Buying A Used Wheelchair Lift: Is It Safe?

By Author: Jonathan Thomas
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Buying a lift for your wheelchair, whether it be for your home or your vehicle, is an important decision. The most important aspect of purchasing a wheelchair lift is safety. While there are many styles and models available, there are also many pricing ranges. Among the least expensive of all wheelchair lifts are used lifts that are being sold, either because the current owner has upgraded to another model, or simply because they do not need the lift any longer.

Used items are very popular, but when choosing a wheelchair lift, a used model may not always be the safest and best.
Consider first that with a used wheelchair lift you are not getting a warranty. Most manufacturers offer warranties of up to five years on new models, and with a used model, you will not have the assurance of a warranty to help you in case the lift stops working properly. Replacing parts on a wheelchair lift can be very expensive. In fact, if you are forced to replace an electronic motor, you will probably find that a new lift is even less expensive than the motor replacement itself. Purchasing parts are not the only expense that you may ...
... face if you opt to buy a used wheelchair lift. Considering that most people do not know how to repair wheelchair lifts, then you will probably need a repair person to install the new part. These fees alone can be outrageous. With the purchase price of the new part, and the fees to have someone install it for you, you will likely be better off, and save money, but purchasing a new lift to begin with.

Money is only one aspect of the problems that you may have with a used wheelchair lift. Safety should always be your number one concern when deciding on a lift. If you choose a lift that is used, then you have no way to determine how safe the mechanism is. If the motor stops working while the lift is halfway to its destination spot, then you, or your loved one, are stuck on the lift. You run the risk of falling off while you are working to get the lift moving again. There are many things to consider when purchasing a used wheelchair lift. Safety and money just happen to be the two most important aspects of the decision.

If you are purchasing a wheelchair lift for a family member or loved one, or even for yourself, you should consider that this is not one of those things where you would be better off with the least expensive version. You can find inexpensive models that are new, but choosing a used lift has many problems in itself. To ensure your safety, or the safety of your loved one, consider the purchase decision again, and weight the pros and cons of a new lift versus a used one. Chances are you will see that a new lift is not that much more expensive, and the fact of knowing that you and your loved one are safe should make up the monetary difference.