Sunrise You-Q Luca ~ Poor Quality Armrests
In October 2018, I was able to privately purchase a new powered wheelchair, replacing my worn-out 8 year-old Quantum 600 mid-wheel drive.
I opted for a Sunrise You-Q Luca, mainly due to it’s compact and manoeuvrable design.
I chose a rear-wheel drive (having found my mid-wheel drive Quantum to be less capable over rough terrain).
I received a voucher from NHS Wheelchair Services to the value of £1750, and a £2,500 grant from the Joseph Patrick Trust.
The total cost of the chair was just over £7,000. A huge expense, but compared to most other powered wheelchairs on the market, the You-Q Luca is definitely one of the cheapest options!
I really wanted flip-up armrests on my new wheelchair to make transferring easier. However, over the past year, the soft foam pads on the armrests have slowly disintegrated.
Bearing in mind how expensive this equipment is, and how long it took to raise the necessary funds, I take good care of my wheelchair!
I have repeatedly attempted to patch-up the armrest pads with super glue. But they are now in a state of non-repair.
Considering the price and the fact that the wheelchair is only 15 months old, I am really shocked and disappointed with the product.
The wheelchair itself is great. The armrest pads are total crap!
I bought the wheelchair from a company called Better Mobility.
I cannot fault their customer service or the assessor who bought a number of demo chairs to my home to try prior to purchase. He was very knowledgeable, patient and not at all pushy (as some sales rep’s can be).
However, I find the quality of the armrest pads to be extremely poor.
As you will see from the image below, to replace them will cost an additional £83.40 – a rather hefty sum to replace an item on a relatively new powered wheelchair!
I am reluctant to pay the £83.40 to replace the armrest pads, particularly as they are likely to disintegrate again within a few months. In the meantime, I am left with an unsightly product that is literally falling to pieces.