If you’re in the market for a stairlift, that raises the question of whether you should buy new or reconditioned. With a new stairlift, you generally will get a longer warranty. A new stairlift can give you more options in terms of customisation, too. However, there’s a price to pay with a new stairlift and it can be double what you would pay for a reconditioned model which offers the same functionality.
A reconditioned Stannah stairlift going in on a straight staircase
A refurbished stairlift can give you the same quality and at a much lower cost, often at half the price. A reconditioned stairlift can also be fitted more quickly too, since many are waiting in stock. Whereas with a brand new stairlift you may have to wait longer for customisation of rails and delivery from the factory.
The downside of buying a refurbished or reconditioned stairlift is that you have less choice. There is often less choice of colours and materials for example. If you want a specific model, it may not be available. A reconditioned stairlift has been used and refurbished to a high standard. However, it’s still not like buying new. It may give you problems further down the line. Here at UK Stairlifts we offer a 2 year warranty on our reconditioned stairlifts to give you peace of mind. If there are any problems, you’re covered for parts, labour and call out charges.
New Or Reconditioned Stairlift?
A brand new stairlift might be the way to go though, particularly if you have the funds. Buying new can give you the peace of mind you need, with a piece of equipment as important a stairlift. A stairlift gives you independence and your mobility in the home.
Buying new often gives you more choice too. With a new stairlift you can choose colour, features and optional extras. With a reconditioned stairlift you have to choose the models which are in stock.
Before you make a decision it’s also worth noting that certain homes will require a more expensive model of stairlift than others. For example, we recently installed a high spec stairlift to accommodate for a very narrow and awkward staircase. Checkout the case study we did for this very narrow staircase.
A high spec. reconditioned stairlift
We installed a reconditioned model in this case, which was required for the fitting. This saved the customer a fair chunk of change because the stairlift needed was the top of the range. One company couldn’t do the fitting because their stairlifts weren’t capable of accommodating the small staircase.
Other Considerations
Another possible consideration is your weight. If you’re pushing the weight limits of general stairlifts (19-25 stone), it’s possible you may need a heavy weight stairlift. This increases the cost considerably. Not only is the machine more costly, but the rail is too. Heavy duty stairlifts have weight capacities of 25-30 stone to accommodate the larger user. So if you’re on the cusp of needing a heavier weight capacity it’s something to consider.
UK Stairlifts offer heavy weight models but we don’t offer reconditioned heavy weight stairlifts for safety reasons. So if you need a specific make or model, you may be forced to buy from new. This is true also of optional extras you may require. If, for example, you want a power folding mechanism on a stairlift, or matching colours to suit your decor, you may have to buy new.
Heavy weight stairlifts are also generally larger and more bulky. So if you have a very narrow staircase, they may not be able to be installed.
New Versus Recon
Here’s a quick overview comparing the pros and cons of buying a reconditioned stairlifts as opposed to a brand new one:
| New Stairlift | Reconditioned Stairlift |
| Greater choice of options/colours and customisation | Limited models available/less choice |
| Longer warranty | Limited warranty |
| Greater cost (often twice as much) | Can be up to half the cost |
| Can be slower to arrive | Ready and in stock (often faster installation) |
| New parts & easier to service/replace | Older parts more likely to have problems |
| Lasts longer without breakdown | More likely to have faults |
Our Take
Here at UKStairlifts we specialise in reconditioned stairlifts because we feel they offer huge value. We only choose the very best models and makes because we want them to last. All our second hand stairlifts are thoroughly refurbished and worn parts and batteries are replaced before they go out to customers.
We give all our reconditioned stairlifts a 2 year warranty, which means all call out costs, parts and labour are covered for a full 2 years from purchase. This means customers get peace of mind and huge savings when they buy a reconditioned stairlift from us.
We understand that not everyone can buy a brand new stairlift, and that a reconditioned stairlift is often the answer for those on a budget. Mobility and independence in the home is hugely important as is your peace of mind when it comes to such a purchase.
With a brand new stairlift, there’s more choice of customisation and you are getting the peace of mind of knowing your stairlift will last a long time and has a longer warranty. But you also know with our reconditioned models you will get a 2 year warranty and make a large saving.
There’s some fantastic customisations available on new stairlifts. But that doesn’t mean you’re skimping on quality if you decide to go for a reconditioned model. Your stairlift will be a life-saver in any case, whichever you decide to choose!
A Quick Install
This is the installation we did on a narrow staircase. The stairlift is a reconditioned Flow 2 A, the predecessor to the Flow X stairlift. As you can see, it’s a very nifty stairlift and looks and works like new!