Where is the Best Place to Buy a Mobility Scooter? We often take the ability to walk and run for granted. When you get an injury and need a knee replacement, develop severe arthritis, or find that aging has taken its toll on your ability to walk long distances, it may feel like your life has to come to a standstill. After all, simply getting around the house, running basic errands, or going on a dream vacation all require being able to get to and from independently.
Subpar
Scootaround is a personal transportation company that offers rentals, sales, and repair services for wheelchairs, powerchairs, scooters, and rollators. The company has over 2,500 locations throughout North America and Europe. They are also contracted with a number of airlines to provide repair and replacement services for passenger mobility equipment that gets damaged during transit. Their mission is to "Create the Best-In-Class Repair Service for All Personal Mobility Users."
12 mobility scooter choices
There are tons of categories for mobility scooters from Scootaround like transportable/folding, full size, 3-wheel full size, 4-wheel full size, 3-wheel heavy duty, 4-wheel heavy duty, and more. However, when we chose to view a full list of all the scooters, we realized there are actually only 12 of them in total. The same goes for electric wheelchairs, manual wheelchairs, and rollators and walkers. There are only 9-12 choices for each of these types of mobility products, so you won't find a huge selection here.
FSA/HSA eligible mobility scooters
The black Pride Go-Go Ultra X-3 Wheel scooter is the least expensive option you can find for mobility scooters. Since it costs $1,149 (well over the $50 free shipping benchmark), it qualifies for free delivery. It's FSA/HSA eligible (like most scooters here) with a maximum speed of 4.3 mph, 8-mile range per charge, and 300 lb. weight capacity. The Price Baja Wrangler 2 costs the most money, coming in at $5,349. It can go 11 to 11.4 mph, drive up to 26.2 miles on a single charge, and hold up to 450 pounds.
Consider accessories
With every mobility scooter you view, Scootaround will show you a list of product accessories you might consider to go along with your purchase. Some of these include walker holders, oxygen tank holders, and attachable baskets. You can quickly view the key specs for each scooter to easily compare major differences between the different models and brands. You can read all the detailed specs, warranty information, and an overview of the product along with a list of photos. We liked that some photos showed the mobility scooter from different angles, folded up, and in pieces so you can see how many parts need to be assembled.
Return within 30 days
If for any reason you aren't satisfied with your purchase from Scootaround, they'll allow you to send it back within 30 days for a full refund, minus shipping and restocking fees. The original receipt needs to be included with the original packaging when you send back your scooter. Everything must be in new, unused condition. The restocking fee for mobility scooters is actually a bit less than what we've found in other places. Although restocking fees are never ideal, you'll only have to pay 10% of your total order here, whereas we've seen 20% and 25% restocking fees elsewhere.
Unreliable customer reviews
We wish more customers left reviews on the mobility scooters they purchase from Scootaround. We found one single review on a Golden Buzzaround LX 4-Wheel Scooter that sells for $2,555. It looks like your staple, everyday mobility scooter with all the basic features you'd need day-to-day. However, the only review (granted this was from a couple years ago) was from a paraplegic Army-retiree who said he's had endless issues with his scooter, and whenever he contacts customer service they tell him to take it to a service location where he will need to pay out of pocket for the repairs even though it was under warranty. Obviously we don't know all the details here, but when there are few reviews on products and the ones we find are negative, it makes us worried. To be fair, there are also a couple of scooters with one 4- and 5-star review as well. In short, it's hard to gather the quality and reliability of these mobility scooters from the customer reviews on their website alone.
Poor BBB rating
When we looked to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) for a rating on Scootaround, we found a lousy "F" and weren't pleased with that. This was due to their failure to respond to 3 complaints, so it doesn't speak volumes about the company, but we'd still like to see a higher rating. The best third-party reviews we found for this store were from people who have used their rental program. Unfortunately, Scootaround's website doesn't give details about this or make it seem like any of the mobility scooters listed online are available for renting.
Our last-place choice
Overall, Scootaround doesn't have as wide of an inventory as we've found elsewhere. The 12 choices they have for mobility scooters might be just what someone needs, but they don't come in unique models or designs and we don't have solid ratings about the company of the scooters here to make us feel confident in what your experience might be. We also wish that Scootaround had some sort of low-price guarantee to keep them competitive with other companies. We'd recommend going with a more reliable retailer of mobility scooters (like the ones you'll find at the top of our list).
Continued from above...
We often take the ability to walk and run for granted. When you get an injury and need a knee replacement, develop severe arthritis, or find that aging has taken its toll on your ability to walk long distances, it may feel like your life has to come to a standstill. After all, simply getting around the house, running basic errands, or going on a dream vacation all require being able to get to and from independently.
If you're limited in your ability to walk around comfortably, you may be wondering how to get a sense of normalcy back and move forward in life (pun intended). Mobility scooters are a fantastic (and fun) way to reclaim your independence and productivity. There are all types of scooters for both indoor and outdoor terrain as well as different designs to fit your style.
There are a range of features you can look for on a mobility scooter like 3 or 4 wheels, LED safety lights, upgraded suspension, oversized baskets and more. Do you need one that can easily fit in and out of your vehicle? How long will you need it to go on a single charge?
Some scooters have weight maximums, so pay close attention to that detail too. It may help to jot down a list of all the most important features you need your mobility scooter to come with before you jump online, so that you know exactly what to be searching for.
Since mobility scooters have become increasingly popular over the years, you'll find that there are quite a few retailers to choose from. These companies usually arrange their selection by 3- or 4-wheel scooters, travel scooters, heavy-duty scooters, accessories, lifts, trailers, and more. Ideally you'll find a retailer that lets you filter by price so you can easily identify all the choices within your budget. You'll want to shop from a reputable store that gives every detail you'd want to know before spending a few thousand dollars on a mobility scooter.
We've done a lot of the important research regarding some of the best online retailers that sell mobility scooters and recommend keeping the following things in mind when you're shopping:
The experts at Top Consumer Reviews have researched the most important things you'd need to know about choosing a mobility scooter. We hope this information helps you find something that gets you back to enjoying your day-to-day activities with ease!
Compare Any 2 Products
Benefits of Mobility Scooters
From the first wheelbarrow-type devices to the lightweight, folding metal wheelchairs invented in the 1930s, wheelchairs had one thing in common: they all required some sort of manual propulsion, either by the person seated in the chair or by a helper. Even the most technologically advance manual wheelchairs require a certain amount of upper-body strength and digital dexterity.
More recently, technical developments in battery and propulsion systems have made possible motorized wheelchairs and scooters. Now even people with limited upper-body strength or manual dexterity are able to take themselves from point A to point B with perhaps only limited assistance. Motorized wheelchairs and mobility scooters provide a level of independence to people who are unable to propel themselves in a manual wheelchair or who might require a wheelchair to travel over terrain that would be challenging in a manual wheelchair. And using a mobility scooter or powered chair instead of a cane or walker might actually help prevent further injury from falls.
Whether the reason is age, illness, or injury, with a motorized wheelchair or scooter you don't need someone to push you around. These devices now allow you to:
In addition, compact and maneuverable powered wheelchairs can help you get around your own home, with minimal structural adaptation. With a tight turning radius and no handlebars, a powered wheelchair allows you to pull right up to a table or counter with ease.
A mobility scooter is most helpful for a person with conditions such as coronary or lung problems, arthritis, weight issues, and so on who can still stand and walk a few steps, sit upright without support, and steer with the handlebar controls. When mounting or dismounting from a mobility scooter, being able to turn the seat right or left makes it easier to step on or off than having to move the foot rests on a conventional wheelchair.
Mobility scooters do not look like wheelchairs; they can look way cooler. You can find models that are styled after spiffy Italian scooters in bright colors, or black and chrome motorcycle-styled "choppers." Current battery technology allows for a range of 15-20 miles before requiring a recharge. And in general, mobility scooters are cheaper than powered wheelchairs. You can also get scooters that are easy to transport, folding small enough to fit in the trunk of a car.
Top Products.
Top Reviews.
Top Consumer Reviews.
Reviews
Browse through thousands of reviews.
Social Media
Like us? Follow us! We'd love to have you join our community.
Newsletter
Stay up to date with the latest reviews. We'll keep you informed, and we'll never sell your information to anyone.
