Eddie Peacock

Eddie

Arthur and Gladys

Here is a parable. Names have been changed to protect the innocent, the guilty and possibly even YOU! The facts, however, are a true reflection on the possible perils of purchasing mobility products here in the UK in these digital days.

ONCE UPON A TIME, or possibly this week, in the tiny hamlet of Piddle on the Wold live

Arthur and Gladys Sensible.

They have been married for hundreds of years and have lived honest, peaceful and diligent lives. They have a large family but, like many these days, they all live some distance away.

Arthur was a teacher who retired 10 years ago after 40 years of cramming mathematical data into the heads of indolent adolescents. Gladys worked as a district nurse and she also retired a while back so they could both enjoy their golden years together. They moved to their favourite, idyllic village, Piddle on the Wold where they have lived happily ever since. Whilst being fairly fit and healthy, the years have gradually caught up with them as their ageing bodies have left them less able to cope with the rigours of everyday life. Arthur`s eyesight and Gladys`s arthritis have meant giving up their car. The bus service into town has been cut and suddenly they find themselves isolated. Arthur thought that they could buy a couple of mobility scooters. This would maintain some independence and ensure that they could get to the supermarket on the edge of town. Arthur likes the cakes from the bakers shop and spending some time at the bowling club.

Gladys is no slouch either and she has a busy time as a volunteer at Doctor Gupta`s surgery. They are not exactly an English version of Bonnie & Clyde but nonetheless they are living life to the full. Enthused by Arthur`s “good idea” they went into town to visit Ernest`s Mobility shop to see what these scooters were all about. Ernest has been running this shop for a long time. “Ever since Sitting Bull stood up” as he often tells his customers. He knows all about scooters, wheelchairs, rollators in fact anything that helps old legs, arthritic hands and even ageing bladders. He gave Arthur and Gladys the complete run down on the huge variety of options available that would keep Arthur in cakes and Gladys volunteering.

After an hour or so, Ernest helped them to decide on the ”Orgasmo Dream Rider” scooter. This would fit the bill for both of them and, as a special offer, he could supply them both for a very special price of £3,250. Now everything had been going swimmingly until this point. Gladys was jolly impressed both with the scooters and Ernest. He had answered all of her questions and made some very canny suggestions that would help them both.

But there was a fly in the proverbial ointment. Arthur, being a careful sort of chap wanted to sleep on this and come back to Ernest later in the week.

On returning home he wound up his laptop computer and started searching for scooters “online”. After a few hours he found just what he was looking for.

The Orgasmo Dreamrider scooter on sale for only £1,500. Being a mathematical genius, he could see that 2 scooters would cost only £3000.

All this from Scooters Worldwide Inc, “if you want it, we`ve got it” PO Box 9001, London SE92. Furthermore there was free delivery anywhere in the UK (including Piddle on the Wold). Feeling rather smug he simply sent his bank card details and sat back knowing that he would have 2 Orgasmo scooters delivered by the weekend.

The big day arrived. The doorbell rang and Arthur opened it with great anticipation. He was therefore a trifle disappointed to be greeted by a van driver with a thick eastern European accent asking for his autograph. Beside him were two large cardboard boxes, each one roughly the size of a small boy scout`s hut. “Sign here please” slurred the driver, “and have a nice day”.

Arthur had the presence of mind to ask the driver if he would unpack the boxes with him, but with one foot

Eddie Peacock has worked in the mobility industry for “rather a long time”. He enjoyed a challenging career having started by selling wheelchairs, scooters and stairlifts for Sunrise Medical, eventually working his way to the position of UK sales manager. After a period as a self-employed consultant he was invited to manage movingpeople.net, now Handicare Ltd, in

Peacock

in his van he displayed his new found understanding of the English vernacular, “That`s not my job, I`m only the driver”.

Being of an innocent disposition and a certain age, Arthur thought that someone would come to unpack the scooters, check them over, give him an overview of the controls and an explanation of running and maintaining the Orgasmo Dreamrider. He was wrong.

He telephoned Scooters Worldwide Inc` to clarify the situation. After waiting long enough to hear the whole of Vivaldi`s Four Seasons Violin Concerto, he at last got to speak to someone.

Explaining his dilemma he was dismayed to discover that not only did he have to unpack his scooters himself but that he should keep the packing “in case anyfink goes wrong”. If there were problems, it appeared that he had to repack the scooter and send it back to PO box 9001.

On close inspection of his boxes he discovered to his horror that something had gone wrong as there was an ominous hole in one of them. After unpacking, admittedly with the assistance of his son who drove 2 hours to help, it transpired that the scooter had a broken casing and a punctured rear wheel. This meant that it had to be returned. On the bright side their service provided a “platinum quality” after sales scheme and there was no charge for collection and return! This procedure could take up to 3 weeks.

The “Platinum quality” service scheme also offered a customer consolidation package for only £250. For this money someone would come and show them all there was to know about their Orgasmo Dreamrider. This could take up to 3 weeks.

A couple of months later Gladys`s Dreamrider broke down. The Platinum quality service facility did not include repairs. Arthur was to repack the scooter (remember he had to keep his packing!) and send it back to PO Box 9001. Repairs could take up to 3 weeks.

By this time Arthur and Gladys were realising that there is more to buying a scooter than simply finding a keen price. Far from providing independence and mobility they had invested in anxiety and frustration. Even more seriously no cakes from that baker`s shop!

At their wit`s end, they went back to Ernest at his Mobility Shop for help. Ernest was understandably peeved. “You came here to see as many scooters as you could, used my vast experience to help you decide and then went and bought the scooter from the internet. I could have offered you a little discount. In honesty I could not have matched the price you paid but I would have given you both peace of mind. Do you remember that I would have delivered the scooters personally and shown you both how to use them? I also provide on-going service and repair? Was it worth saving that £250“?

Does this tale have a happy ending? Did Ernest relent and help them? Did they all live happily ever after? Having established a worthy relationship with a knowledgeable local supplier, did they then know where to turn when they needed a bath lift and a riser / recliner chair? I leave you to decide.

Was there anything that Ernest could have done? It has been a long time “since Sitting Bull stood up”. Times change and so does business practice. A sales transaction carries responsibilities for all parties and common sense and honesty is important.

The internet is a splendid source for a multitude of items but, I suggest, mobility products deserve guidance and counsel from a good trustworthy supplier.

Whilst this has been a fictitious tale, all of the events related have been, and still are, common practice. Take care!

the UK. In recent years he held the post of Marketing Manager for Mobility which also involved supporting and working with the BHTA.

He has now retired and is looking forward to finding the time to perform useful tasks in the industry, playing drums in a blues band, travelling and most important, being silly with his grandchildren.

To contact Eddie send an email to eddiepeacock@btinternet.com or write to him at Ability Needs, 7 Montgomerie Terrace, Ayr, KA7 1JL

Record breaker, Donald Campbell, honoured on his centenary year by unique art

To commemorate what would have been her father’s 100th birthday on 23rd March, Gina Campbell has donated a piece of art, which depicts herself, her father and her grandfather, all of whom are world record holders.

The Bickerton Grace gallery has taken this image and divided it by hand into 1,000 pieces in the iconic jigsaw shape, creating individual pieces of artwork. Each piece is mounted on a 24 carat gold leaf base, embellished with a 24 carat gold thread, numbered, signed and presented in a five inch box frame and is now available to buy for £50 per piece, with 100% of the profits donated to Speed Of Sight: http://shop.speedofsight.org/shop/sentiment-campbelllegacy/

Speed Of Sight is run by blind race car driver and multiple World Record holder Mike Newman and his cofounder John Galloway. The charity hosts driving experiences for children and adults with disabilities. A women’s water speed record holder herself, Gina Campbell and her family are synonymous with breaking world records. Her father, Donald Campbell CBE, was a British speed record breaker who broke eight world speed records on water and on land in the 1950s and 1960s and her grandfather, Sir Malcolm Campbell, held similar land and water speed records at various times during the 1920s and 1930s. Gina said: “I’m a Patron of Speed Of Sight and to help it in this way and celebrate my father at the same time, is very special to me. My dad was a very ambitious man and someone who has continued to inspire people after his death. His achievements were astounding, and I believe he’d be very humbled by this celebration of his life. A very happy birthday to my dad.”

Speed Of Sight runs events which empower disabled people of all ages. These events, held nationwide, allow a disabled child or adult a chance to forget, if only for a little while, that they have a disability.

More information on Speed Of Sight can be found at www.speedofsight.org

WELCOME TO SCOOTER STORE LIMITED

Scooter Store Limited is an established company with over twentyfive years’ experience, which has become very popular especially with the elderly and disabled community nationwide.

The concept of a small, easy to use store for securing mobility vehicles has been extremely well received by many local authorities. Housing Associations, County, City and Borough Councils as well as charitable organisations have installed Scooter Stores throughout the country with great success; whilst thousands have been exported to Europe. This has solved storage and independence issues for many people.

In our experience we have found that many people who use mobility scooters find it very difficult getting their scooter in and out of their property without help or assistance. Storing them in living rooms and hallways is not always ideal as they take up a lot of room and can cause fire hazards. The scooter store itself is simple and was designed in response to a demand from the public. The standard unit is 1525mm long x 1220mm wide x 1070mm high and made of 2mm steel the store comes in a green finish. Bespoke scooter stores can be manufactured to different sizes to suit your specific mobility scooter requirements. Our Scooter Stores are delivered flat packed for installation to inaccessible places and are installed by our fully trained engineers. Our scooter stores are all push button controlled and fully lockable. A socket for charging the scooter is provided within the store. The Scooter Store requires very little maintenance. The Scooter Store is such a marvellous alternative which is secure and theft proof, and because it is so easy to use independence can be greatly improved for mobility vehicle users.

Our contact details are: Scooter Store Limited, Unit 11 Riverside Business Park, Cambridge Road, Harlow, Essex, CM20 2HE. Tel: 01279 453565. www.scooterstoreltd.com

STANDING WHEELCHAIR

Providing independence & comfort through standing

Designed and developed in the Midlands over the past 15 years the Genie V2 is one of the most advanced wheelchairs available. Combining advanced engineering and practical design, the Genie provides independence and comfort for all levels of dependency.

At Genie Wheelchairs we pride ourselves on developing practical and affordable solutions that make your day to day life that little bit easier! Appropriate for all levels of dependency from our basic model through to a complete care system tailored to each individual.

The Genie V2 has been designed with your everyday needs in mind, providing upper and lower body support to allow washing, air circulation and relief from pressure pain. The ability to stand opens up many possibilities such as access to previously inaccessible places or even getting back into the workplace as many of our Genie users have, whilst providing everyday health benefits such as aiding circulation and digestion. Standing is an important part of maintaining good health. The Genie can aid in the prevention of bladder problems and assist with bone development and pressure management.

The Genie V2 is incredibly easy to manoeuvre, light and compact when stored. It is easily folded away into a cube which is ideal for transportation on planes or in non converted vehicles, enabling you to do more and go further in comfort. Providing independence for yourself and your carer is our main aim.

With its range of control options from the attendant control system, which allows a carer or family member to drive, stand and manage comfort to our unique head control system allowing you to use all functions of the Genie just by head movement alone. The Genie V2 comes complete with hygienic, easytouse toilet facilities that can revolutionise your quality of life. All features are removable depending on your needs. When you can sit, recline, stand up and be mobile in safety without leaving the chair the possibilities are endless.

Everyone’s needs can change.

All the Genie’s facilities and functions can be added or removed easily at any time to suit your requirements as an individual. Our base unit is easily adapted to accommodate a wide range of additional features, from vehicle docking systems to our unique head control system. And when it comes to one off customization at Genie wheelchairs nothing is impossible, from ventilator shelving to customised seating if you have any special requirements let us know. Nothing is too much when it comes to your comfort and independence.

Easy transfers from bed to • sitting or standing Custom built to suit all needs • Comfortable & maneuverable • Enhances quality of life• Provides dignity,• independence & mobility Provides many health benefits • Removes boundaries•

Designed & Manufactered in GREAT BRITAIN