Wednesday 13 July 2016

Permobil M300 Wheelchair -Lack of Confidence


I have no confidence in the Permobil M300 Power Wheelchair!
(will it get me to where I'm going...or not?)
 
My wheelchair service provider returned my Permobil M300 wheelchair a couple of weeks ago after being in the shop yet again this year (4th time).

The wheelchair service technicians could not find the source of the problem that caused the chair to only turn in circles, however, they believed the brake within one motor was not releasing.  If you recall from previous posts, both motors failed and had to be replaced a few months ago.  They are both new motors!

My service technician called Permobil U.S. in Tennessee, the nearest large distributor of the wheelchairs.  (I believe the U.S. Permobil headquarters is in Texas)  Permobil U.S. was less than helpful as they kept asking my technician for the error code.  There was no error code displayed - if their was, the problem would be evident and there would be no need to call!  Permobil in Tennessee just didn't get it and offered no solution.

So, although I've used the chair for just over two weeks with no further problems, the original problem was not found or resolved.  So, I use this chair with little confidence, not knowing if or when the problem may show up again.  I am in a Permobil wheelchair and I have no confidence in it getting me to where I am going.  What a fine product!

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Permobil Wheelchair - Latest Part to Break & Fall Off


Cleaning the dust off of my wheelchair with a soft cloth, I see something fall off.  It appears to be half of a plastic washer or spacer.  It is not obvious from exactly where it fell or where it belongs.  When finished, I backed away and found the other half of the spacer.

 Latest mystery part to fall off of my Permobil M300 Power Wheelchair

I will place the pieces in a box with the rest of the items which have fallen off of this Permobil wheelchair and no longer are held in place where intended.

I don't wish to hear that "it's not important" as it was added to the wheelchair during assembly and served some purpose.  I paid for the part and for proper operation of this Permobil wheelchair.  The chair has been disintegrating piece by piece almost since obtaining it.

Plastic is a fine product however, it is most frequently used in the wrong places for the wrong purpose!  These days it is used to make products cheaper -not less expensive.  Bigger profits is the only concern!

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