I went to Texas Mobility to buy a companion chair, a wheelchair that has four small wheels that one uses to get around the house. I am a below-the-knee amputee, and I need the chair for going to the bathroom at night and for various other reasons. I went to this business and inquired about a chair. I was told that one cost $400. I told the employee that I didn't have that much cash. She made a show of computing a discount and quoted me a price of $275, which I paid by check. I asked about bringing it back in the situation that it wouldn't fit through my bathroom door. She said that was not a problem, and to call her if that happened so she could order a narrower chair. Sure enough, the chair was too wide, so I called back and she told me she had made a note of my information and that she was ordering a new, narrower chair and would call me when it arrived. I waited a couple of weeks before I called back. I explained that I was asking about bringing back the chair per the instructions of the saleslady. The person on the phone told me the store had a no-exceptions no-return policy that was posted on the front door. She also suggested that I buy a walker instead, which to an amputee is approximately like suggesting a hang glider. I looked up the chair on the internet and discovered it has a MSRP of about $220, and is offered at prices varying from $128 to $178! I bear part of the blame for not checking prices before I went in (although before I went to the store I had no idea what models they carry), but the huge price I paid is unconscionable. The fact that I was told a reassuring lie made the experience much worse. I have a policy of shopping locally -- I stay out of Walmart -- but apparently I will have to buy a replacement for this chair on the internet. Meanwhile I have a useless, but shiny new chair complete with factory packaging of the hardware and a $275 hole in my bank account. read more
