Hello All
I’m hoping my experience of buying, testing, maintaining etc will be of use to you all
I started out with a small, 4mph, three wheeled scooter a few months back. After a LOT of consideration I decided I needed a solution to my mobility problems
The scooter I purchased was a very good investment, I purchased it through Gumtree as I couldn’t afford a brand new scooter. The scooter developed a small running fault but the dealer I purchased it from took it back and fixed it for me. I would advise buying from a dealer or private seller but make sure you either know what your looking at or take someone with a bit of knowledge with you. Not all dealers/private sellers will be as helpful and you could be stuck with a defective scooter and a potentially high repair bill if the seller doesn’t offer some sort of warranty. Also try and determine the state of the batteries, there are battery testers available and in the long run their relatively small price will provide you with years of being able to self test your own batteries. It takes the guess work out of determining if you require new batteries or not. The testers are simple to use and it only takes a few seconds
After my first scooter was fixed I decided to take it out for a decent run. The scooter preformed well and,despite the model I had having three wheels, I had no problems with stability. If you have problems with balance I would advise you to go for a four or five wheeled model if only for peace of mind. The three wheeled configuration tends to be more suitable for shopping trips than four or five wheeled alternatives due to it smaller turning circle. Its all about personal preference in my opinion. Many retailers advise you to test a few models before deciding on what type/size scooter would suit you best
After using the scooter for a while I decided that a larger scooter would be more suitable for my needs. I required a bigger range and a more comfortable ride as well as a faster machine that would allow me to drive on the roads to my allotment. I had a quick look on ebay and located a Class 3 Road Legal scooter. The scooter had a fault that the previous owner couldn’t rectify. I had a good idea of what the fault would be and took a punt on it. It turned out to be a very simple fault and I had the scooter running within a day. The result? A £500 scooter for £130 delivered. I ordered new batteries for peace of mind and I’m confident the scooter will last me for a good few years now
If your confident enough to buy a second hand scooter I would say go for it. You will save a small fortune buy buying used rather than new. Scan the advert for “New Batteries Fitted” and ask the seller when the batteries were fitted, asking for a receipt for the batteries is a good move. If you have a battery tester ask the seller if you can test the batteries prior to handing over the readies, I reckon any seller who is genuine would have no problem with you checking. If they won’t let you leave it be, there are loads of scooters out there
I would now like to come on to a personal point. I have noticed a lot of people considering getting a scooter feel a little uneasy about doing so. Questions like “Do I really need one” “Am I too young for one” “What will other people think of me” and the major question in my mind “Will I get abuse from other people if I go out on a scooter?” My advise is you are the best judge, it doesn’t matter what other people think. I put off getting a scooter based on what other people were thinking or at least what I THOUGHT other people would think. Its amazing that there is still stigma attached to disabled people in 2015, I came to the conclusion that my health and mobility came first. I’ve had a couple of comments from people walking in the opposite direction, they wait until their a fair distance from me before they open their mouths. Its a little annoying but at the end of the day what do they know?
Its by no means always the case, I’ve found most people are very considerate of mobility scooter users. Most people apologise if they don’t see you, cars move out of the way for you and the amount of friendly smiles I have received as I trundle past is amazing. I’ve even found myself smiling back and greeting people, that can’t be a bad thing
My family have been supportive of my new found transport and mobility, they were a little unsure to begin with but after they saw I was getting out more, had more energy and didn’t look as tired they were genuinely happy for me