Common parts are not common. Manufactures recommend or require that all parts must be ordered from the serial number of the chair as design changes during any given year may change. If a provider orders stock and it sits on the shelf for too long, it becomes wasteful and poor capital use. Look around at the various electric wheelchairs the are near to you and your friends. Do you all have the same size batteries? How about wheels and controllers. When you see "stock" on the shelf, is usually a wrong order that can't be returned for credit. I agree the techs require more training as equipment changes each year. Certification and annual testing is expensive and the price is added to the cost of repairs. Some people wait until the very very very last minute to have service and repairs on their equipment. Some do not have back up equipment for those emergencies. Its also important to know what you have and how it works. Keep in mind that the rules of insurance, be it government or private dictate the rules of repairs. The service tech is merely following those rules in doing their jobs. Keep in mind, this won't solve any problems but it does explain some of them. Best Wishes In a message dated 10/16/2009 10:00:42 A.M. Central Daylight Time, [email protected] writes:
When it comes to wheelchair repairs your trip to Hell is just starting. They will never let me just tell them what the problem is, even if it’s just a flat tire (now I only use flat-free tires). I either have to go in or have them pick up my chair. If my chair is at all usable I go in, otherwise they keep it for 4-8 weeks as they get insurance ok, order parts, etc. We need some kind of patient rights bill for wheelchair repair shops. Have common parts in stock. Get insurance ok’s via phone right away. Have loner chairs available. WORK WEEKENDS. Greg ____________________________________ After many months of the recline not working on the chair, I finally found someone who could at least come look at it. He spoke Spanish & a few words of English. Had to have an interpreter. When i called the shop I told them what the flashing lights were saying controller error. He & his wife came. Stayed about an hour & all he could say was the circuit breaker wasn't worrying. When you request someone who can work on the computer, seems to me they should have sent one. How do you specify the problems & make sure that the correct repairman comes to take of all the problem?
