Purchase Process  

Sales Process

Here are some of the key issues you need to consider when making a purchase:

Where: You have the following three options:

1. A dealer with a permanent sales location where you can meet a representative and try equipment options in person.

2. Viewing the products on-line and discuss your options over the phone with a representative.

3. Private Individuals - Private individuals commonly sell their modified vehicle or equipment to others. This can be on-line or in person.

NMEDA's recommendation is to always use a NMEDA dealer. These dealers greatly help reduce the guess work in purchasing. They have a permanent location which allows you to visit and evaluate them, develop a relationship, and personally see a variety of vehicles and equipment. They can provide you with all of the information in regards to options and choices that are appropriate for you. The process of developing a personal relationship with a dealer can be invaluable. Inappropriate equipment and modifications can be very expensive in the long term and can have safety related issues. 

What to Buy: The options are endless and interaction with industry professionals is crucial. Some considerations are as follows:

1. New and used vehicles are available. Used vehicles can be of great value but will require you to invest time and possibly money to determine the condition and history of the vehicle.

2. New and used equipment are available. Used equipment from dealers will usually have warranties. Used equipment purchased on-line or from private individuals can be very risky. The products may not work in your vehicle, may be inappropriate for you and your wheelchair, or parts may be obsolete or worn out (e.g., wheelchair tie downs.) Also, finding a qualified individual to install adaptive equipment purchased in the private market is hard to find. Most dealers won't install equipment that they did not sell.

Contacting Manufacturers: As stated previously, there are many equipment manufacturers. Most of them have very informative web sites. You can either research them before you go to a dealer or have a dealer inform you of the brands they carry and then research them. You can contact most manufactures to verify if your dealer is an authorized distributor of their products and confirm if the dealers recommendation are appropriate and applicable to your vehicle.

Prior to making a purchase the following must be considered:

• Your Wheelchair or Scooter - The size, dimensions and features of your wheelchair or scooter can greatly influence the vehicle and equipment that will work best for you and can therefore greatly affect the cost of your adaptive equipment and vehicle modifications. It is always preferable to contact a dealer and discuss your needs and desires for your vehicle prior to purchasing your wheelchair or scooter. If you already have your wheelchair or scooter, inform your dealer if you plan on buying a different one soon. This may allow the dealer to recommend adaptive equipment that may be useful for your current and future wheelchair or scooter. For information on wheelchair safety and compliance (e.g., SAEJ2249) visit http://www.travelsafer.org/.
• Will you be using the vehicle independently or with fulltime assistance? - The answer to this question can greatly alter what vehicles and equipment will be appropriate for you. If you have fulltime assistance, you can possibly save considerable money by buying manually operated products as opposed to automatic products. If you will be using the vehicle alone, the dealer will offer you adaptive equipment suited to your specific needs and abilities.
• Will you be remaining in your wheelchair during ingress and egress from the vehicle, and while the vehicle is in motion? - This question can also be dependent on your answer to the previous question. Again, your equipment and vehicle options greatly vary depending on whether you remain in your mobility aid or not when entering, exiting or traveling in the vehicle. Your physical abilities play a significant role in the options that are available to you.
• Are you driving the vehicle with adaptive equipment or riding as a passenger? - Driving a vehicle with adaptive controls can vary from relatively simple inexpensive modifications such as spinner knobs and hand controls to more complicated and expensive systems costing as much as the vehicle. The process of driving a vehicle with adaptive controls is a serious matter and needs to be undertaken in a very thorough manner with many considerations that only industry professionals can assist you with.
• Where and how are you going to use the modified vehicle? - Consider issues such as road conditions in your usage area, weather, number of passengers and cargo weight and size requirements.

The answers to these questions are important to determining options that are available to you. Consulting with NMEDA dealers, manufacturers, driver trainers/evaluators and other members of the disabled community is essential for you to get the best value and the appropriate vehicle/modifications to suite your circumstances. Your NMEDA dealer will help you navigate through the maze of options and decisions that you will be faced with.