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As private equity dominates wheelchair market, users wait months for repairs

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Re: As private equity dominates wheelchair market, users wait months for repairs

#221

Post by krapp »

WalterBright wrote: post #216
krapp wrote: post #187

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What "calculable metrics?" By what definition of "sovereign?" Objectively, this is a meaningless statement to me.

Which countries force you where to live and what job to work at?

I would assume at least North Korea does. But every modern state requires you to at least work and to have housing, in order to generate taxable revenue and afford the means of survival.

But unless you hunt and grow your own food, own your own land and aren't subject to laws or government that owns your identity and tells you where you can go and what you can do, you aren't sovereign. If you have to spend the majority of your useful life trading your labor to a corporation, you aren't sovereign even if the market gives you the option of which feudal lord to serve as vassal to. If you require modern technological society, the infrastructure of agriculture and healthcare, for your survival, you aren't sovereign. There is a reason that word is synonymous with "ruler" or "king," it's a status that very few people, particularly in modern society, can claim.

Re: As private equity dominates wheelchair market, users wait months for repairs

#222

Post by alistairSH »

mikestew wrote: post #118
alistairSH wrote: post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don’t know what the median/average price is for these, only the range. Bit, a high end e-bike is $12-$15k. Which also seems ridiculous to me. And I’m a cyclist with several nice bikes (none of which were more than $7k).

And I’m a cyclist with several nice bikes (nine of which were more than $7k). "Nine", or did you mean "none"? I'm just checking if it was a typo, or if I should be jealous. :-)

None. Only 4 in the basement that belong to me right now. 4 more as the wife’s.

Re: As private equity dominates wheelchair market, users wait months for repairs

#224

Post by underlipton »

newsclues wrote: post #177
heyoni wrote: post #151

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In my experience, the chairs and how they’re built aren’t what adds to the price tag; the fact that an insurance company is paying is what is. My daughter literally just got approved for a talking device that would otherwise cost us $4000. It’s a Samsung tablet with $300 software and an attached speaker and comes with some sort of repair agreement. I can buy and break 20 iPads for that price…and we did end up buying…

It’s similar to defence procurement. If the customer is government with endless budget, inflate costs, and use regulatory capture to maintain the cash flow.

Regulatory capture is likely the most important component. People complain about government spending, but those close to progressive issues can tell you that it's just as likely, if not more likely, to be remarkably stingy when it wants to be. The issue isn't government, it's who's using government; access to capital on top of that government influence gets you a lot closer to that bottomless wallet.

Re: As private equity dominates wheelchair market, users wait months for repairs

#225

Post by timschmidt »

CodeWriter23 wrote: post #201
minusLik wrote: post #67

What the article does not seem to mention is that an usual electric wheelchair costs about $65,000 (and is intended to be replaced every six years or so). This and the non-availability of replacement parts is why some wheelchair users started a project to open-source a wheelchair from standard parts: https://themif.org/ Louis Rossmann interviewed the founder of the project here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaAj59…

> is why some wheelchair users started a project to open-source a wheelchair from standard parts: https://themif.org/ Can you point to any project site that has released anything along this line? Blueprints, bills of material, code? There's nothing on the site you linked having any such resources. The closest thing is a block diagram including an RS-485 motor controller, which doesn't really seem like an alternative…

We have collected all the documentation from the WHIM Wheelchair development effort at https://wiki.replimat.org/wiki/Wheelchairs

Re: As private equity dominates wheelchair market, users wait months for repairs

#226

Post by wolverine876 »

johngladtj wrote: post #136
wolverine876 wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not all regulation causes costs to go up. Some causes costs to go down, for example, by correcting inefficiencies created by raw game-theory market competition. Some reduce costs by creating a safer environment for investment, reducing risk. Regulation serves market participants too.

Regulation always increases costs, it's just that not all costs are easily visible

Is that established theoretically by someone?

Re: As private equity dominates wheelchair market, users wait months for repairs

#227

Post by toast0 »

JasserInicide wrote: post #179
deadeye wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Think about it. For many users, they're in these chairs 12+ hours a day. They're not cars that get driven for an hour a two a day.

My fridge has been running 24/7 for 15 years and has never had an issue.

Most fridges are never moved after installation, until they're recycled. Of those that are moved, most are moved away from the wall for cleaning and then moved back. Very few fridges are moved a significant distance on a daily basis.

Re: As private equity dominates wheelchair market, users wait months for repairs

#229

Post by wolverine876 »

somethoughts wrote: post #137
minusLik wrote: post #67

What the article does not seem to mention is that an usual electric wheelchair costs about $65,000 (and is intended to be replaced every six years or so). This and the non-availability of replacement parts is why some wheelchair users started a project to open-source a wheelchair from standard parts: https://themif.org/ Louis Rossmann interviewed the founder of the project here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaAj59…

To be honest - it actually seems like a risky Private Equity play as I bet the $65000 sticker price is due to the fact that Medicare is footing the bill. Medicare is likely what is requiring a regulation grade wheel chair, not the users themselves. I bet a huge segment of the user base could easily self purchase a mobility scooter and achieve the same quality of life if the price point was such that they could out of…

> I bet a huge segment of the user base could easily self purchase a mobility scooter and achieve the same quality of life

What is that based on? Do you have experience or know anyone who does? A news article or research?

Re: As private equity dominates wheelchair market, users wait months for repairs

#230

Post by wolverine876 »

cogman10 wrote: post #97
minusLik wrote: post #67

What the article does not seem to mention is that an usual electric wheelchair costs about $65,000 (and is intended to be replaced every six years or so). This and the non-availability of replacement parts is why some wheelchair users started a project to open-source a wheelchair from standard parts: https://themif.org/ Louis Rossmann interviewed the founder of the project here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaAj59…

Really cool that an electric wheelchair costs more than a luxury EV and is somehow less reliable.

It's not surprising that a nearly bespoke vehicle would cost more than, and be less reliable than, a mass produced one. Just think of the engineering resources invested in the two vehicles and in their manufacturing processes.
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