Pacific Mobility Center

Stairlifts - Lifts - Mobility Products

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Buying Off the Internet vs. Buying From a Local Company

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Some people have a knack for seeing into the future. Years ago, a friend of mine predicted that internet shopping was going to be how people would someday buy all their goods and services. This was before the beginning of the dot.com revolution – only a very small percentage of the office-612532__180 (1)population even had a personal computer and the internet, itself, was just being born.

I thought it was a silly idea. Why would anyone want to buy anything that couldn’t be seen, touched, picked up, rattled or tested right in the mall, market or showroom? I was convinced that cyberspace would never replace the traditional brick and mortar, neighborhood store. Okay, some people don’t see very far ahead.

Because, today, of course, online buying makes up a considerable part of our national commerce. We even have a special date dedicated solely to computer consumerism – Cyber Monday, the Monday after Thanksgiving. This year, Americans will spend approximately $347 billion in online purchases, roughly 10 percent of the country’s total retail sales. And almost 20 percent of that amount will made on a phone or other mobile device.

Why do people buy online in such great numbers? Consumers, themselves, give the following reasons: saving time, more variety, lower prices, no crowds, less spending on gas, fewer taxes added.

But just as the internet giveth, it can also taketh away. The inherent danger of buying online is that the buyer and the seller are at great distances from, and virtually unknown to, one another. And much can happen between the time Ms. Consumer hits the buy button on her laptop and a package arrives at the front door. Scams and frauds abound – credit card numbers are stolen, products are not what they were promised to be, and customer service may be slight or completely non-existent.

In contrast, buying from a local company still has several advantages over buying online: you can test equipment before you buy; get immediate attention and expert advice from a knowledgeable salesperson; and have local support in the event you need it after a purchase is made. Plus, your time on hold, waiting to get assistance from a call center half a world away, is eliminated.

At Pacific Mobility, you get the best of both worlds: best pricing, best products, best service, and best support. For all your mobility needs, we invite you to visit us on the web at https://pacificmobility.com/. And then drop in to see us at our San Marcos, CA, brick and mortar location. We believe in the computer revolution – but we still like to do business with you face-to-face.

What Value does a Licensed Contractor or Insured and Bonded Company Bring to the Consumer?

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First, some definitions – a licensed contractor is one who has received certification from a state licensing board attesting to the fact that this person is legally authorized to practice a profession or vocation, e.g. plumber, electrician, general contractor, etc., and is bound to comply with established procedures and standards set by the professionals in his or her industry and sanctioned by state law. Contractors who are not licensed, therefore, have not met the legal requirements to practice their trade within a particular jurisdiction.

An insured contractor or company is one that has purchased a general liability policy to cover damage to persons or property due to an accident or contractor negligence, while performing a contracted job. In addition, if a company has employees, it is further required to have workers’ compensation insurance to cover any job-related injury sustained by an employee in the performance of his or her work.

A bond is an escrow account that a contractor or company sets up with a bank or insurance company, setting money aside in the event that a project is not completed according to the contract between the company and a property owner. If the work is not completed as agreed, the bond will cover any expenses, up to the bond amount, required to complete the job satisfactorily. A contractor is normally required to have a general bond for a specified amount (depending upon the prevailing laws), but can also have what is known as a performance bond, which covers the full cost of the project with the added guarantee that a property owner will be compensated for any monetary losses if he or she needs to hire another contractor to finish an incomplete job.

So, what value does a licensed contractor or insured or bonded company bring to the consumer? The answer, in one word is, “protection.” Besides being illegal, unlicensed contractors lack any accountability, which places a consumer at significant risk. An unlicensed contractor may perform work that is substandard and not in compliance with local building codes. This can result in the property owner being fined, in addition to having to have a job re-done at his or her own expense.

Without insurance policies in place, a property owner can be held responsible for damages or injuries sustained on a job site. And without a bond in place, a contractor who goes out of business, or simply vanishes before a job is completed, leaves a property owner without recompense.

If you are contemplating hiring a contractor for any job, make sure that he or she is licensed, insured and bonded. You may think that you can save money by hiring some fly-by-night company that has given you a lower estimate for the work, but you are taking a giant risk that may come back to bite you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kMCNkdJe90

Pros and Cons of stairlift Installations

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Chair lift

There’s no doubt that the technology of the modern stairlift has provided seniors, as well as other individuals with mobility challenges, more choices than were available to previous generations. And for the most part, the benefits of having a stairlift in one’s home outnumber their potential shortcomings. But the prudent consumer should always contemplate both the pros and cons of any purchase in order to make the wisest decision possible. So here are a few things to ponder:

The Pros

If you are a senior who can no longer navigate the stairs, the main reason to have a stairlift installed in your home is because it allows you to stay in your home long after your ability to go up and down the stairs has ended. Most seniors will tell you that staying at home, as opposed to transitioning to senior housing or assisted living, is extremely important to them, as it allows them to remain independent in the most emotionally supportive environment possible.

A stairlift is an accident preventer. The statistics are unambiguous – accidental falls, especially on stairs, are the number one cause of harm to seniors. stairlifts remove the potential for serious and even fatal blunders that can put an elderly person in the hospital, or worse.

stairlifts can carry both people and things. Generations ago, multistory houses had dumbwaiters which allowed for the transport of food, laundry, etc. from floor to floor. The stairlift can easily perform a similar role, as long as the intended object can fit on one’s lap.

For the relatives of seniors or any other individual with mobility challenges, a stairlift can provide piece of mind. Just knowing, for example, that an elderly parent no longer has to try and navigate stairs, can help relieve children of excess worry and concern.

The Cons

Probably the biggest concern that a consumer will have when contemplating the installation of a stairlift, is the cost. A quality lift, plus the installation itself, will run several thousand dollars. For some, that is a potential deal breaker. On the plus side, you might qualify for a medical expense tax deduction and/or the possibility of zero percent financing for up to 18 months.

Another concern: While most homes today have stairways that are wide enough to accommodate a stairlift without any issues, some older homes may have a very narrow stairway, and this is why having a professional assess the home is so important. Also, sometimes a person may have physical limitations in how he or she can sit in a stairlift chair. For example wearing a full leg cast that would cause one to to have to extend a leg may make it impossible to fit in the stairway, while sitting.

Finally, some believe that the installation of a stairlift too soon may create a dependency upon it by an otherwise healthy individual who would still benefit from the exercise of going up and down stairs. This seems a minor concern, as there are many ways in which a mobile senior can still find outlets for physical activity.

At Pacific Mobility, we will never sell or install a stairlift unless it is the right choice for you, your family, your home and your budget. Knowing the pros and cons will help you determine if a stairlift is the best option for you.

https://youtu.be/8s4EkLnQu8Q

High Pressure Sales Tactics – Got to Get the Sale!

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selling

There is an old adage in the world of sales: “People like to buy, but they don’t like to be sold.” The high pressure salesman does not believe strongly enough in this fact of human psychology. On the contrary, he is inclined to assume that people must be prodded and pushed and tricked into buying. So instead of unleashing the primary desire that most people have in the simple power of acquiring things based on their own needs, the high pressure salesman relies on various ways to manipulate his prospect into a sale that may not even be in the buyer’s best interests (and usually does not contribute to a long term relationship with the seller).

There are many techniques that can make saying “yes” to a sale, the easiest way to end the kind of stress-inducing interaction that is the hallmark of a high pressure sales routine. For example, a high pressure salesman might push a customer into a sale by stressing the fact that there is a looming deadline approaching and the price of his product or service is going to shoot up unless the sale is consummated immediately. Whether or not a deadline actually exists happens to be beside the point. The high pressure salesman is actually selling fear of losing something rather than suiting the sale to the buyer’s needs. He is forcing an emotional commitment before his prospect has time to think whether or not he or she can actually afford, or even needs to buy, what the salesman is selling.

In contrast, low pressure selling does not drive a prospect into a buying decision, but rather lets him reach the decision on his own terms. The low pressure salesman tries to ascertain the prospect’s wants and needs, and then tries to explain how his product or service can fit that want or need by demonstrating the relationship between the two.

At Pacific Mobility, we eschew the hard sell. We want to know how we can solve your problem, so we will spend our time with you asking you about your needs and absolutely no time at all in manipulating you into buying what we think we can make the most money on. Buying any one of our fine products needs to be the result of a calm and rational decision that you make on your own about how a purchase from us may benefit you – and not the other way around.

Struggles – Part Two

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In Struggles, Part One, I recounted how I had broken my ankle and was faced with the problem of navigating the stairs in my house and generally getting around without too much difficulty. Working with my crutches took a little practice, but after a few days, I got the hang of it. In actuality, the method is fairly simple: when going up the stairs, the trick was to move my good foot up one step at a time first, and then the crutches followed; when going down, the reverse was true – crutches first, then the healthy foot followed. Got it? Good.

But now I had to figure out how I was going to shower without getting my cast wet and without slipping. The first dilemma was solved with a plastic bag and a little duct tape. In terms of safely showering, I had two options. The first was using a “Shower Buddy.” The shower chairshower buddy is a system that allows its user to transfer from the toilet to the tub or shower without having to stand up at all. Since I really didn’t need that much support, because I was still able to stand, albeit on one foot, I decided that grab bars installed near the toilet and in the tub would be sufficient, as long as I also had a shower chair on which to sit.

So, I learned how to go up and down stairs and to keep myself neat and clean. But I was getting pretty antsy to move around outside, as well, and the truth is, I still hated my crutches. They’re tiring to use and after awhile, they made my armpits pretty sore. Luckily, at Pacific Mobility, we have an extensive supply of Knee Walkers and Knee Scooters. The one I used allowed me to get around soooo much easier.

ArouKnee Walkernd Christmas time, I finally moved up to the Cadillac of mobility when my wife brought home a 4 wheel scooter from the store. At last I was able to do what I love doing most with my grand-kids: checking out all the Christmas lights around the neighborhood. It’s what I’ve been telling my customers for years – you don’t have to stay immobile anymore due to illness or injury. Whatever may be holding you back from doing the things you love, at Pacific Mobility, we have solutions to your problem. I know, because I’ve discovered them, myself.Jeff in Scooter

Struggles – Part One

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Broken Ankle
Broken Ankle

We often think that the only people with mobility challenges in their homes are either elderly or chronically infirm. But after an accident, even the young and otherwise healthy can have problems getting around the house. That’s what happened to me recently after I broke my ankle. Even though the doctors re-set my bones with screws and a plate, they couldn’t help me magically regain my ability to bound up and down the stairs in my two story home.

And that’s my problem: my leg is in a cast, and I can’t really put any weight on it, but my bedroom, kitchen and living room are all upstairs. All I have to help me navigate is a pair of crutches I got from the hospital – but with no real knowledge about how to use them. Lucky for me, my wife and son helped me out when I first got home, otherwise I would have really injured myself the first time I tried going upstairs to my bedroom.

The next day was even scarier. I just couldn’t get over the fear of falling down the steps. Once again my wife came to my rescue – but even then I was scared that not was I only going to fall, but I would probably take her down with me if I did. All of a sudden, I realized that something that I did ten times a day without thinking was now going to be a challenge each time I needed to change floors. And the problem with my stairs was just the beginning. What about getting in and out of the shower, or getting on and off the toilet? And how long is this all going to go on?

So, here I am, someone whose job for the last 29 years has been helping people solve their mobility problems, and now I’m facing them all myself. Imagine the irony. But it certainly has also given me a deeper understanding of the struggles that many of my clients have to deal with day in and day out.

Anyway, over the next few weeks, I’ll tell you how I handled some of my own trials and tribulations and report to you the things that I had to learn to help myself get around – from managing my crutches better, to finding alternative means of locomotion. My story may be useful to you, should you ever find yourself in a similar situation (which I hope won’t happen!)

Going Up and Coming Down

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A recent news article tells a touching story about an elderly mother and her only daughter. The older woman lives in a second floor apartment and the daughter, some miles away. Anna, the mom, is a frail Alzheimer’s patient who cannot navigate the stairs to come down to the ground floor. The daughter, Michelle, suffers from multiple sclerosis and is wheelchair-bound. She can’t climb up the stairs to visit her mother. They can still chat on the phone, but they can’t hold hands or talk face to face.

How different life could be for these two women if there was a permanent and safe way for one to go up – or the other to come down. How sad that illness and incapacitation has become such a barrier to their need to spend time together. The story is a poignant reminder that, for some, even a short flight of stairs can be a distance greater than miles.

In the case of these two loving relatives there was a happy, if all too brief, ending to the story, when a local charitable organization paid for one ambulette visit, so that Michelle, who had to be carried upstairs in her wheelchair by two strong men, could spend a few hours with her mom. The bad news, of course, was that it was a one-time only event.

Options for Going Up and Coming Down

The good news is that, for many others who face a similar challenge of going up and coming down in their own homes, there are options that can bridge the distance between floors. They include: stairlifts, platform lifts and elevators. Depending on your needs, your physical condition, your home layout, and your budget, one of these devices may be the answer to your in-home mobility problems.

stairlifts – A stairlift is essentially a seat that is attached to a rail or track which is attached to the stairs, themselves, or the wall beside them. It is a good option for a person who can walk, but cannot manage ascending or descending stairs, for any reason. It’s the least expensive option, with the cost of buying and installing one, around $3,000 to $4,000 (more, of course, if the staircase is longer than usual or curved.) It requires that least amount of home modification, but it is not always suitable for people with advanced mobility needs.

Wheelchair Platform Lifts – There are two basic types of wheelchair lifts: inclined and vertical. An inclined wheelchair lift is similar to a chair lift, except that instead of a chair attached to the stair glide, there is a platform that can accommodate a wheelchair. Because it is bigger than a chair lift, it requires more space – a staircase that is, at least, 36 inches wide. It’s also slightly more expensive than a regular chair lift due to its enhanced load capacity.

A vertical wheelchair platform lift is like a small elevator, in that it goes straight up and down. It can be designed to take its user from one floor to another or just a few feet – wherever an inclined wheelchair lift is unsuitable. Unlike an elevator, it doesn’t have a shaft, so it doesn’t require a major home renovation. Platform lifts cost from $3,500 to $5,500 plus installation.

Elevators – An in-home elevator is the most versatile alternative for someone who needs to travel between floors in a wheelchair, and may also want the ability to carry other objects such as medical equipment, or be accompanied by another rider. Because it’s enclosed, it’s also the most aesthetically pleasing among all the options.

However, an elevator is also the most expensive choice and can run between $15,000 and $20,000, when you factor in the cost of the unit, itself, and the necessary structural renovations to your home. It is only an option in a building that has adequate space for a shaft and the requisite machinery to run it.

Consider the Alternatives

Before deciding on the best option, you need to consider all of the alternatives, and then choose the option that fits your needs, your home, and your budget. At Pacific Mobility Center, we can help you make the most appropriate choice for you and your loved ones. It’s part of our promise to “Keep You Moving.”

Using Stairlifts on Various Stair Layouts

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A stairlift can be made to work on any stairway, but you must always consider the costs. Generally, stairlifts are great for added mobility because they offer significant functionality at relatively low cost. Straight stairways are the most common, and the easiest to install a stairlift to. Though slightly more complex, stairways with bends such as 90-degree turns or 180-degree turns are still simple, although more expensive due to the requirement for custom rail features. At the end of the day, curved or winding staircases are the toughest and the most expensive.

The most common stairlifts are made for straight stairways. The track that the stairlift rides upon is manufactured in sections which are then installed together along the side of the staircase. At the top of the stairs, the rail is cut to perfectly fit along the staircase, and not stick out too much. If there are doors at the immediate top or bottom of the stairway, the track is raised slightly to allow the door to close. Since you’re only installing a straight rail with no bends or other surprises, straight stairlifts will always be the cheapest option.

If you have a curved staircase, chances are that you’ll be looking at a custom stairlift installation. As you can imagine, the stairlift track must be bent to the appropriate angle and joined seamlessly to achieve the perfect angle of your staircase. This alone makes it not ideal for a homeowner to measure their own stairs and attempt their own installation. Due to the custom nature of curved stairlift installations, they generally cost more than their straight-rail counterparts.

Outdoor stairlifts are also a great option for homeowners with an outdoor staircase. Outdoor stairlifts are specifically designed for exterior use, providing you with the same quality, comfort and convenience available in the indoor variety. All in all, they are about the same as the indoor models, aside from the fact that they come with more rugged and durable features designed to withstand the elements.