I’ve seen an advert for a Mobie Mobility Scooter in the Nov issue of the Lifestyle magazine produced by Motability, and was just wondering if anyone has any experience of using one. It looks lightweight and very portable - just what I need really - but the web-site doesn’t have much info as it’s under construction. On the downside, it looks like it might not be very stable on uneven ground and neither me or my husband could see the battery in the photo, so we wondered how much charge it had.
Might have to send of for the DVD demo, but just thought I’d check opinions on here first.
I bought a Mobie scooter too (a blue one). It is so easy to fold up and undo. I do need my partner to lift it into the car though. It’s a bit too heavy for me to lift. It fits into the boot of my Citroen C4 hatchback easily, and the supermarket shopping fits in too. It’s comfortable to ride. The only niggle I have is that you can’t park it on a slope, or it runs away. I don’t park on a slope so there’s no problem.
My wife and I fell for the Mobie whilst on a 6week holiday in Orlando last year, all was going well until she had a slight (and i mean slight!) altercation with a kerb! she was approaching a dropped kerb and as we where in a crowd we where right at the edge where the pavement started to slope upwards she heard and felt a slight bump as the kerb nicked the underside of the scooter, we thought nothing of it and carried on. It wasnt until I tried to fold the scooter i realised how flawed the design actually is!! The slight nick had caused one of the metal struts to bend slightly (and i mean slightly!) and as a result the scooter would not fold! I wouldnt have been too bothered if we had really damaged the scooter but it was no more than a slight tap! With great difficulty and the help of a very coureous (but expensive) private hire minivan driver we got the scooter back to the resort where reception where kind enough to arrange a hire scooter for my wife (a gogo type machine that I had to break up) while we sent the mobie to be repaired. TWO WEEKS later they got the scooter back to us pretty much in the same shape as it was!! We where furious! Apparently the strut is all one part and to replace it would be very expensive and not under warranty as it was damage! (again i stress she barely touched it!) We decided as we where flying home a week later and unaware of whether we could get service in the UK we paid the $370 dollars to have the bit of metal replaced for a new straight one and went away with a bit of sour grapes but now aware of the frailty of the scooter! Anyway we got home to freezing weather and the scooter went straight into the shed! Last week we got the scooter out and the battery was completely flat and would not charge (it was fully charged just four weeks previous), we emailed the company in america and apparently if you dont charge them for 3 weeks the batteries can die! They wouldnt help us under warranty and tell me they couldnt even ship one if they wanted too as they cant airmail their lithium batteries (strange and slightly worrying given the fact we’d just taken ours on a flight!) At this stage I marched the wife down to our local shop and part exchanged our mobie nightmare for a nice new GoGo elite sport with all the bells and whistles. I just hope UK customers get a better service as I am sure you are going to need it!
My wife and I fell for the Mobie whilst on a 6week holiday in Orlando last year, all was going well until she had a slight (and i mean slight!) altercation with a kerb! she was approaching a dropped kerb and as we where in a crowd we where right at the edge where the pavement started to slope upwards she heard and felt a slight bump as the kerb nicked the underside of the scooter, we thought nothing of it and carried on. It wasnt until I tried to fold the scooter i realised how flawed the design actually is!! The slight nick had caused one of the metal struts to bend slightly (and i mean slightly!) and as a result the scooter would not fold! I wouldnt have been too bothered if we had really damaged the scooter but it was no more than a slight tap! With great difficulty and the help of a very coureous (but expensive) private hire minivan driver we got the scooter back to the resort where reception where kind enough to arrange a hire scooter for my wife (a gogo type machine that I had to break up) while we sent the mobie to be repaired. TWO WEEKS later they got the scooter back to us pretty much in the same shape as it was!! We where furious! Apparently the strut is all one part and to replace it would be very expensive and not under warranty as it was damage! (again i stress she barely touched it!) We decided as we where flying home a week later and unaware of whether we could get service in the UK we paid the $370 dollars to have the bit of metal replaced for a new straight one and went away with a bit of sour grapes but now aware of the frailty of the scooter! Anyway we got home to freezing weather and the scooter went straight into the shed! Last week we got the scooter out and the battery was completely flat and would not charge (it was fully charged just four weeks previous), we emailed the company in america and apparently if you dont charge them for 3 weeks the batteries can die! They wouldnt help us under warranty and tell me they couldnt even ship one if they wanted too as they cant airmail their lithium batteries (strange and slightly worrying given the fact we’d just taken ours on a flight!) At this stage I marched the wife down to our local shop and part exchanged our mobie nightmare for a nice new GoGo elite sport with all the bells and whistles. I just hope UK customers get a better service as I am sure you are going to need it!
Some background about me. I have MS (diagnosed 1993 as Benign, progressed to Relapsing remitting and on to Secondary Progressive about 5 years ago). Walking - 90% of time using mostly 2 crutches (limited distances) as well as usual related issues (balance, dragging feet, etc.)
That’s enough about me, it’s the Mobie I wanted to write about. Following some weeks of research on folding mobility scooters (mainly focussing on: Travelscoot, Luggie and Mobie), an opportunity to buy a Mobie presented itself and I hesitantly (after reading ‘daveymartin’ experience – above) went ahead with the purchase (May 1st 2013).
I took some time to test ride and accustom myself to the Mobie… tried varied surfaces and climbs, even took the dog (a 35kg retriever out for a walk, him on lead, me on Mobie - NOT recommend – but we both survived the test with no mishaps. June arrived… Summer Holidays time… the Mobie carried me right to the plane’s doors and did much travelling (with me on it) in Turkey. We received lots of interest, comments and questions from many bemused admirers (at Stansted airport, the boarding staff (both sides), in Turkey – from fellow holiday makers and locals alike). Many often referred to the Mobie as ‘… my Ferrari’ to thepoint that when it came to choosing its name (something I do for all my vehicles), there was no contest… DINO 1 was born (and it’s my login name here too)
I have some interesting pictures of Dino’s achievements (which I will try to add here – once I’ve established how to add photos). Anyway, this is not intended (although it’s beginning to sound like) to be a sales pitch. I have no vested interest in this (as opposed to another) scooter. Let’s just say that I have and continue to be impressed with DINO 1
To other users (whether Mobie, Luggie, Travelscoot, or whichever’s your poison), enjoy (it’s is NOT about ‘which one is best’… it’s about ‘which one is best FOR YOU’)…
Hello, just thought i would update on mine and my wifes current activities in the scooter market! After having had an awful experience with the mobie I switched to a more traditional ‘boot scoot’ that breaks down into pieces. This was a bit of a pain for me as I keep a wheelchair in the boot for my mother and there simply isn’t the space for both which makes it difficult on days out with the wife and mum. So after much consideration we arranged for a demonstration of the Luggie which we saw at the Naidex exhibition last year, we where a little nervous in inviting a company to our home but we needn’t have been. The luggie was head and shoulders above our old mobie and current gogo setup! The scooter really does what it says on the tin! It is so much better quality and feels so much safer to ride, the Luggie will fold up in a few different ways which made it much easier to get into the boot then a mobie ever was! Their demonstrator Keith went through everything to make sure it was right for us! No sales techniques no pressure whatsovever! It felt like we where being interviewed to see if it was right for us! Anyway we opted for a red “Elite” which has armrests, a bigger seat, long distance battery, extending handlebars and a few other bits. Keith left the scooter with us after taking all the packaging away and we where off! Keith said they get a lot of people part exchanging mobies for various reasons but he would’t really go into too much detail which I found quite respectful. My summary is if you want cheap and not very cheerful then buy a mobie, but be ready for issues! You gotta see the Luggie to believe how much better it really is! If you want to get a luggie message me on here as I can use their ‘refer a friend scheme’ to get some M&S Vouchers for you (and me! well, the wife!) Regards Dave (Luggie Fan!)
the previous update prompts me to do likewise update my earlier (and only 2nd post on this site). I can’t help but be surprised at Daveymartin (and his wife’s) unfortunate experience and your understandable resultant negative feelings towards Mobies. However, my personal experiences couldn’t be much more different, it’s almost as if we are talking about different mobility scooters
I would agree that there are pros and cons with these scooters (Luggie & Mobie) – they are different and each has advantages and disadvantages - personally I love the delta handlebars and control bar on the Mobie (makes changing hands to operate/control) the scooter very easy (great if your hands tire quickly / diminished sensitivity – as in my case). I also like that it has 1 wheel at each corner… but would agree that the Luggie it more versatile for transporting and getting it in/out of some cars.
Since my earlier post (above), the Mobie has added Spain to the list of foreign territories it has visited and left its mark on (not literally I refer to wheel prints! And impression on people that saw it), and for me! What a difference it has made in allowing me to participate much more and enjoy activities and places we’ve been to.
For the past 3 months the Mobie (which has been known as Dino1, since the Turkish holiday) has been promoted and become my daily transport - this entails ¾ mile to the train station, 25 minutes in the train and approx ½ mile into work (and same again for the return journey). On the 1st and 2nd train journeys, I did make use of station assistance (ride-on/off ramps provided by BR), after this, I found it relatively easy for me to get Dino1 on/off the train (and fellow travellers are usually amazingly helpful too – MANY THKS to any that might read this)
I’ve found that as I got more used to using Dino1 ‘sensibly’, I got to better know how it behaves and my confidence has grown a good deal. Its bodywork an amazing elasticity / flexibility, such that its wheels (all four of them) will stay in contact with the ground much more than you’d expect. My journey covers the usual pavements – with the typical dips, holes and obstacles (going around them if/when logic dictates and terrain permits!). It sometimes involves moving your body weight to alter the centre of gravity if necessary (i.e. traversing some steeper angled driveways). I’ve found that there are only two drop curves (well, lack off would be more accurate) on my journey, that are best avoided (I consider myself fairly adventurous, but not quite a ‘daredevil’)
You don’t need to take unnecessary risks, or worse, injure yourself to familiarise yourself with your scooter (whichever that is) – so far (touch wood) I’ve managed to avoids falls / injury) and wouldn’t be without Dino1
Good luck and enjoy your scooters, Luggies or Mobies or others? For me, whilst I recognise the Luggie has some good qualities, I wouldn’t make my daily journey on one (but then, I have never tried it!). I certainly strongly disagree with the Mobie being ‘cheap and not very cheerful’, and think many people who see me using mine on a daily basis, would also disagree; but it’s not a beauty contest. Each of us will/should choose for theirselves which best suits your needs, and at the end of the day, use and enjoy your chosen scooter for what it can for you
P.S. Specially for Mobie users, in addition to Monarch (the importers), there are other suppliers, I have recently come across Right Choice Mobility (E4 9EF), who also stock and maintain these and have been very helpful.
My wife has MS along with diabetes & osteo arthritis. She uses a power chair daily but we decided to purchase a Mobie for our cruise holidays. So first use was on P&O Arcadia. After about 2 weeks of just on borad use the scooter developed a quietbut decernable noise. There was nothing obvious. The next day whilst riding down one of the ship’s companion ways the Mobie collapsed and threw my wife off and laded on top of her. The result was a broken ankle. Once we got past the medical help I examined the scooter which appeared to have collapsed inton 2 sections with various bits of broken metal. The frcture will not heal even fter 8 weeks in a cast and wil possibly need surgery although they are nervous about doing that with her medical history. She has been told she will never recover full use of her foot again.
Upon contacting Monarch Mobility upon our return they arranged for a collection. Three weeks have gone by and no word from them. I have called them twice and each time they took my number and said the person I need is in a meeting and will call back.
I am not a lover of litigation but feel that this is probably heading there as Monarch have had no regard for what has happened. Not even a call to see how my wife is doing!
Further to my comments on 11th March. I have had a number of telephone conversation with a director of Monarch and I am pleased to put on record that on each occasion I was asked about my wifes medical condition. Monarch are insisting that the scooter broke as a result of our missuse which of course we strongly deny. They say the most likely cause is that something extremely heavy was placed on the seat and forced it downward. The weight limit is 18stone so quite what they believe was placed on it I just do not know! It is difficult to understand how they could think that as the only and first use was on a cruise liner. Last time I looked crusie ships do not have pavements or kerbs.
To advance the return of the scooter to enable me to obtain a independent opinion I have had to pay Monarch £261.26.
I am undecided how to proceed with this. In the meanwhile when the scooter is returned we now have zero confidence in it and after testing it to ensure the repair has been carried out will not use it again.
Here is an update to my earlier post. I have now had several conversations with a director who each call did ask about the condition of my wife. I decided to get my scooter back so agreed to pay (yes you heard it) oaid Mobarch to repair it. I needed to do this in order to facilitate an independant engineer report on this scooter.
I returned ALL of the scooter and it’s accessories upon return the external charger was missing. Upon calling th company they insist that they did not revieve it in the box I sent to them. Only thing is the damged machine was picked up not in a box. Anyhow onc again my fault as I did not itemise what I sent to them to obtain a signature from th pick up driver. Yes stupid me!
Once I obtain engineers report I will decide if handing the whole matter to solicitors is the best thing to do as when I deal with them directly short of using the word they seem to say I am a liar at least dispute everything I say.
I stand by everything already said about the Mobie in my earlier post.
Here is an update to my earlier post. I have now had several conversations with a director who each call did ask about the condition of my wife. I decided to get my scooter back so agreed to pay (yes you heard it) oaid Mobarch to repair it. I needed to do this in order to facilitate an independant engineer report on this scooter.
I returned ALL of the scooter and it’s accessories upon return the external charger was missing. Upon calling th company they insist that they did not revieve it in the box I sent to them. Only thing is the damged machine was picked up not in a box. Anyhow onc again my fault as I did not itemise what I sent to them to obtain a signature from th pick up driver. Yes stupid me!
Once I obtain engineers report I will decide if handing the whole matter to solicitors is the best thing to do as when I deal with them directly short of using the word they seem to say I am a liar at least dispute everything I say.
I stand by everything already said about the Mobie in my earlier post.