Recently I reached the point where the desire I had to lead some kind of a normal life was intersecting the need for a power chair. My lightweight transport chair only works if someone is pushing it. I wanted to be able to at least sometimes be on my own and not dependent on the ability of my companions to provide the power to get me around. I did a deep dive online into the many lightweight power chairs that are available. The choices; carbon fibre, aluminium, steel, 28lbs, to 68lbs and beyond, footrests, accessories, warranties ranging from 90 days to 5 years; the choices were endless it seemed. And ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars, not a purchase to be made without solid understanding of what you are getting. Analysis paralysis had me in it's clutches. Months rolled past and my world got smaller and smaller while I tried to make a decision.
Until my husband made the suggestion we visit a shop in Colma that specialized in mobility assistive devices. Mobility City is 10 minutes south of San Francisco with ample parking making it easy to get to. The staff were helpful, knowledgeable and not pushy in the least. Most of the larger brands I had been looking at were there, available to try. At the repeated urging to the young woman helping us I took each chair in the class we were looking at out of the shop and onto the sidewalk that runs along the front of the shops in the shopping center. There were ramps and bumps and hills and curb cuts and obstacles and various surfaces to compare. I was ASTOUNDED how quickly chairs that had all seemed about the same inside on the smooth lino floors of the shop quickly shook down into clear categories; Super light weight with rough rides on anything but smooth ground, Heavy but still portable chairs with much smoother rides and climbing power, and a middle ground where speed and power and ride and price point all come together. It made it very easy for me to eliminate the chairs that were too uncomfortable for me, and chairs that were too large and heavy to be practical for my desire to have some independence. It took a few hours to work thru the options and narrow it down (to the TravelBuggy AeroluxC2, but that's another review) and make a decision. The price was a small amount over the online direct from the manufacture cost, but I was so grateful for the availability of demo models to try, and the kind, helpful assistance I had received, I didn't mind. They have overhead after all, not just a website to maintain. And I got the chair immediately, with a relationship established with a company that had good solid business history and a complete repair maintenance shop attached for future need. When I had a small issue 3 weeks later they were on the phone and helpful in resolving it and when I had an additional (user error) issue they had me bring the chair into the shop and quickly sorted me out. I ordered the luggage bags for my chair as we will be traveling with it soon and I wanted to check it with as much protection as possible. They had them in and ready to either be picked up or shipped to home in a few days. While I was there they helped people with choosing assistive arm chairs and walkers and were as helpful and knowledgeable as they were with the chairs I was looking at. ou can tell I am impressed with this company. I am not someone who is easily impressed. These guys know their stufff and have a solid business model that respects their customers and offeres excellent service. Do not buy a chair without sitting your ass in one. And I highly recommend you do so at one of Mobility City's locations. Solid 10/10! read more