, which is one of the major wheelchair manufacturers in the US.

The price increases as you add more features, like swing away footrests or removable armrests.

 

[Michigan]

Have you thought about having her doctor write a prescription for one? There are medical supply places that will charge her insurance a rental fee until the chair is paid for and then it will be her chair.

 

[meandtheguys2]

We bought one for my grandmother out of the local "bulletin Board" sales paper. It was nearly new, and cost us about $75. They had bought it for their relative who passed away. There are always one or two for sale, at the least.

 

[zumbergc]

Keep an eye out in the local sunday paper. Sometimes I see them listed in the paper. Sometimes ecv's sometimes wheelchairs.

 

[pat fan]

Thanks for the replies.

I know I should just get her to ask her Dr. for the script, but she doesn't really want to admit she needs one of her own yet. She is ok with "borrowing" one, but doesn't want it to be "hers". Know what I mean?

I will check out the Sunday paper though. Our local paper hasn't had anything, but the Sunday one covers a larger area. Good idea.

 

[edcrbnsoul]

SpinLife has some

http://www.spinlife.com/cid-2/kp/wheelchair