Reading a quotation line by line is the most rigorous way to assess the cost of an assistive chair. A figure in the region of €7,000 can cover a product, customisation and service that differ greatly from an offer showing only the model and the total.
Comparing prices without standardising the specification leads to the wrong conclusions. A fully equipped chair that is already complete is not the same as a base unit to which a headrest, battery, armrests, delivery or installation will later be added.
Assessing Sollevita means asking for every item to be spelled out, and accepting that the service may also conclude that the product is not proportionate to the situation. A high price is no substitute for correct measurements, suitability and practical support.
In brief
- The total must be accompanied by a precise description of the configuration actually supplied.
- Customisation, transport, assembly, trial, training and after-sales may be included or billed separately.
- Warranty and returns must be read in the written terms, not pieced together from verbal promises.
- Spare parts, the battery, upholstery and out-of-warranty work can create future costs that should be asked about before ordering.
- A high price is only justified when product and service meet verified needs.
First item: what is actually delivered
Identifying the trade name, regulatory model and configuration prevents you from buying a generic description. The quotation should tie in with the rating label, the technical data sheet and the documentation that will accompany the product.
Listing the included equipment avoids the ambiguous phrase “ready for”. Removable armrests, Push Head, battery, trolley base, footrest extension and other functions must be marked as present, excluded or not applicable.
Specifying the upholstery, colour and cosmetic components limits misunderstandings on delivery. An approved sample or a fabric code is more precise than a photograph seen on a screen.
Stating any separate accessories makes the total comparable. A tray table, protectors or additional services should not appear only at the final stage of the order.
Customisation: the price must relate to the real person
Measuring width, depth, height and head support turns a standard chair into an individual proposal. The quotation must record the dimensional choices and who approved them.
Defining the main use links the measurements to the activities. An independent person seeking premium comfort calls for a different trial from a routine involving high dependency and a patient hoist.
Confirming the configuration after photographs or a video call reduces errors, but remote assessment has limits that must be stated. Tight spaces or complex transfers may call for a further check.
Recording the information used to make the choice makes the service verifiable. Height, weight, hours spent seated, transfer side and caregiver should not be left in informal notes.
Logistics, assembly and training: separate services
Delivering to the front door is not the same as bringing the chair into the final room. The floor, lift, stairs, access points and dismantling must be described and priced, rather than leaving the decision to the day of arrival.
Fitting the backrest, armrests and components is not the same as simply unpacking. The technician must check connections, cables, stability and freedom of movement.
Trying the functions with the actual person is not the same as switching on an empty chair. Standing assistance, resting, the table or the caregiver’s activities must be simulated according to the agreed objectives.
Training at least the person who will use the control and the person who will assist completes the handover. A manual and videos do not replace checking that the main sequences have been understood.
The table that makes the price comparable
Placing every item in a matrix stops a lower figure from automatically looking like the better deal. The document must distinguish what is included, what is optional and what could create a future cost.
Asking for the document that proves each item reduces guesswork. The technical data sheet, terms of sale, manual, warranty and delivery checklist all serve different purposes.
Comparing two offers on the same basis requires the measurements, specification and service to be identical. Otherwise, the difference in price may come down to contents that are not equivalent.
Avoiding a purely cost-based score keeps the choice tied to need. A more expensive item may be irrelevant for one person and decisive for another.
| Item | Included? | What must be written | Possible future cost | Document to request |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product configuration | Yes / no / to be confirmed | Model, functions, upholstery, measurements | Upgrades or missing components | Technical data sheet and order |
| Customisation | Yes / partial | Measurements and who is responsible for the check | Changes after delivery | Approved measurements sheet |
| Transport to the floor | Yes / excluded | Floor, stairs, lift, date | Logistics surcharges | Delivery terms |
| Assembly and testing | Yes / excluded | Items assembled and tests carried out | Subsequent call-out | Technical checklist |
| Training | Yes / limited | People trained and activities simulated | Second visit or support | Handover record |
| Warranty | Per the contract | Duration, parts, exclusions, market | Work not covered | Warranty terms |
| Support and spare parts | Defined channel | Who responds and how the part is identified | Spare parts, call-out travel, labour | Support plan |
| Returns / comfort check | Per the terms | Timescales, costs, condition of the product | Collection, restoration, transport | Terms of sale |
The monthly instalment and the total cost are not the same thing
Reading a low instalment without knowing the term, costs and conditions can make the price less transparent. The chair’s quotation and any payment agreement should remain separate documents, so that the customer understands what the product costs and what the finance service costs.
Comparing instalment options requires definitive figures for the country and the lender. Until the interest, fees, approval and consequences of a repayment are standardised, this article must not promise interest-free instalments or specific terms.
Asking for the total amount payable keeps the comparison honest. An affordable instalment can be useful, but it does not change the technical suitability of the chair and should not push you into buying a disproportionate configuration.
Warranty, support and spare parts are not the same item
Reading the warranty clarifies what is covered in the event of a defect and which conditions must be met. The duration should only be quoted when the website, contract and documentation are aligned.
Assessing support means understanding who responds, what information they ask for and how they organise diagnosis and repair. A telephone number without a process does not describe a service.
Asking about spare parts means checking the components, indicative lead times and how they are fitted. Availability should not be presented as everlasting, but a realistic, documented commitment must exist.
Separating maintenance from warranty avoids the wrong expectations. Batteries, fabrics and parts subject to wear may follow different conditions from the frame and the electronics.
Returns and proof of suitability: the cost of a wrong choice
Checking the product before ordering reduces the risk of a complicated return. A customised, heavy chair assembled in the home involves different logistics from an ordinary online purchase.
Reading the cancellation and return terms clarifies the timescales, collection costs, required condition and the consequences of customisation. The rules can vary by market and contract and must be confirmed in the applicable version.
Offering a commercial comfort guarantee can strengthen trust only if the terms and limits are sustainable and written down. It should not be promised in general terms before the service has defined the procedures and costs.
Keeping the packaging and documents for the stated period makes any checks easier. The customer must know before delivery what not to throw away straight away.
First-party case: two quotations with the same total but different contents
Anonymising two offers shows that the same price can include different services. One quotation covers delivery to the floor, assembly and training; the other adds these costs after the order.
Lining up the rows also reveals differences in customisation. A seat described as “large size” is not the same as a width and depth defined around the individual.
Comparing the after-sales reveals hidden costs. An identifiable spare part, local support and written terms may be worth more than an unused accessory.
Publishing the sample without naming competitors keeps the content educational. The aim is to teach people how to read a quote, not to declare a universal winner.
When €7,000 may be too much or too little
Looking only for a good chair for watching television can make a fully equipped project disproportionate. The service must recognise when a simpler chair better meets the need.
Dealing with very complex transfers, on the other hand, may call for other aids, work on the home or professionals. Even an expensive chair can fall short if it is treated as the only solution.
Choosing on the basis of the highest price does not guarantee the correct fit. A premium product configured badly remains a poor purchase.
Assessing the total cost alongside ongoing use makes the decision more sound. The price should be explained, not defended with slogans.
Next step
Request an itemised quotation that separates product, customisation, delivery, assembly, training, warranty, returns and after-sales.
Highlight any item that is unclear or marked “to be defined”: the Sollevita team can respond in writing before the price becomes a commitment.
Essential references
- La Castellana, internal sample quotation and Sollevita suitability-check matrix.
- Regulation (EU) 2017/745 and the EU Declaration for the TERRY model: product identity and documentation.
- Commercial, delivery, warranty and return terms applicable to the specific market and contract.
- Instruction manual and delivery checklist for the configuration actually ordered.
FAQ
Common questions
Why can an assistive chair cost around €7,000?
The value can include advanced mechanics, customisation, full equipment, manufacturing, delivery, assembly, training and service. Every item should be set out in the quotation.
Does a higher price automatically mean better quality?
No. Price, suitability and quality are not the same thing. You need documentation, a trial, measurements, support and a comparison between equivalent offers.
Does free delivery also include assembly and training?
Not necessarily. Delivery, transport to the floor, assembly, testing and training are separate services and should be listed individually.
What should I ask about the warranty?
The applicable duration, covered parts, exclusions, who carries out the work, call-out travel costs, procedures and the documents required. The answers should be in writing.
Does the price include returns?
It depends on the terms of sale and the market. You need to check the applicable law, customisation, collection costs and the required condition of the product.
How do I compare Sollevita with a much cheaper chair?
Line up the measurements, functions, delivery, training, warranty, support and spare parts. Only then compare the total and check which items are genuinely useful for the situation.
