If you’re a mobility dealer, you already know the drill: An excited customer arrives at your door, announces that he/she has just purchased a new van, minivan or SUV from the car dealer down the street, and now wants you to install a wheelchair or scooter lift or ramp. How often have you then had to break the news that a particular make or model cannot be adapted to the customer’s needs?

The National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association (NMEDA) wants to help consumers avoid making that sort of costly and disappointing mistake. Now playing on the NMEDA Web site is A Consumer’s Guide to Purchasing Adaptive Vehicles & Equipment. Among the topics covered: the different people involved in the decision-making process (driver evaluators, dealers, automotive and aftermarket equipment manufacturers, etc.); what consumers need to know before making a purchase (from the size of the wheelchair or scooter to be transported to where and how the vehicle will be used); and warranty and service information.

If you’d rather give your customers a hard copy handbook to take with them, you can now order a 16-page, full-color Consumer’s Guide for 50 cents on NMEDA’s supply order form. Go to www.nmeda.org to order or to view the online version.