Stair Lifts - Don't Be Fooled

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1)  Don't pay for an Extended Warranty.  Instead, find a stair lift that carries a Lifetime Warranty.  (NOT a "Limited" Lifetime Warranty)  Only do business with a manufacturer or distributor who stands behind their product with a written Lifetime Warranty.

2)  Reading "On Line" Reviews?  Unless there are hundreds of reviews, they are probably written by employees of the distributor.  They are usually fake.  Many sites with a "reviews" or testimonials" section - simply remove any negative posts.  It appears to be a legitimate review and rating forum, but it is merely another internet trick.

3)  Know what questions to ask to an internet provider to determine if they are truly knowledgeable about their product ... or simply an "Order Taker".  *Send us a message and we will provide you with a list of questions to ask.  (We update and change the questions regularly to stay ahead of their game.)  "Order Takers" provide little or no help after the sale because they know nothing about the chairlift product other than a few bullet points they read off of the sales brochure.  Most "Order Takers" have never installed a stair lift ... never-the-less worked on one that has failed.

4)  Anyone who advertises a "Battery Back-Up" doesn't know beans about stair lifts.  NO ONE makes a true battery back-up.  When the batteries fail - it does not work.  The unit is run on batteries.  There is NO back-up system.  The cord to the wall is nothing more than a trickle charger to keep the batteries charged.  It does NOT supply enough current to run the lift.  Avoid these people.  It is nothing more than false advertising, lack of knowledge, or pure deceit.  

5)  "Soft Start"??  Years ago stair lifts were chain driven.  When a chain wears out - it gets longer - and will get slack in it.  In these old chain drive systems, when you pushed the button to go, the motor would ramp up as the slack in the chain was tightened up and cause an abrupt start. (an extremely minor jolt). When rack-and-pinion systems came out, the loose chain was eliminated and a "softer" start was achieved.  No one has made a chain driven lift in a very long time.  Yet, this old marketing slogan lives on.  An electric car (like a Prius) doesn't instantly go from 0 to 60 when you hit the pedal.  Of course not.  The electric motor takes time to ramp up to full speed.  It is the same with a stair lift motor.  By the same token, when stopping a stair lift, the motor does not stop instantly.  There is a sensor that detects the end of the run and begins to slow the unit down so you do not have an abrupt stop.  There is no magic here.