It’s hard enough being diagnosed with a condition that necessitates you using a wheelchair without having to pay full price for one. Fortunately, it is getting easier and easier to find good quality used manual wheelchairs. Many medical supply stores and websites have realized that there is a huge customer base with wallets at the ready. If you belong to a church or senior center, you can check there to see if they have any used manual wheelchairs to buy or rent.

Used Manual Wheelchair – Check With Your Doctor

Before you go shopping for a used manual wheelchair, you need to know if your condition will be helped by a manual wheelchair. Some conditions like severe arthritis of the hip or muscular dystrophy require power wheelchairs. Some conditions are so bad that you may even need to get a custom made wheelchair. If your doctor does not recommend a manual wheelchair, then you won’t be able to get your health insurance company or Medicare to help pay for it.

Used Manual Wheelchair – Other Places To Check

If you can’t afford the used manual wheelchairs offered at medical supply stores or websites, there are other options open to you, but you do have to realize that you are taking a bit of a gamble. You can put out the word to your family, friends, neighbors and trusted business associates that you need a good used manual wheelchair. If you are handy at do it yourself projects, then making adjustments on a used wheelchair won’t be so bad.

You can also check with online classifieds such as Craigslist for used manual wheelchairs, but they are best for local ads, only. If you have a rehabilitation or physical therapy center nearby, they may be able to help you or have a bulletin board where you can put up your “item wanted” request. You can also check out your local pawn shop. There can some surprising bargains to be had at a pawn shop.

Used Manual Wheelchair – What About eBay?

The biggest used manual wheelchair shop in the world seems to be the popular online auction site eBay. You can find people and companies selling used manual wheelchairs, but also supplies you may need, like a manual wheelchair carrier. It’s best to use a third party payment plan like PayPal rather than give out your credit card number or send a money order (which can’t be traced). If you can’t understand the seller’s description of the item, skip it and move on.