Should I Buy a Second-Hand Mobility Scooter?
The latest and greatest mobility scooters are packed full of useful features, but they can often come with a high price tag. Luckily, purchasing a second-hand mobility scooter is a great way to get your perfect mobility scooter at a reduced price.
So should you buy a second-hand mobility scooter? There are pros and cons of taking this option. Find out whether a second-hand purchase is right for you in this article.
Give us a call on 0121 371 0780 if you want to ask about our second hand mobility scooters – or come and see us in our showroom.
Should I buy a second-hand mobility scooter from a shop?
If you do choose to purchase a second-hand mobility scooter, we strongly recommend purchasing from a licensed supplier and not a private dealer from the internet. The reason for this is that a licensed supplier is far more reliable. They should be able to provide a history of the scooter from the last three months and have checked and maintained the scooter before putting it up for sale. Many licensed suppliers will also offer a guarantee.
By buying from a private seller, such as from Ebay or Gumtree, you run the risk of the scooter being malfunctional in some way. Even if the scooter appears great when you first purchase and use it, it might quickly suffer a fault and you may not be able to return it.
What are the pros of buying a second-hand mobility scooter
The main reason to buy a second-hand mobility scooter is the price. Second-hand mobility scooters are available at a cheaper price than the brand new versions of the same models. If you’re strapped for cash, a second-hand purchase is a great way to obtain a scooter with all the features you need but without breaking the bank.
However, this discount does come with a trade-off, so make sure you consider the cons before committing to your purchase.
What do you need to consider when buying a second-hand mobility scooter?
Here at Ideas in Action, we advise that you should always look at:
Condition
Because a second-hand mobility scooter is previously used, it may have some signs of wear. It’s normal to have a few scratches here and there, but you want to ensure there is no significant wear to major components such as the batteries or the tyres. When buying second-hand, you should ensure that the supplier has checked the scooter thoroughly before putting it on sale.
Ideally, your mobility scooter will come with brand new batteries and tyres in good usable condition with no obvious signs of a problem. However, do note that if you don’t receive brand new batteries, your scooter will most likely have a shorter life if it has previously been used.
Guarantee
Purchasing a second-hand mobility scooter comes with the risk that it will develop a fault due to incidents occurring during the last ownership or just through general use. Many suppliers will offer guarantees so that you are covered should your mobility scooter fail within a certain time period. However, it is important to note that the guarantee of a second-hand mobility scooter will likely be shorter than the guarantee of a new mobility scooter.
What to check for when buying a second-hand scooter
To minimise the risk of problems with your mobility scooter, there’s a few things you should check for before you purchase.
We recommend checking that your supplier is providing:
- A full service history
- New batteries
- A warranty of at least three months
We recommend looking elsewhere should your supplier fail to provide any of these.
At Ideas In Action, we undertake a thorough examination of all our used mobility scooters before putting them up for sale. We’ll ensure they’re in great working condition and are safe for their new users. Plus, we provide a full service history, new batteries and a warranty of at least three months on every model.
Ideas in Action is based in Birmingham but serves the West Midlands – come and see us in our showroom. Contact our team to ask about our second-hand mobility scooter.