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  1. #1
    JayBear480 started this thread.
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    Have high end Wheel Chair. How to achieve the most profitable outcome?

    My neighbors came across a wheel chair, and said that if I could get it sold they would split all profits with me 50/50, whether it's sold as a whole piece or parted out.



    The chair is one of the most decked out, highly accessorized power chairs I've ever seen. Supposedly it's set up for a Quadriplegic, I was told.

    It's a Specialized Rehabilitation Power Chair made by the brand Pride Mobility. The Chair is in the QUANTUM 600 Line, Model # E670 LH. I am having a difficult time finding ANYTHING online with the "670" or "LH" part of the model name, the only models similar in name that I can find is the "E600z" model.

    Anyways, does anyone have any suggestions on how I can sell this for the most, preferably as a single, whole piece? Only issue with this chair is the two batteries are missing, and we do not know if anything does or doesn't work properly. Unless we can have it inspected and tested by an "expert", we really know next to nothing about it.

    Any suggestions or input from personal experiences is greatly appreciated, as well as any other forms of help too. Thank you.


  2. #2
    pjost's Avatar
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    My father-in-law put new batteries in his power chair. Cost him $600. I don't know why he didn't ask me to do it. I'm Guessing $450 of that $600 was labor.

    Edit: Put it up on jacks and hook your car battery up to it and see if it runs. Should be a 12v system (just guessing).

    I see you are in AZ. With all the retired snowbirds in AZ, you should be able to sell easily.
    Last edited by pjost; 03-30-2016 at 07:49 PM.
    Money is not the root of all evil, the love of money is.

  3. #3
    ryanw's Avatar
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    This is my take on it without doing much research. I'm going to guess the Quantum 600 line has almost all the same parts for each model (basically). There will be different parts here and there. Here is a parts list for quantium 600:

    https://www.southwestmedical.com/rep...ty/quantum-600

    Compare what you have to what is there. If it's the same, then you have some part numbers to work with. With more research, you can get more part numbers. With those numbers, list on ebay. Parting out will get you more in the long run, but how long is the unknown part.

    I think maybe you're open to more liability selling as a whole working unit without any experience with wheelchairs. Selling parts passes some of the liability onto the repair person in my opinion.

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    One thing you may want to look into is the government provides wheel chairs for many people. I believe this is why the used "power" chairs market hasn't taken off. One is/was named the Jazzy scooter and everyone I know who owns one got it for free(paid for by you the tax payers).

    I am not being discouraging but I would be certain that you can make money on it before you put any money into it.

    I would contact the manufacturer to see if they would have any interest in the chair. Another thought if its working or repairable you could give it to one of the organizations who support paralyzed people including wounded military. Best wishes(73) , Mike
    "Profit begins when you buy NOT when you sell." {quote passed down to me from a wise man}

    Now go beat the copper out of something, Miked

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  6. #5
    ryanw's Avatar
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    Just to follow up my previous post - I have only parted out one wheelchair. It was an Invacare brand. Everything sold except I think I have one drive wheel left here somewhere.

  7. #6
    hobo finds's Avatar
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    My father in law got a nice wheel chair from the VA (not motorized), he passed away and had hardly used it. We tried to give it back to the VA to use in the hospital here for transport, but they did not want it! Sold it at a yard sale instead.

  8. #7
    JayBear480 started this thread.
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    Quote Originally Posted by ryanw View Post
    Just to follow up my previous post - I have only parted out one wheelchair. It was an Invacare brand. Everything sold except I think I have one drive wheel left here somewhere.
    And about how well would you say you did overall, as far as your ending gross income, comparing to its (roughly averaged) selling price as a (whole/complete) Used chair? Overall would you say it was worth parting out, with all factors involved ie increased amount of total time it took (starting parting to last-finishing sale) and all the extra effort spent between the total break down and the time spent researching and selling each individual part?

    I thought about parting, but I had originally came to the conclusion that it would only be my chosen method of I just could not get it sold whole.

    I saw on a website that bought power chairs that they explained how they never pay more than 1000, and on average only pay 3-500. They went into brief detail explaining how Medicare covers about 80% of a New chair's cost and how high prices for used chairs are, simply put, a silly thing to ask for, & even sillier of a thing to expect to get.

    I honestly had thought already that the only real Buyers who I might have a chance with are ones who are buying it for the parts - a person, shop/store, company, etc who sells and repairs Power Chairs. That being the case, I figured one possibly fruitful attempt would be to go to different stores in person (Yes, Lots here in AZ) with some good quality photos, and a list of all part numbers that are present. Try to strike a deal on the unit as a whole to be sold as a Repaired/Refurbished Used Item. If that fails, then as a For Parts item. Least favorable outcome would be them only wanting to buy a single/few specific parts, & then the rest would go to eBay.

    I was hoping someone would have responded to my CList & OfferUp listings by now...Asking Price is $800 O.B.O.
    It's listed with its condition being "Used, As Is/For Parts/Salvageable For Repair"
    And the description is " Used Electric WheelChair / Rehab Power Chair. Brand/Make: 'Pride Mobility' Product Series: 'Quantum 600 Rehabilitation Power Chairs' Model Number: 'E670_LH'
    Overal chair as a whole appears to be complete and in great physical condition, however, the chair's actual operability is unknown due to absence of the chair's Batteries. Total completeness of chair's parts also unknown. Buyer may inspect the item however they please, but must bring their own compatible batteries if they wish to test its operability. Sold as is at time of sale, all sales final, seller makes absolutely no guarantees or promises regarding the item's condition, completeness, or operability."

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    Have you checked to see if there are any ebay listing, whole or parts? Mike

  10. #9
    travistemple202020's Avatar
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    sit outside starbucks in it with a sign that says will work for copper

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  12. #10
    nutpie's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by pjost View Post
    My father-in-law put new batteries in his power chair. Cost him $600. I don't know why he didn't ask me to do it. I'm Guessing $450 of that $600 was labor.

    Edit: Put it up on jacks and hook your car battery up to it and see if it runs. Should be a 12v system (just guessing).

    I see you are in AZ. With all the retired snowbirds in AZ, you should be able to sell easily.
    If you can find specs of the battery for the chair or several similar chairs made by the same brand, you just may be able to test it with you car battery. Selling it for $800 untested may be a stretch, but I don't know much about the power wheelchair market. I do know the general population would be weary of buying it untested. A repair shop, maybe, maybe not.

  13. #11
    RLS0812's Avatar
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    My mother's chair was sold for $1,500 after she passed ... the paperwork that came with it said it cost $45,000 originally.

    The "used power chair" market is small, since most folks get theirs for "free" from the government or private insurance.

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  15. #12
    PartTimeScrapper's Avatar
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    Call your local medical supply companies that sell equipment. They might be willing to buy it from you.

  16. #13
    ryanw's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by JayBear480 View Post
    And about how well would you say you did overall, as far as your ending gross income, comparing to its (roughly averaged) selling price as a (whole/complete) Used chair? Overall would you say it was worth parting out, with all factors involved ie increased amount of total time it took (starting parting to last-finishing sale) and all the extra effort spent between the total break down and the time spent researching and selling each individual part?
    In the first month, I had cleared over 1,000 net on the parts...which is more than I could have done locally. Plus, it took up less space. Everything sold..the plastic pieces, handles, arm rests, etc. The only things I scrapped were the frame pieces. I don't know if a repair place would be interested in buying it for parts unless it was really cheap. I don't think they're in the business of holding stock for things. All they do is order a new one and pass the cost on to the customer. Also, although insurance pays for the chair, I wonder if it also pays for all repairs.

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  18. #14
    Scrappah's Avatar
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    Don't know how much help it will be but i've got a little bit of experience with them. Worked doing plant services for a nursing home for six years. Of the eighty or so residents only two had a power chair like you describe. One was afflicted with MS and the other was a stroke victim. It's definitely a specialty item.

    One thing to think about is that a person lived in that chair seven days a week for quite awhile. They ate and drank as best they could but a lot of it gets slopped and falls down into the underneath parts. They were also in adult diapers and sometimes the diapers leak if you know what i mean. All around ..... not too sanitary. That probably explains why a lot of healthcare facilities wouldn't accept a used wheelchair as a donation.

    If somebody had success with parting em' out that might be your best bet.

    If you wanted to test it .... they really aren't all that complicated. There's the battery charger unit. The battery, motors on each wheel, and the joystick controller. It's more likely to be a 12 volt system but it could be 24 volts. It ought to say somewhere on the motors or the charging unit.

    Hook up a battery and see what it does ?

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  20. #15
    Scrappah's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ryanw View Post
    In the first month, I had cleared over 1,000 net on the parts...which is more than I could have done locally. Plus, it took up less space. Everything sold..the plastic pieces, handles, arm rests, etc. The only things I scrapped were the frame pieces. I don't know if a repair place would be interested in buying it for parts unless it was really cheap. I don't think they're in the business of holding stock for things. All they do is order a new one and pass the cost on to the customer. Also, although insurance pays for the chair, I wonder if it also pays for all repairs.
    It probably sounds terrible but if a repair place could pick up used parts and then bill them off to the insurance (or the guvmin't) as new there's a spitload of profit.

    Nobody is minding the store so to speak. There's no follow up for quality assurance. If someone were inclined to do that kind of thing it would be easy pickins.

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    I took the seat off of one and used it in my deer stand and folks this is NICE!!!! It's quiet, fully adjustable and it has a seat belt for those sunny day naps in the woods.

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