Country Home Elevators is the latest supplier of Symmetry Elevating Solutions. Symmetry offers the most unique drive system in combination with the most customizable cab options to look just like the rest of your homes interior.
Please contact Chuck Meppelink at 800-898-5090 for Missouri & Arkansas application and
Eric Edwards at 918-694-6544 for more details.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Nigerian DIY Scam
Nigerian Scammers have found a new way to get your credit card information. The rising volume of Do-It-Yourself Installations is giving rise to credit card fraud. I heard it rumored that one of the on-line listing companies offering Stair Lifts as a do it yourself - DIY install is a Bogus Nigerian scam sight taking credit cards and not shipping products.
I have said it many times "Buyer Be aware" many of the good looking, slick websites are not to be trusted. If you can't meet the company sales person at your front door, you probalily have a company that you won't be able to locate when you need help. My rule of thumb is to have a knowledgeable expert visit your home and look at all the factors in the installation and your specific application. They will be able to quickly see if there is a problem with the stair layout, before you get your lift installed.
Don't give your credit card to a stranger over the phone. Check your local phonebook listing. You want to know the the $3,000 investment will last and that you can locate the company in your area. Even Lawyers are hesitant to chase a criminal into South Africa, India or a carribeen island.
Check your National Associations for qualified installers at www.naec.org www.bbbonline.com
I have said it many times "Buyer Be aware" many of the good looking, slick websites are not to be trusted. If you can't meet the company sales person at your front door, you probalily have a company that you won't be able to locate when you need help. My rule of thumb is to have a knowledgeable expert visit your home and look at all the factors in the installation and your specific application. They will be able to quickly see if there is a problem with the stair layout, before you get your lift installed.
Don't give your credit card to a stranger over the phone. Check your local phonebook listing. You want to know the the $3,000 investment will last and that you can locate the company in your area. Even Lawyers are hesitant to chase a criminal into South Africa, India or a carribeen island.
Check your National Associations for qualified installers at www.naec.org www.bbbonline.com
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Summit / Harma Warning
Note to any customer of a Summit / Harmar Dumbwaiter.
Summit / Harmar has sent out a Warning Notice of a potential product hazard with the Ascent Dumbwaiter. In some cases the 1/8" steel cable was not crimped enough to prevent the cable from slipping out and causing the cab to fall on the slack device. If the slack device was not tested in the field by the installer, it could not be functional and allow free fall of the cab.
Most Installers and Mechanics know that it is not safe to climb into a dumbwaiter hoistway without first securing the cab overhead, but for those self installed or contractor installed units or a unit that a handyman is maintaining, there is a real danger to be aware of.
If you have a Summit Ascent Dumbwaiter, please conact your installer or Summit Lifts before you operate the unit to confirm the required repairs, if needed.
Our company will be calling all customers to set up a time to make the corrections, after we get them from Summit.
Summit / Harmar has sent out a Warning Notice of a potential product hazard with the Ascent Dumbwaiter. In some cases the 1/8" steel cable was not crimped enough to prevent the cable from slipping out and causing the cab to fall on the slack device. If the slack device was not tested in the field by the installer, it could not be functional and allow free fall of the cab.
Most Installers and Mechanics know that it is not safe to climb into a dumbwaiter hoistway without first securing the cab overhead, but for those self installed or contractor installed units or a unit that a handyman is maintaining, there is a real danger to be aware of.
If you have a Summit Ascent Dumbwaiter, please conact your installer or Summit Lifts before you operate the unit to confirm the required repairs, if needed.
Our company will be calling all customers to set up a time to make the corrections, after we get them from Summit.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Questioning failure rate
Today I talked to Mr. Updike in Grove, Oklahoma. He said his Acorn was not working and the Freedom Town Stair lift company he bought his Acorn from was out of business. His unit was installed 10 months ago. I wonder if this was the 1 of the .033% failure rate claimed by my Acorn rep.?
I will follow up to be sure he gets help and the full Warranty from Acorn.
I will follow up to be sure he gets help and the full Warranty from Acorn.
Supporting Humor - It's just Nut's
Even Squirrels can tell a bad Acorn by looking at it!
This photo was circulated in Dallas at the NAEC elevator convention. While NAEC is a non-partisan group that promotes safe and well managed independant elevator companies and has no connection with this statement, there were many in attendance who were concerned with Acorn having a booth at a trade show where the whole point of meeting is to have better and safer installations.
If you reseasch "Acorn complaints" you will quickely see where there is a lot of buzz about the quality and integrity of the Acorn / Brooks products, both in the US & UK marketplace.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Bait & switch & Fraud
Alex George has proven how low Acorn Stair Lift will go to sell more lifts. I was an Acorn Dealer until this morning. Last week I was contacted by my new Acorn Sales person. She wanted to know how she could help and if I needed any lifts?
I asked her if she would send leads for people looking for lifts in Missouri or Arkansas. She did not know how that worked. Alex said many months ago that he would support dealers and provide leads and dealer support. Now when an internet consumer clicks on the "Dealer Locator" they fill out information and then are sent literature with no local dealer information, but a 1-866 # to a DIY call center.
I requested information and to verify if I even showed up as a dealer. The literature never mentioned a local company. When I inquired with the call center, they tried to sell me a DIY stairway lift for $ 3,400.
I asked about installers, but they insisted that I could do the install with "Only a screwdriver and a wrench". I asked my Acorn rep. if she could install a lift with only a screwdriver and a wrench, she said "Well, no". The DIY telesales girl was confident she would sell me a DIY stair lift if she kept telling me how easy it was and how great the Warranty was. "Lifetime warranty" she said. I asked if they would keep sending me parts if it failed to work. She said..well the main drive system is lifetime, but the other things are one year. She said they have a .033% brake down rate. I really wanted to tell her about all the local vicitms of their fraud, the disable elderly who spent what they had to maintain their independance at home and had been left high and dry by Acorn when the unit failed in 6 months.
After I talked to the DIY sales girl, I talked to my Dealer Rep. and asked about these tactics to fool customers about the easy of installation and warranty. She had only been to the other building where DIY was once or twice. It is little wonder why they have had trouble keeping sales reps.
I asked my sales rep to have Alex contact me if he would and to my surprise he called in just a few minutes. Seemed a bit angery. Called me a lackey for Matt Harper. I know who he is, but am certianly no lacky for him, he revoked my Acorn Dealership and told me I would need to write my letter to the Atty. General and a letter of apology if I ever wanted to be an Acorn Dealer.
I now know where I stand as a dealer of Acorn. I hope you now know where you will stand if you consider being a customer of Acorn Stair Lifts.
I asked her if she would send leads for people looking for lifts in Missouri or Arkansas. She did not know how that worked. Alex said many months ago that he would support dealers and provide leads and dealer support. Now when an internet consumer clicks on the "Dealer Locator" they fill out information and then are sent literature with no local dealer information, but a 1-866 # to a DIY call center.
I requested information and to verify if I even showed up as a dealer. The literature never mentioned a local company. When I inquired with the call center, they tried to sell me a DIY stairway lift for $ 3,400.
I asked about installers, but they insisted that I could do the install with "Only a screwdriver and a wrench". I asked my Acorn rep. if she could install a lift with only a screwdriver and a wrench, she said "Well, no". The DIY telesales girl was confident she would sell me a DIY stair lift if she kept telling me how easy it was and how great the Warranty was. "Lifetime warranty" she said. I asked if they would keep sending me parts if it failed to work. She said..well the main drive system is lifetime, but the other things are one year. She said they have a .033% brake down rate. I really wanted to tell her about all the local vicitms of their fraud, the disable elderly who spent what they had to maintain their independance at home and had been left high and dry by Acorn when the unit failed in 6 months.
After I talked to the DIY sales girl, I talked to my Dealer Rep. and asked about these tactics to fool customers about the easy of installation and warranty. She had only been to the other building where DIY was once or twice. It is little wonder why they have had trouble keeping sales reps.
I asked my sales rep to have Alex contact me if he would and to my surprise he called in just a few minutes. Seemed a bit angery. Called me a lackey for Matt Harper. I know who he is, but am certianly no lacky for him, he revoked my Acorn Dealership and told me I would need to write my letter to the Atty. General and a letter of apology if I ever wanted to be an Acorn Dealer.
I now know where I stand as a dealer of Acorn. I hope you now know where you will stand if you consider being a customer of Acorn Stair Lifts.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Used Stair lifts Cheap?
I just talked to a man near Branson, Missouri. He was looking for some parts for an Acorn stairlift. He had just bought 2 "used" Acorn lifts for his split level home. The only problem, his wife can not bend her knees so the two "cheap" used stair lifts are of no use.
He saw the Perch stand up unit and was hoping to get a retrofit parts kit to make a perch stand and ride. We discussed the viability of his wife being able to stand on the moving lift and the possibility that she could lose her balance and have a tumble. This is a difficult position to be in.
Do you think the California company that sold him 2 "Used" lifts for the $1,750 (price of new units) will have any sympathy and realize they neglected to do enough evaluation over the phone or by email to really assess his wife's needs in a lift? Does this man have any viable recourse against this type of fraud and incompetence?
It is sad when companies like Acorn / Brooks take advantage of people who really need the help of someone who cares enough to visit their home and review all the appropriate factors before selling a much needed access accommodations.
I continue to cry out Caveat Emptor . Buyer Be aware. Online sales are as ruthless as they get.
Your Warranty is only good if you can find the person who sold it to you. Good luck!
Elevatorexpert
He saw the Perch stand up unit and was hoping to get a retrofit parts kit to make a perch stand and ride. We discussed the viability of his wife being able to stand on the moving lift and the possibility that she could lose her balance and have a tumble. This is a difficult position to be in.
Do you think the California company that sold him 2 "Used" lifts for the $1,750 (price of new units) will have any sympathy and realize they neglected to do enough evaluation over the phone or by email to really assess his wife's needs in a lift? Does this man have any viable recourse against this type of fraud and incompetence?
It is sad when companies like Acorn / Brooks take advantage of people who really need the help of someone who cares enough to visit their home and review all the appropriate factors before selling a much needed access accommodations.
I continue to cry out Caveat Emptor . Buyer Be aware. Online sales are as ruthless as they get.
Your Warranty is only good if you can find the person who sold it to you. Good luck!
Elevatorexpert
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