topic Re: Electric Scooter! in Wellness

Electric Scooter!

Moonchilde — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 02:40:02 GMT

I’ve had discussions about scooters on the forums before, mainly I think with @Kachina624. Wasn’t ready, didn’t have the $$, wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted. I had saved the details of about 4-5 different scooters, including a couple I was particularly interested in.

Today I was channel surfing past HSN and lo and behold, they had one of the scooters I was interested in - for $300 off the regular price, and with accessories many places don’t give you free and that may cost another $75-$100. I have looked at QVC’s scooter(s) but have never been super-impressed at scooter/price.

I dithered for a minute, but they only had a few left and no one has it at this price, not even the mfg. So, I bit the bullet. Now have to clean out my trunk to make room for it, and figure out how to pay for it 😜🍾

It auto-folds with the push of a button. Has lithium batteries which are much lighter than the older scooter batteries and can go on planes and cruise ships (I have no plans but you never know). Weighs 60 lbs complete with the battery, 55 lbs without. I think that’s doable. Made by one of the most reputable companies in the medical equipment biz. Fingers crossed. I bought a red one!

Re: Electric Scooter!

Katcat1 — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 02:49:23 GMT

@Moonchilde Make sure you purchased one that will hold your weight. There is a maximum weight on all the scooters.

Re: Electric Scooter!

Moonchilde — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 03:02:34 GMT

wrote:
@Moonchilde Make sure you purchased one that will hold your weight. There is a maximum weight on all the scooters.

I’m aware. This will work perfectly, even carrying packages.

Re: Electric Scooter!

Kachina624 — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 03:26:06 GMT

@Moonchilde. Congratulations on the scooter. Are you sure you can lift 50lbs? There's no way I could; I struggle with 30lb bags of dog food. Be sure you manage the battery according to mfg recommendations. Call them if you're not sure. You'll have a stroke when you see how expensive they are. Have fun with it.

Re: Electric Scooter!

Katcat1 — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 03:32:23 GMT

@Kachina624 That is excellent advice. I cannot lift my cat's litter that is 40 lbs. and I will never buy that big of a bag again.

Re: Electric Scooter!

Moonchilde — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 03:55:52 GMT

wrote:
@Moonchilde. Congratulations on the scooter. Are you sure you can lift 50lbs? There's no way I could; I struggle with 30lb bags of dog food. Be sure you manage the battery according to mfg recommendations. Call them if you're not sure. You'll have a stroke when you see how expensive they are. Have fun with it.

@Kachina624 I’m not positive, but I know I can lift 40-ish. It won’t be that far a lift. If I have issues we can rig something so it’s as much slide as lift, a sorta-ramp.

I’m not sure if this comes with one battery or two; one I think. Not sure if the instructions for the lithium batteries are very different than with the other type of batteries but I would think so. Will plan to use at least once a week, maybe twice a week.

As far as I can tell, this will be shipped to me directly by the company and I’ll be dealing with them. This is fine with me as I have a couple of their small devices and they’re top quality.

I plan to call them and ask if I can purchase an extra warranty from them or somewhere else, as well as asking them what their specific recommendations are as far as charging. Hoping they have a local company they do business with so I have a local resource.

So far as I can tell, the batteries range from $100-$200, which I didn’t think was bad. I know that some of them have $500-$600 batteries.

Re: Electric Scooter!

Kachina624 — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 04:47:56 GMT

@Moonchilde. I've considered the ramp idea and actually have a ramp for dogs to get into the back of my SUV. It could take the weight but I think it's too narrow. If it'll help, I'll measure it's width. Having this scooter is going to be very liberating....like a teen getting a driver's license. There are so many activities that you miss when you're not fully mobile. I think my scooter was made by Drive Medical too.

I thought your responses on the suicide thread were excellent and very thought provoking.

Re: Electric Scooter!

Moonchilde — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 05:27:49 GMT

Aww, thank you, @Kachina624 - I appreciate it 🙂

I have a small sedan (with a fairly small trunk), so it will be closer to the ground than an SUV. Not much of anything is going to fit in the trunk but the scooter. Also thinking of the weight, I’ve seen lots of photos where these just fit in the back seat, so I’m going to try that if the trunk is an issue. The only bad part of that is you could see it so it must have something tossed over it.

Yes, so many places I’d love to go, even shopping, that I don’t enjoy now even when I do go, because after 45 min my back is shot and I’m cranky the rest of the day until I can sit permanently. Really looking forward to taking it to the ocean - many paths with gorgeous views.

I lucked out with this price find. There are two models of this chair - one of them you have to fold manually, and one where you just have to push a button and it unfolds. I got the latter for the price of the former.

Re: Electric Scooter!

Noel7 — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 05:39:22 GMT

I’m glad you found something that will work for you. HSN is very good about taking things back if need be.

Re: Electric Scooter!

Moonchilde — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 05:54:42 GMT

wrote:
I’m glad you found something that will work for you. HSN is very good about taking things back if need be.

That’s good to know. I was just surprised that they had a far better price than I would get anywhere else, and it was a scooter I was already thinking of buying. That doesn’t happen often.

Re: Electric Scooter!

Moonchilde — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 06:01:55 GMT

I’ll have to practice using it! Backing up, turning around, just turning. It is a 4-wheeler so I felt good about that vs a 3-wheeler. I’ve only ever ridden a scooter once for 5 min at the fair and at Costco. And I need to learn “scooter etiquette” or Unspoken Scooter Rules - @Kachina624 is there anything written?

Re: Electric Scooter!

Noel7 — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 06:05:12 GMT

wrote:
wrote:
I’m glad you found something that will work for you. HSN is very good about taking things back if need be.

That’s good to know. I was just surprised that they had a far better price than I would get anywhere else, and it was a scooter I was already thinking of buying. That doesn’t happen often.

I’m really glad for you. My right leg is not recovering from the accident. I have to be so careful about falling, you know the drill. I may have to come up with something.

Re: Electric Scooter!

Moonchilde — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 06:18:58 GMT

wrote:
wrote:
wrote:
I’m glad you found something that will work for you. HSN is very good about taking things back if need be.

That’s good to know. I was just surprised that they had a far better price than I would get anywhere else, and it was a scooter I was already thinking of buying. That doesn’t happen often.

I’m really glad for you. My right leg is not recovering from the accident. I have to be so careful about falling, you know the drill. I may have to come up with something.

@Noel7

I mentioned getting a scooter to my doctor last year and he was all “Noooo! If you get one you’ll just stop walking altogether!” Other people have said the same.

I haven’t gone anywhere really fun, or done anything day-long, for two years. So is it better for me, healthier for me, to sit home? I’ve also lost 42 lbs “sitting home”, so not walking much hasn’t caused me to gain weight. And losing weight hasn’t improved my back, nor has PT.

I still need to go into the drugstore, grocery store, doctor, etc and won’t be using the scooter for that. But going to a mall, an antique show or craft fair, or to the ocean to take a ‘walk’ - that’s when I can use the scooter.

It’s going to have a huge impact on my happiness, that’s for sure.

Re: Electric Scooter!

Noel7 — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 06:25:18 GMT

I get it and I’m with you. My daughter wants to take me to new areas in the city but parking and therefore walking a long way would be an issue. The only way I could go would be with a wheelchair. I hate the idea but at least I could get out more often.

You need to have fun and explore, go for it.

Re: Electric Scooter!

Kachina624 — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 06:56:55 GMT

wrote:
I’ll have to practice using it! Backing up, turning around, just turning. It is a 4-wheeler so I felt good about that vs a 3-wheeler. I’ve only ever ridden a scooter once for 5 min at the fair and at Costco. And I need to learn “scooter etiquette” or Unspoken Scooter Rules - @Kachina624 is there anything written?

@Moonchilde. I've never seen anything on scooter etiquette but I read news excerpts from Great Britain and scooters there have almost a cult following. Almost every day there's something about a scooter user doing something outrageous. I mostly use mine to take my dogs walking. I've only had one mishap. I rented a scooter to use on a cruise to Alaska. We were in downtown Juneau when I accidently dropped a wheel over a curb and turned over. There just happened to be a city ambulance not 10ft away. The EMTs hopped out and helped me up. I was fine, not even a skinned knee. Watch out for curbs. You'll be able to take your own scooter on cruises. I wouldn't have anything but a four wheeler as they're much more stable and do so much better on grass.

Re: Electric Scooter!

Moonchilde — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 07:03:45 GMT

wrote:
I get it and I’m with you. My daughter wants to take me to new areas in the city but parking and therefore walking a long way would be an issue. The only way I could go would be with a wheelchair. I hate the idea but at least I could get out more often.

You need to have fun and explore, go for it.

@Noel7, there are so many different types of motorized chairs for people like us - more and more people who aren’t eligible for handicapped devices or regulations out there - that there are many choices.

There are lightweight collapsible wheelchairs, wheelchairs that are electric (not power chairs), ones you can pedal if you choose, all kinds of things - I’m surprised there are so many different things. They just come up as FB ads for me. Prices from $700 and up. There are also the walkers with seats, around $200.

Maybe you could research your closest large medical supply business and have someone take you to look at what’s out there and get suggestions, keeping price in mind. I kept saying I was going to do that, before this kind of fell in my lap.

I know it’s very depressing not to be able to do much, believe me!

I have complimented people on their spiffy scooters I’ve seen while out and about, envious.

I hope you and your family come up with a solution.

Re: Electric Scooter!

Moonchilde — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 07:18:19 GMT

wrote:
wrote:
I’ll have to practice using it! Backing up, turning around, just turning. It is a 4-wheeler so I felt good about that vs a 3-wheeler. I’ve only ever ridden a scooter once for 5 min at the fair and at Costco. And I need to learn “scooter etiquette” or Unspoken Scooter Rules - @Kachina624 is there anything written?
@Moonchilde. I've never seen anything on scooter etiquette but I read news excerpts from Great Britain and scooters there have almost a cult following. Almost every day there's something about a scooter user doing something outrageous. I mostly use mine to take my dogs walking. I've only had one mishap. I rented a scooter to use on a cruise to Alaska. We were in downtown Juneau when I accidently dropped a wheel over a curb and turned over. There just happened to be a city ambulance not 10ft away. The EMTs hopped out and helped me up. I was fine, not even a skinned knee. Watch out for curbs. You'll be able to take your own scooter on cruises. I wouldn't have anything but a four wheeler as they're much more stable and do so much better on grass.

@Kachina624 I was considering a 3-wheeler, but prefer 4 if it’s not too honkin’ huge, which this one isn’t, so was glad I could get the 4 wheels. Most of where I’ll be using it will have handicapped curbs or fairly flat ground, fingers crossed. There’s one place I go all the time where I’ll need to perfect turning around in or backing out of an elevator (parking garage).

One nice thing - when it’s folded, you can pull it like a piece of luggage - so if there are hilly streets between your car and your ultimate destination, you can pull it with you to flat ground and then open it up. That’s applicable for me in one area I go all the time, and for me means I can use it more places.

Interestingly, while I’ve seen plenty of wheelchairs, I’ve never seen a single scooter inside the Aquarium, and you’d think I would have in two years. I look every time I go, too.

Going to be a learning curve!

Re: Electric Scooter!

cherry — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 10:48:07 GMT

I think this is wonderful ,and if I am ever in the postition whee I need one, I will certainly get it

I get out every single day for a bit. It is a great lift to my spirits.

I would encourage anyone ,who thinks they might like one to try it

Re: Electric Scooter!

BirkiLady — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 16:30:28 GMT

@MoonchildeSo pleased for you! Have been this route this my mom and know what a joy it means. Have you checked into getting help financially through Medicare? Not sure if any of mom's were paid for or not. I always took her to our local scooter store (first for canes, the walker, then a spiffy wheelchair and finally a scooter). Amazing what selections are available! "Scooter etiquette" made me smile. Enjoy your excursions!

Re: Electric Scooter!

NickNack — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 17:52:47 GMT

I'm glad you're getting a scooter if you need one. My father uses a walker but does have a wheelchair in case he needs to walk any distance. Supposedly it's a ightweight one. I can't get it in or out of my trunk by myself. My sister works out all the time and is much stronger than I am, and she can barely do it. I have a Nissan Altima. Just make sure you can comfortably lift this on your own.