On eBay classifieds used stairlifts are offered for a few hundred €. But is such a purchase actually worth it? We show in the following article what you should look for when buying and also go into more detail about the risks, as well as the advantages and disadvantages.
Stairlifts serve older and mobility-impaired people as a means of locomotion within their own four walls and provide a significant improvement in quality of life. A stair lift is a high-quality technical device that even after deducting the government subsidy, costs several thousand €. Depending on the equipment, the price of a new device can be over 10,000 €. For this reason, more and more people choose to buy a used stairlift, for example, on eBay classifieds.
For some time now, the online auction house eBay has been offering private individuals the opportunity to sell goods for free via its classifieds market. Here used stairlifts are offered for a few hundred €. But is such a purchase actually worthwhile?
After all, a stair lift is usually a custom-made product. The lift is therefore tailored to the specific needs of another person and his living situation. For this reason, should one not rather refrain from buying a used stairlift on eBay classifieds?
Used stairlifts on eBay classifieds: Advantages
If one decides to buy a used lift, it usually has a very simple reason: the cost. At eBay classifieds you can find very good offers at regular intervals. Since it can already be that a stairlift is offered for under 500 €. In addition, there are several other advantages that speak for buying a lift from a private person.
Favorable price: While a brand-new stairlift with straight rails usually costs over 3,000 €, used stairlifts can often be found on eBay classifieds for a fraction of the new price. Of course, it depends on the age, condition and equipment. But even lifts from well-known manufacturers are sometimes offered for 750 €.
Exchange with the seller: Since a used stairlift is usually sold by a person with limited mobility or his relatives, you can exchange information directly with the seller and benefit from his experience. Since the seller knows the stairlift and its functions well, he can easily answer questions that arise.
Large selection: On eBay classifieds are offered more and more often used stairlifts. This has the advantage that you have many different models from different manufacturers to choose from. In addition, there is thus the possibility that one finds a lift that perfectly fits your needs and your own living situation.
Almost as good as new goods: It happens again and again that on eBay classifieds lifts are offered, which were used only very rarely or partly not at all. In many cases, the lifts are sold because its owner or owner has passed away. In other cases the stairlift is only used to transport e.g. shopping or smaller items and therefore shows only few signs of use. Thus, you have the opportunity to get a new and high-quality stairlift at a very reasonable price.
Warranty assumption: Depending on the age of the used stairlift, one has under certain conditions the possibility to assume the legal warranty of the previous owner. This offers the practical advantage that in the event of a repair only very small additional costs are incurred. However, one can only benefit from a warranty assumption if the lift is not older than two years and is properly installed and maintained (usually by the manufacturer itself). A distinction must be made here between warranty and guarantee and the warranty provisions of the respective manufacturer must be taken into account. In many cases, the warranty expires if the stairlift is not installed by the manufacturer himself.
Uncomplicated price comparison: Since the stairlifts on eBay classifieds are displayed in a clear listing, and you can additionally sort the models by price, you can see the best offers at a glance. Thus, one saves a lot of time, energy and costs.
Used stairlifts on eBay classifieds: Disadvantages
Although it’s tempting to buy a used stairlift for a fraction of the price of a new one through eBay Classifieds, you should also think about the disadvantages beforehand. It is important not to gloss over the possible risks and costs. No one wants to be left without money and without a working lift.
Stairlifts are custom-made: A stairlift is almost always custom-made and adapted exactly to the individual needs of the user and his living situation. The same applies, of course, to the rail system, which normally can not be reused. It is therefore imperative that you measure your own staircase exactly and compare it with the dimensions of the used stairlift – but even then it is not guaranteed that the stairlift can also be installed without complications.
Additional costs due to installation: Both the used stairlift and the rail system must be professionally installed in order to be able to guarantee unrestricted functionality and safety and to obtain a warranty. When buying new, the installation costs are already included in the price – when buying a used lift via eBay classifieds, however, not. Therefore, you should be aware that the assembly can cause significant additional costs.
Additional costs due to collection: When buying a used stairlift, you should remember that it is not delivered. This means that you have to pick up both the lift and the entire rail system yourself. Due to the size and bulkiness, this requires a van or even a small truck. In addition, many of the components cannot be moved by one person alone. So the pickup and transport causes gasoline costs, personnel costs and rental costs for a van.
Additional costs due to maintenance: In order for a stairlift to function properly and without restrictions, it must be maintained at regular intervals by trained professionals. After all, every motor must be oiled once. Most manufacturers do not usually offer this service for used stairlifts purchased from private individuals via eBay classifieds. Thus, one must also expect high additional costs here, which are usually included in the purchase price when buying a new stairlift. If the device is not properly maintained, one loses as a buyer usually any warranty claims.
No right of withdrawal, no return option: As can be seen from the terms and conditions of eBay Classifieds, the seller does not have to take back the goods in a private sale via eBay Classifieds. This means, therefore, that if the used stairlift does not meet the hoped-for requirements, you have no right to a return. In the case of sales between private individuals, the right of withdrawal does not apply. This only applies if a contract is concluded between an entrepreneur and a private person. In many cases, private eBay sellers in their offer again explicitly emphasize that a warranty, an exchange or a return are excluded.
No expert advice: The various stairlift manufacturers offer a free and detailed consultation. This is also necessary so that the stairlift corresponds exactly to their own wishes and needs. In a private purchase via eBay classifieds lacks this personal and qualified advice.
Only cash payment: With eBay classifieds, it is normal that the full purchase price is to be paid in cash directly upon collection. Specialty retailers, on the other hand, offer financing or installment payment.
No warranty and only limited warranty:
Often private sellers on eBay classifieds list in your offer description, that for the used stairlift a warranty and guarantee of the manufacturer exists. But this alleged advantage, is in most cases no more than hot air. Why? The warranty, which a manufacturer grants, is a voluntary and freely configurable service to the customer. In the case of stairlifts, warranty claims are in most cases linked to the condition that the lift is installed and regularly maintained by the manufacturer itself. In the case of self-installation or installation by a non-certified dealer, the manufacturer’s warranty is voided. While the warranty is a conditional indemnity, the guarantee refers to a time-limited obligation to remedy defects that existed at the time of sale. Manufacturers of stairlifts provide a warranty that they have delivered and installed a new or used unit in perfect condition. However, this type of warranty does not apply if the stairlift is resold and installed by a third party.
For used stairlifts the legal warranty is two years. This can be explicitly excluded by a private seller, leaving the risk solely with the buyer. However, this only applies to defects that occur after the purchase of the goods. Even if the seller excludes a warranty, he must still be liable for defects that were already present before the sale and that were not mentioned in the offer description. If the seller lists all defects in his offer description, you cannot claim warranty for these defects.
If the eBay seller is a commercial dealer, the buyer has in any case a warranty period, which is usually two years. If a damage occurs within the first six months, the seller must prove that the stairlift was properly installed. After six months there is a shift of the burden of proof to the buyer. In the event of damage, the buyer must then prove that a defect already existed before installation.
What should you consider when buying?
To keep the risk as low as possible when buying a used stairlift via eBay classifieds, you should check some important points in advance. To do this, it is advisable to contact the seller – even if one or the other point has already been explained in the product description. In addition, you get to know the seller personally and can better assess his seriousness. In the following, we briefly present the most important questions.
Warranty: How long is the warranty still valid? It is advantageous if the legal warranty for the used stairlift is not expired or excluded, as costs for any repairs are thus significantly reduced.
Service contract: Can you take over the service contract? In the event of a malfunction, it is important that one can fall back on the customer service of the manufacturer. For this reason, when buying a used stairlift, you should make sure that you can take over the existing service contract of the previous owner.
Wear parts: In what condition are the wear parts? One should ask the eBay seller in any case whether the wear parts, such as the various switches or even the seat cushion and armrests, show signs of wear. If these parts are heavily worn, high additional costs may be incurred.
Maintenance agreement: As a rule, a maintenance agreement is concluded when buying a new stairlift. This guarantees that the lift is maintained at regular intervals without additional costs. Regular maintenance is important to maintain the warranty for the device, if it still exists. When buying used, maintenance agreements should be accepted if possible. For this, it is necessary to contact the original seller or manufacturer.
Rail system: Is one obliged to buy also the rail system? Since the rail system of a stairlift is individually adapted to the structural conditions, it is very likely that you can not continue to use the rails. For this reason, you should ask in advance whether you can buy only the stairlift and whether the price will be cheaper without the rail system.
TÜV certification: Is there a valid TÜV certification? Not least because of their own safety, you should make sure when buying a used stairlift on eBay classifieds in any case that the lift has a valid TÜV certification. When was the stairlift last inspected? Both the TÜV and the stairlift manufacturer issue an official acceptance certificate after the inspection. The seller must be able to show this document. In addition, a maximum of one year should have passed after the last inspection.
Delivery: What about shipping or delivery: If the seller offers shipping, it is important to ensure that the disassembly and transport is carried out by trained professionals on the one hand and insured on the other.
Probe drive: Can you try out the stairlift before buying? Another important point is the advance inspection of the used stairlift. To avoid nasty surprises, you should not only examine the lift in detail, but also be able to try it out. If the lift has already been dismantled, caution is advised, as you cannot be sure that the stairlift will still function without restrictions.
