Sales Tips and Advice
• Do not pay for a quotation.
• Always get more than one quote.
• Ask your local authority who they use.
• Try a manufacturer and a local supplier to get a comparison.
• When you telephone ask questions, ask for an approximate price and write it down.
• Remember if you buy from the newspaper, it will be you paying for the advert.
• Some companies trade using more than one name and advertise on the same page of a
newspaper as if they have no connection.
• If possible have another family member or an O/T present.
• Ask plenty of questions about the product, take brochures and read them, know what
you’re buying.
• Compare features, prioritise what is most important.
• An independent supplier can tell you about a range of different lifts.
• Ask about maintenance costs, will they still look after your lift even if you don’t sign up to an
expensive contract?
• A reputable firm will always maintain your lift.
• Who will look after your lift if it breaks down?
• How many service branches do they have?
• How many engineers do they have in your area?
• Are you paying too much? Many salesmen start with a high price and discount to close a
sale. A reputable company will quote the best price from the start. Do not feel pressurised
into signing up on the day. This is a sure sign that the salesman is hiding something from you.
• Don’t believe special offers, which only apply if you buy now.
• Cheapest is not the best if there is no after sales care.
• Most expensive does not necessarily mean that it is the best product, or the best service.
• Make sure that they are able to supply spare parts, are they approved distributors for the lift
they are selling?
• Ask about warranty terms and conditions, all lifts should have 12 months warranty, you may
have to pay extra if you want 24 hour call out cover.
• What are their response times?
• Very few suppliers do actually provide same day service.
• If you are buying a straight stairlift you should not have to part with a large deposit, if any at all.
• If you do have to give a deposit, ask for their cancellation policy in writing.
• Compare quotations, are they like for like?
• Whilst we don’t recommend the practice of re-manufacturing curved stairlift rails it is possible
to use the chair or motor carriage again.
• Do not pay for a quotation.
• Always get more than one quote.
• Ask your local authority who they use.
• Try a manufacturer and a local supplier to get a comparison.
• When you telephone ask questions, ask for an approximate price and write it down.
• Remember if you buy from the newspaper, it will be you paying for the advert.
• Some companies trade using more than one name and advertise on the same page of a
newspaper as if they have no connection.
• If possible have another family member or an O/T present.
• Ask plenty of questions about the product, take brochures and read them, know what
you’re buying.
• Compare features, prioritise what is most important.
• An independent supplier can tell you about a range of different lifts.
• Ask about maintenance costs, will they still look after your lift even if you don’t sign up to an
expensive contract?
• A reputable firm will always maintain your lift.
• Who will look after your lift if it breaks down?
• How many service branches do they have?
• How many engineers do they have in your area?
• Are you paying too much? Many salesmen start with a high price and discount to close a
sale. A reputable company will quote the best price from the start. Do not feel pressurised
into signing up on the day. This is a sure sign that the salesman is hiding something from you.
• Don’t believe special offers, which only apply if you buy now.
• Cheapest is not the best if there is no after sales care.
• Most expensive does not necessarily mean that it is the best product, or the best service.
• Make sure that they are able to supply spare parts, are they approved distributors for the lift
they are selling?
• Ask about warranty terms and conditions, all lifts should have 12 months warranty, you may
have to pay extra if you want 24 hour call out cover.
• What are their response times?
• Very few suppliers do actually provide same day service.
• If you are buying a straight stairlift you should not have to part with a large deposit, if any at all.
• If you do have to give a deposit, ask for their cancellation policy in writing.
• Compare quotations, are they like for like?
• Whilst we don’t recommend the practice of re-manufacturing curved stairlift rails it is possible
to use the chair or motor carriage again.
