Why Are Low Cost and Functional Manual Wheelchairs NOT Widely Available? - Erik Kondo

Infographic of Functionality vs. Cost for manual wheelchairs.

If we are to believe the marketing of the Legacy Wheelchair Industry, there can be only two types of manual wheelchairs, either very cheap mass produced or expensive bespoke ones. The price difference from $100 to $10,000 is explained primarily as the result of economy of scale. On the surface, that seems to make sense – unless you remember that this binary choice doesn’t seem to apply to other manufactured consumer products.

Bicycles, smart phones, TVs, cars, motorcycles, electric scooters, clothes, furniture, tools, baby strollers, etc., all of these products span a continuum of prices. There are always reliable and functional devices that are in the lower price range (not the lowest). The most expensive products are not necessarily the most functional and reliable. These products all benefit from the economics of economy of scale AND most consumer don’t buy the cheapest or the most expensive options. They buy somewhere in between (because they have the desire and opportunity to do so).

Beside wheelchairs, where else can you find a 10,000% (100X) difference between the lowest/highest product prices with very little in the middle. Why does this economy of scale only seem to apply to wheelchairs? The issue is not the absolute difference between the prices, it is the lack of (widespread) existence of wheelchairs in the middle range.

Manual wheelchairs are not some obscure specialty item. There are tens of millions of wheelchair users around the globe. It is likely that most people have or will use a wheelchair at some point in their life (even briefly) or they know someone who uses one.

The fact is that while economy of scale explains some of the price differential, it is only a part of the issue. The lack of affordable/functional wheelchairs is primarily the result of the monopolistic practices of the Legacy Wheelchair Industry combined with “industry friendly” government regulations and dysfunctional insurance practices. It is not the inescapable result of the wheelchair manufacturing process. The middle range doesn't exist because the Legacy Wheelchair Industry doesn't want it to exist.

This system can be changed for the better. Doing so will improve the lives of millions of people around the world.