For too long wheelchairs have been stigmatized as medical equipment, not to be understood or analyzed by anyone except those in white coats. The reality is, wheelchairs are on the same level as bicycles or shoes -- you allow room for subjectivity and user experience in their assessment, but also judge the products based on objective qualities like cost and durability. And that’s exactly what goes on here at WheelchairJunkie.com -- we approach wheelchairs with the same objectivity and analysis you’d use when buying any other consumer good.
Put simply, we apply “5 Ys” to wheelchairs. Based on user demographics -- such as over 90% of wheelchairs in the U.S. are funded through insurance, and most users are allowed 1 chair every 5 years, averaging $1,500 for a manual and $10,000 for a powerchair, and so on -- we’ve created a model to evaluate wheelchairs for the majority of consumers based on the 5 Ys of affordability, durability, maneuverability, reliability, and usability.
Can users afford the chair? Most insurers cover a $5,000 to $10,00 powerchair, but almost none cover a $20,000 to $35,000 powerchair. A $7,000 product, then, is far more desirable than a $23,000 product because most consumers can’t fund a $23,000 chair.
How will the chair hold up during use? How’s the quality of construction? Are all the chair’s various components -- frame, electronics, motors -- well made?
How does the chair maneuver both indoors and out? Most users only have one chair, so its ability to function under a wide range of conditions is very important. If the chair’s handling is exceptionally limited in either outdoor or indoor enviroments, it’s not a successful product for most users.
Has the product stood the test of time for other users? Most chairs look great on the showroom floor, but do they last without failures over the long haul? How often is the product in need of repair? Are there specific failures that most chairs of that model experience?
Does the chair perform well in its intended use as a wheelchair for a full-time user? A chair with wheelie bars that get hung up, no torque, a top speed of 3mph, and 22NF batteries is impractical for most, making it a poor product from a usability standpoint.
If you apply the 5 Ys to Jazzy, Arrow, or Bounder powerchairs, you’ll see that across the board those chairs meet the standards well. On the other hand, take products like a Quickie 626 or OmegaTrac, and they plummet in certain areas, not able to meet all 5 Ys. The chairs that fail in some areas may excel in others, making them a great choice for users with specific needs. However, again, the 5 Ys maintain an objective perspective toward the vast population of users, gauging the merit of a chair overall.
The 5 Ys are only half the equation, though, for a wheelchair purchase. WheelchairJunkie.com can give you the scoop on great chairs, but it’s your job to find the perfect chair by adding the 6th and 7th Ys: You and your needs.