Profits are great! Its profiteering that is bad. Companies that go proprietary for the sake of profits, rather than standardizing (which means cooperating with competitors, among other things) for the sake of their customers, are profiteers.
As evidenced by countless standards that have evolved in countless industries, standards are great for customers and vendors because they level the playing field and foster healthy competition. They reduce *everyone's* costs, and just make for a nicer, simpler world. At 12:38 PM 10/16/2009, Thomas & NoelCusack wrote: >There's nothing wrong with profits. that's what allows the business to stay in >business. I have been with a couple of mobility dealers that went out of >business because they had no profits, got greedy and took advantage of the >customers. Locally, we have only one big mobility dealer and what they are >charging the customer for sales and service is unholy. Yet like >cockroaches-theyll survive. The problem is that their customers are crippled >more by what they have to pay for sales and service. Let the tv stations >realize the markups that they're getting-you'd be shocked and saddened. > >--- On Fri, 10/16/09, bob quinn <[email protected]> wrote: > >From: bob quinn <[email protected]> >Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] Wheelchaiir repair from HELL >To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] >Date: Friday, October 16, 2009, 11:06 AM > >And that speaks of another need whose time is wa-a-a-ay overdue: > Power Wheelchair Industry Standards > >There's only one reason none exist yet: profits. > >At 11:24 AM 10/16/2009, [email protected] wrote: >>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 itâââ¢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 okâs 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? >> >>
