Over the past few months, Mobility Buddy have been hard at work with our new showroom in Nottingham. With our ever expanding range of Disabled Scooters it became difficult to effectively display all of the range online. We know that buying a disabled scooter can be a very confusing and long process and sometimes you just need that extra bit of reassurance that the Scooter is right for you. There are also some people that prefer to see a Scooter before they buy as lets face it, there's nothing quite like that feeling of being able to have that tactile experience of seeing the scooter for yourself.



We get a lot of customers who want to know a lot about the scooters available and sometimes it is difficult to provide all the information that people need. Being able to speak to someone first hand who has the experience and knowledge to help you is vital and this can be even more helpful to speak with someone in person.



To answer some of these questions, Mobility Buddy has extended our Showroom in Nottingham, to provide our larger range of not only Disabled Scooters but Wheelchairs, Living Aids and general mobility equipment. This has allowed us to increase the range without becoming too confusing for you. Just like our Online Store, the showroom is organised into the different scooter ranges of Portable, Pavement and Luxury Scooters.



To complement our comprehensive range of Disabled Scooters and Wheelchairs, Mobility Buddy has a wide selection of Living Aids. All designed to make like that little bit easier, all of our living aids have been specially selected to be ideal for all areas of the home. We have grab rails for all uses including the bathroom, the kitchen or around the home. Recently, we have increased our range of rise and reclining chairs for comfort and support. You can find a variety of rise and reclining chairs that have functions for comfort and disability.



Here at our Nottingham Showroom, we have many friendly and helpful staff that are on hand to answer all of your questions you might have on any of the products. We have over 20 years experience in the mobility equipment industry so we know our products well and also our customers needs. We understand that buying mobility equipment can be an important decision so we make sure that your needs come first.



Visit our showroom for some amazing in-store specials, for example the Kymco Micro Mobility Scooter at a special price of £475. We will be happy to talk to your about your needs and provide you with the right Disabled Scooter or living aid. Why not pay us a visit at our Nottingham Showroom and see how we can help you today.

One of the news stories that has dominated all of the news pages recently, and might I add all over the world, is that of 90 year old Stanley Murphy on his scooter. Poor old Stan was found driving down the A27 on his Disabled Scooter doing around 8 mph in lane 1. He was later flagged down by a motorist and found that he 'took a wrong turn on the way to buy a newspaper'. It was a luck escape and highlights the need for awareness of the mobility scooter. Read more about this in this news article.

8mph Luxury Scooters

Each of the different categories of scooter have features associated with them. Most notable is the speed that they are able to travel at. Portable and Pavement scooters require the scooter to travel at a maximum speed of 4mph. This is for obvious safety reasons and so that the user does not pose a danger to anyone on the pavement.

Luxury and Heavy Duty Scooters however, come with a switch that allows them to travel from 4 to 8 mph and therefore on the road. There are of course legal requirements for driving on the road, such as headlights, break lights and indicators. This also requires the user to be proficient in the highway code and of course not allowed on the motorway as in the article above!

For more information on the legal aspects of Disabled Scooters, read this page or Mobility Buddy's guide to Choosing Disabled Scooters.

New Luxury Scooters

With the weather warming up for Spring and the snow melting, we can look forward to the sunshine and getting out and about. That's why Mobility Buddy have introduced some exciting new Disabled Scooters to the range, from Kymco and TGA.

The Kymco Maxi is a fantastic luxury scooter designed for road and pavement use. It comes equipped with adaptive suspension providing great comfort and reliability, whilst taking the driver around for up to 25 miles. A must for anyone wanting to get around in comfort both on the road and around the shops.

Probably the most advanced and comfortable scooter around at the moment is the truly magnificent TGA Breeze 4 heavy duty scooter. Boasting features such as integrated electronics, active adjustable suspension and large leather seat, this scooter is suitable for all conditions and is strong enough to cope with a variety of different road conditions. A must for everyday use and flexibility and stable enough whilst on the road at 8 mph.

Remember a disabled scooter comes in a variety of different models and categories so if you are needing to drive on the road, make sure you have the scooter that is designed to do so!

Find out about our other new additions to the Disabled Scooters range at www.MobilityBuddy.co.uk

Over the past few months, we have been busy adding in new Wheelchairs to our range to meet the ever growing demand. There are numerous articles (including some that we've written) on advice and information on the different types of Wheelchair, but not so many on the accessories for them. So to fill this void and help people out even more we thought we'd write a post on our top 10 accessories for your manual wheelchairs.



Somewhere to put your drink.



The ultimate accessory for when you are out and about. Simply attach a clip on cup holder to your wheelchair so you can enjoy drink on the go. One of the most popular is the 'Drink Thing' that fits a variety of different container sizes and clips neatly onto the frame of any wheelchair. A must for the summer months or being out in the shops.



Hand Protection.



Using manual wheelchairs quite often can certainly be hard work on your hands. Developed by wheelchair users to make life comfortable for wheelchair users, gloves can protect against blisters and callouses yet are light and comfortable to wear. For those who want even more comfort and robustness, there are the Globeleather gloves which have been described as "the best wheelchair gloves available".



Added Storage and Saving Space



A handy device for packing things away and also saving on space to store items is an under seat wheelchair pouch. This excellent device clips securely and easily to the wheelchair with buckles and hides away under the chair. An ingenious accessory for the wheelchair provides convenient storage and is easily accessible from the front by the user.



Additional Security and Padding



With an extra secure wheelchair belt, you can have an added feeling of being secure by having a belt that criss-crosses across the back of the wheelchair and loops around the levers. Machine washable and made from heavy duty nylon, this belt fits comfortably around the hips.



Space Saving Oxygen



Ideal for persons with emphysema or other respiratory conditions then the perfect solution is a CarryON wheelchair bag that conveniently stores oxygen tanks out of the way. A large mesh bag easily holds one or two 'E' Cylinder tanks and also comes with a deep mask/nasal cannula pouch that is machine washable.



Keep on Working on the Move





If you have visual perception problems, then a transparent tray that attaches to all different types of wheelchair is ideal for you. With an aluminuim lip that keeps the tray from falling off, this durable see-through tray will provide a clear line of sight to your lap and offering a sturdy platform to perform work or tasks. The tray can easily be attached and removed thanks to the hook and loop straps that attach onto the wheelchair armrests.



Added Comfort



What would an accessory list be without something for extra comfort? One of the best methods of getting a softer surface to sit on is a cushion made from silicone gel and foam. Ideal for relieving pressure areas this cushion will make any wheelchair feel comfortable and relaxing all the time.



Accessibility Accessory



Last but by no means least is the most popular (and some would argue most essential) is the Wheelchair Ramp. Mostly constructed from aluminium and being lightweight and very portable, they are ideal for providing access to and from buildings, stairs and cars. Ramps come in a variety of different sizes and portable options and can quite often come complete with a carry bag for transportation. Some of the ramps can also be used for mobility scooters as they are made from very tough, durable materials.



With so many different accessories to choose from, Mobility Buddy provide all the help and information on Manual Wheelchairs, Mobility Scooters and Wheelchair Accessories that you need. Visit www.MobilityBuddy.co.uk and find the right mobility aid for your needs.

Three articles in the world of disabled scooters attracted my attention this past week. What is mostly interesting about them is they are very abstract and are based around three completely different situations but all involving a mobility scooter.

I take a lot of time to research new developments on our scooters that include reviews, press releases and of course articles from users of the scooters. On our site, we have many reviews that we like to provide to help people understand the scooter. These include detailed product information, customer reviews and some demonstration videos. The latter are usually from the manufacturers who demonstrate the scooter's features and how it can be used. I was amazed however, to find this video of a demonstration of a different kind for a Rascal Scooter:

Rascal Scooter Tricks

It is my view that the manufacturers and suppliers of scooters should provide all the help and advice that is needed to opperate the scooters effectively and confidently. When buying a disabled scooter, shop around for a supplier that can offer advice, a demonstration or even instruction on how to use a scooter. Many scooter suppliers often have a showroom, so go and visit them.

Last but not least is was this quite amazing story of a drunken woman who stole a disabled scooter from Asda and then tried to drive it nearly 10 miles to her home. After breaking a heel of a shoe on a night out, the scooter obviously looked like an attractive option for the rest of the journey home. Police later stopped her for driving erratically after 2 and a half miles where it was recorded she was two times over the legal limit for alcohol. Quite the disreagard for people with disabilities. Read the full article here.

MobilityBuddy not only provide a comprehensive range of disabled scooters, but also a sympathetic and understanding of our customers needs. Visit www.MobilityBuddy.co.uk.

When selling products online, you can never neglect the importance that your customers, past and future, play in the sales process. By allowing customers to leave their honest reviews about an item, you are allowing people to express their honest opinion and give a sense of trust to the potential buyers.



Shopping online for something as important as a disabled mobility scooter, you need to feel assured that the scooter you are buying is not only the right one for you but also that you are going to get the best service as well as after sales service.



Take one of our best selling and an overall popular scooter, the Pride Go Go, for example. As this is a popular scooter there are many places to buy it online. However, one thing that people might not think about when shopping for the lowest price is what level of customer service they will get. This point is emphasised by a blog post I found here. In this article, a customer reviews the Pride Go Go and their problems they had with one particular company by not providing the after sales service. It leaves the customer rather disappointed in not only the product (which is one of the best value and reliable scooters available I might add) but also the experience of buying online.



The review is concluded by advising people to buy from a local shop and not from the internet as you don't get that 'at home service'. However, we believe that providing the 'at home service' is vital to anyone who is buying a mobility scooter. It is good to shop around to suit your budget but also good to measure one internet retailer's level of customer service with another. If you need that repair service or even just a home demonstration that can be worth paying a little more for. I think the best advice would be to first of all know your needs, research the product, read the customer reviews and then find the right place to buy. You can shop to find the best price but more importantly, shop to find the best level of service.



Mobility Buddy has a large range of Mobility Scooters, including the Pride Go Go, and we pride ourselves on our level of customer care and after sales service. We know how important buying the right mobility scooter is and also taking care of your needs. Why not read our customer reviews and see what people think of the products and service.



www.MobilityBuddy.co.uk

It has been a busy week around the web for news on Mobility Scooters. One of the biggest stories is that MPs are now insisting on drivers of Mobility Scooters. It seems that the number of accidents involving mobility scooters has prompted the government to take notice and consider scooter owners to take driving lessons. Under new proposals, owners of scooters would have to 'prove' that they are capable of handling the scooters and that they would not pose a threat to the public.



Despite the media concentrating on the reporting accidents and at worst fatalities, the charity Help the Aged however, have responded to MPs that is was 'largely a creation of the media'. This was also echoed by the Department of Transport who maintained that it was not a major problem. You can read more about the article here or here.



On the lighter side of things, Charnwood Borough Council has purchased an all terrain Mobility Scooter in order for more people to enjoy a popular beauty destination around Loughborough, UK. Now the Helen Jean Cope Trust has bought a second scooter to allow even more disabled people to get around the 110-acre site of Special Scientific Interest. This is great news for people to get out and about to see tourist destinations. You can read the full story here.



One of the most popular pavement scooters has made an appearance on the popular video site YouTube. Pride Scooters are a great way of getting about and this short video below really shows how versatile and easy to drive they are:









Mobility Buddy have a wide variety of Mobility Scooters in their current sale including the most popular Pride Scooter. Visit www.MobilityBuddy.co.uk and get the perfect scooter for you.

Interesting (and quite shocking) is that there have been two separate incidents in the UK this month involving trains and mobility scooters. The most interesting thing about the incidents was that you would not necessarily think that travelling by train with a mobility scooter would cause such a problem.



The first article I came across was on the BBC website. This was an event on Arriva Trains where a man with a mobility scooter was not able to board the train due to the overcrowding. Something that most people encounter on a daily basis but for those who rely on mobility scooters, missing a train can have serious complications. The unlucky Mr Wali, then had to drive his scooter for 13 miles (21 km) home as the train could not accommodate him. Holiday period or no holiday period, such provisions should be made for overcrowding and to make sure that everyone is able to board trains.



Similarly, a separate incident involving a peron with a mobility scooter occured in West Yorkshire. However, this was not due to poor planning by the Trains franchise, but a deliberate act of discrimination. Being told that a train could not guarnantee disabled access to its customers is a little different to being told outright that you can't travel on the train because of a scooter.



Northern Rail said in their defence that due to "the lack of common design of scooter" and the "diversified fleet", having mobility scooters on their trains was not always possible. Despite many other train companies investing in improving their access for wheelchairs and scooters, Northern Rail have yet to increase their standards. Read the article in full here.



I would hope that other train companies and franchises around the UK are taking note about the right way and the wrong way to care for their customers.





With a caring, dedicated and understanding team Mobility Buddy excel in providing top quality Mobility Scooters, Wheelchairs and Walking Sticks at a fair price with excellent service.