Caring for your Mobility Scooter

There is that old saying, 'care for something and it will care for you'. Just like any advanced bit of engineering, a little bit of cares can make a huge difference where it matters most...reliability!

When buying a car, a dishwasher or even a mobility scooter, the more care and attention you put into maintaining it the longer it will last for you. For people who really rely on their car for example, you would be a fool to think that all you need to do is add petrol when it runs empty and that is enough to keep it going. Cars need regular servicing, checks, water, oil, tyre pressure etc. Left unattended and you can quite easily find that just when you need your car the most, it will not be there for you. Or as above, you didn't care for it so it stopped caring for you.

The same can be said of miss-using your scooter on the road. There was a recent incident of an elderly lady falling off a cliff whilst on her mobility scooter as she took a corner too fast. Luckily she escaped with only minor injuries but her ordeal lasted over an hour. Some scooters are not designed for more 'off road' driving, as this tends to be for the Heavy Duty Scooters. Most pavement or portable scooters are only suitable for driving on pavements and in towns and therefore cannot cope with the demands of country paths or lanes. More information about the different classes of scooters can be found in our previous post about how to choose a mobility scooter.

Ok, so what sort of care does a mobility scooter need? Well, firstly, and most importantly, to know is that you need to take care of your rechargeable battery. The type of battery that comes with your scooter can vary in size and type. This can determine both the speed and the range of your scooter. The different manufacturers often have instructions on how to charge and take care of your battery, which can vary from a full re-charge after every occasion you use the scooter to simply recharging when the battery gauge tells you to. The variation of battery life can be around 1 to 2 years before you need to replace it and this is also determined by how often you use the scooter. For example, using a scooter for occasional trips to the shops will not reduce the battery life at the same rate as using a scooter for doing several miles a day. How often you use the scooter should help you determine what size batter you will need or how long it should last.

The most reputable scooter dealers should offer servicing for you as this is an essential part of keeping your scooter in good working order. This is not as involved as a car servicing nor is it like an MOT, but for your peace of mind and convenience this is an essential part of ownership. Mobility scooters can be quite an investment so you need to make sure that your scooter will last as long as the manufacturer's guarantee. Different scooters have different levels of reliability. For example, the Pride Go Go or the Shoprider Sovereign are perhaps the most reliable scooters, offering exceptional build quality and durability. Invariable, mobility scooters need a service every 12 months but sometimes this can be longer.

Servicing can be done at your dealers who can simply check the battery, the tyres, breaks and other essential systems on your scooter. Most of the servicing requirements should be outlined in your manual to give you an idea of what needs to be maintained. With a little care and understanding of your scooter, there is no reason why your scooter cannot care for you.

General wear and tear can be easily maintained and most scooters make it easy enough for you to take care of yourself. Along with replacement body work, there are a variety of extras that you can update your scooter with, including baskets, covers, storage holders and ramps. Your scooter dealer should be able to advise you on the accessories available.

Mobility Buddy stock a variety of Disabled Scooters that are specially selected for being the 'best in class' for Portable, Pavement and Heavy Duty scooters. We also offer a full 12 month warranty as well as a dedicated after sales service and scooter care. Visit www.MobilityBuddy.co.uk for our selection of the best, and most reliable, mobility scooters.

Alternative Disabled Scooters

Most people's searches for Disabled Scooters brings them to either the Pride Go Go or the Shoprider Sovereign. Both fantastic scooters with great features and ultimately reliable. Not a bad word to say about them really and I've blogged about how customers reviewed the Pride Go Go before here.

You can quite easily see that the Pride Go Go really ranks highly in not only popular opinion but also for the number of places to buy it. Likewise with the more expensive but more sturdy Shoprider Sovereign. This is a very popular model for its excellent all-round ability thanks to the larger 10" tyres. Both of these scooters positive reviews are well deserved and are easily found in stores and online. However, we often get people asking about other scooter ranges.

If you were to do a lot of research for a quality and reliable Disabled Mobility Scooter, you would most likely come across the two I have already mentioned. Dig deeper though, and you might come across other less known scooter that are just as good and really make a good alternative. Just like buying a car, there are many manufacturers that offer quality and reliability without the big named brand. Two fantastic scooters that are as good as the Pride and Shoprider are the Little Gem 4 and the Kymco Micro Mobility Scooters.

Sterling Little Gem 4

Made by Sterling, a brand of Sunrise Medical, the Little Gem 4 is one of the lightest portable scooters on the market thanks to its removable parts. The specifically designed 'Gem-Lock' allows you to dismantle the scooter and easily pack away in the boot of a car. Although super lightweight, this is a very comfortable scooter with a newly added soft padded seat and smooth to drive. The seat also comes with lift up arm rests to allow you to easily get on and off the scooter.

The Sterling Scooters have over 30 years of manufacturing experience and each scooter goes through rigorous testing to make sure they meet the quality standards. With this quality comes reliability so you can count on your Little Gem mobility scooter to be by your side where ever you go.

Kymco Micro Mobility Scooter

Maintaining the portable scooter theme, the Kymco Micro mobility scooter is designed for maximum comfort and portability. Also consisting of parts that can be easily dismantled, the Kymco Micro is one of the most stylish scooters around. This is emphasised with the extra features of puncture proof tyres and very user friendly operating functions making it easy to manoeuvre and very reliable.

Just like a quality built car, you want to be assured that not only will you have a comfortable ride but that your scooter has all the reliability to get you to your destination every time. advanced features of a larger scooter. This reliability comes from years of Kymco manufacturing quality motorcycles so you know that every part is assembled to the highest quality and robustness. With a range of up to 13 miles you can be assured that this is no occasional scooter and can be used whenever you need to get out and about locally.

Not to dismiss the Pride or Shoprider scooters at all, but sometimes a bit more research can uncover some hidden gems. What is also to note is that the price tag doesn't always have to be high as well. Mobility Scooters come with a variety of different features and it is simple to get the right one for your needs. For starters, portable scooters don't come any better than the Little Gem 4 and the Kymco Micro.

If you're still having problems considering which is the best scooter for your needs, Mobility Buddy have a huge selection of disabled scooters together with helpful friendly advice. Visit us in store or online at www.MobilityBuddy.co.uk/disabled-scooters.

2009 is the year for Mobility Aids reviews!

A very Happy New Year to everyone from Mobility Buddy. We've had such an eventful year in 2008, starting with the ever-so-present Credit Crunch and pretty much ending with the ever-so-present credit crunch! We've pulled out all the stops to make sure that we serve our customers well and make sure people are happy with their mobility aids.

Back in November, we introduced our new range of Manual Wheelchairs and received a great deal of positive response from happy customers:

"Wheelchair delivered on Wednesday. So light and comfortable - I'm delighted with it."
Folding Wheelchair

"I just wanted to thank you for your efficient and caring service, on my recent order. The wheelchair, which is excellent, was received safely and in good time."
Ultra Lightweight Wheelchair

2008 was a big year for the Pride Go Go mobility scooters. There are numerous reviews around for this fantastic value all-rounder and we have had many happy customers give their thumbs up as well:

"This is a fab mobility gogo and I was worried it'd be too big and heavy for the car, no probs alls well and a lady or two were so kind as they talked me through the sale only worry is what days to change the colour panels. I love it, great comfort to."
Pride Go Go Elite Traveller 4

"This is a lovely safe scooter and as it says so easy to take apart and rebuild I like it as its quiet and easy to drive and the interchangeable panels are fun - I'm on red with blue and silver still to go."
Pride Go Go Elite Traveller 4 plus

Making sure that people are both happy with their scooter or wheelchair means that not only have they spent their budget but also have the right product for their needs. We are happy to talk to all our customers at length and understand what the best mobility aid is for every individual. We take our customer satisfaction very seriously and encourage people to find out about what they are buying and also what their needs are.

We also encourage people to write their own review on every product, as we know that sometimes the best advice you can get is from other people's first hand experience with mobility scooters or mobility wheelchairs. Why not take a look at our customer reviews or better still, write your own review of our products?

We wish you all the best for 2009.
Mobility Buddy

Trusting Customer Reviews for Mobility Scooters

When selling products online, you can never neglect the importance that your customers, past and future, play in the sales process. By allowing customers to leave their honest reviews about an item, you are allowing people to express their honest opinion and give a sense of trust to the potential buyers.

Shopping online for something as important as a disabled mobility scooter, you need to feel assured that the scooter you are buying is not only the right one for you but also that you are going to get the best service as well as after sales service.

Take one of our best selling and an overall popular scooter, the Pride Go Go, for example. As this is a popular scooter there are many places to buy it online. However, one thing that people might not think about when shopping for the lowest price is what level of customer service they will get. This point is emphasised by a blog post I found here. In this article, a customer reviews the Pride Go Go and their problems they had with one particular company by not providing the after sales service. It leaves the customer rather disappointed in not only the product (which is one of the best value and reliable scooters available I might add) but also the experience of buying online.

The review is concluded by advising people to buy from a local shop and not from the internet as you don't get that 'at home service'. However, we believe that providing the 'at home service' is vital to anyone who is buying a mobility scooter. It is good to shop around to suit your budget but also good to measure one internet retailer's level of customer service with another. If you need that repair service or even just a home demonstration that can be worth paying a little more for. I think the best advice would be to first of all know your needs, research the product, read the customer reviews and then find the right place to buy. You can shop to find the best price but more importantly, shop to find the best level of service.

Mobility Buddy has a large range of Mobility Scooters, including the Pride Go Go, and we pride ourselves on our level of customer care and after sales service. We know how important buying the right mobility scooter is and also taking care of your needs. Why not read our customer reviews and see what people think of the products and service.

www.MobilityBuddy.co.uk