Mobility Scooter Service in Las Vegas?

July 21, 2010 9:39 PM

Is there a place in Las Vegas, Nevada that services mobility scooters?

My grandmother lives in Las Vegas and needs to purchase a mobility scooter. She's picked out the "Phoenix 3 Wheel Scooter" (tried to include a link, it didn't want to play nice) and while we're fine with ordering online, we're a bit worried about servicing in the event that it breaks. Is there a place in Las Vegas that services these scooters? I've done some Googling but it's a surprisingly hard thing to research. Would she need to purchase it locally to get the dealer to service it, or are there places that will service scooters that they didn't sell?

Also, if anyone has a reputable online dealer to recommend for purchasing the scooter, that would be greatly appreciated as well.

Thanks!

posted by DMan to Shopping (1 answer total)

Places will service scooters they don't sell, but not for free. I don't know the specifics of Drive Medical (I've always driven an Amigo - this isn't necessarily an endorsement, since I have nothing to compare it to), but my guess is that, like my equipment, only replacement parts are covered by the warranty. Depending on her insurance or Medicare, labor may or may not be covered in part or in full; she should check with her insurance company. If it is, she's likely to be on the hook for repairs, and have to send a receipt on to her insurance after the fact for reimbursement; it's not like going to a doctor where they'll handle billing for you.

That's the bad news. The good news is, a town like Vegas will have places that service scooters - it's a big town, with lots of tourists. My advice would be to find a service place that is certified by Drive Mobility to work on their scooters (does Drive Mobility itself have a website? I know Amigo has a link like this on theirs), or at least talk to whoever you find and ask if they've worked on Drive Mobility products before (googling for "wheelchair repair las vegas" or "electric wheelchair repair las vegas" should be a good start) or feel comfortable learning. I'd also suggest choosing a different scooter manufacturer if you can't find someone local who's dealt with that brand before - life will be much easier if it's not their first time seeing X-random-part whenever you have an issue. But that's a judgment call, and if she loves the Phoenix 3, eh, it'll probably be fine.

Finally, I know you said you want to buy online, but buying locally is not a bad idea. The prices tend to be pretty similar, and while most service people will work on scooters they didn't sell, I've found it useful to have an existing relationship with my guys. Buying locally also means being able to walk into a showroom and test drive a few to make sure she's got one that is comfortable driving and is the right size for her. The dealer may even make suggestions on learning to drive; I started driving a scooter when I was ten, and was pretty comfortable right off the bat, but older people (thinking here of my own grandmother) are often a bit surprised at how difficult it can be to drive a scooter - it's quick, it reacts faster than they expect, and it is just different from walking, especially if you're starting to walk more slowly or hesitantly. Dealers have seen this before, and a good one will be ready to remind you that there's a learning curve, and that you can lower the speed, practice in a parking lot - all the things that you did when you were learning to drive a car.

Good luck!
posted by spaceman_spiff at 1:37 AM on July 22, 2010