The only shipping method available on our website is standard ground shipping. Items purchased usually arrive within a week. Many of our items ship from multiple warehouses and may arrive substantially quicker. If expedited shipping is required, feel free to contact us for a shipping quote. Keep in mind that expedited shipping for larger items like wheelchairs and rollators can be very expensive. For example, today we had a customer who needed us to overnight a bariatric rollator to him. The box weighs 30 pounds and is quite large. The shipping quote we came back with was $150. To our surprise, the customer agreed and paid for overnight service (usually they reconsider when they hear how much it costs). For smaller items like suction cup grab bars, expedited shipping is much more reasonable. Second day is usually much cheaper than overnight. There are even different levels of overnight shipping, with various times of guaranteed delivery. Again, sometimes items can arrive as soon as the next business day even with standard shipping. It all depends on the distance the package needs to be shipped. The shipping amounts indicated on our website are only valid for the 48 states. Although the checkout may allow you to complete your purchase for another location, we will contact the customer to discuss the additional shipping charges. We do not ship internationally. It certain situations we may ship to Canada. However, this can prove to be very expensive. Additionally, the customer may be hit with extra customs and duties.

We have been receiving quite a few inquiries regarding our suction cup grab bars. I decided to put together an FAQ to answer some of the more common questions we receive.

http://www.gowheelchair.com/Bath-Safety/Grab-Bars/catid-315.htm

Will the suction grab bar work on such and such a surface? The suction grab bar will adhere to any smooth, non-porous surface. Examples include fiber glass, tile and glass. The surface has to be smooth of any grooves or pronounced texture to ensure that the suction cup can make a proper seal. When installing on tile, one must make sure that the suction cups will end up situated on the tile surface and not between tiles on the grout. Keep in mind that the mounting surface must be strong enough to withstand the pull of the suction grab bar. For example, suction grab bars should not be installed on drywall surfaces.

Can I use the suction grab bar with X size tiles? Before purchasing, you should measure your tiles to make sure that the grab bar can be positioned so that the suction cups are entirely on the tile surface area. The specs are listed for each model specifying the suction cup diameter and the distance between cups. This should allow you to determine if the grab bar will work with your tiles. If one size won’t work, another size may do the trick. The Drive Medical model comes in sizes with adjustable lengths to allow precise installation.

Which model will work with 4” tiles? It seems that 4” tiles are pretty popular, as we receive this question quite a bit. Although the suction cup diameter on the 1067 and 1167 is 3-7/8”, the distance between the suction cups is not adjustable and it may not line up properly. We have heard feedback from a customer that said it fit perfectly (but they had to install it at an angle). It really depends on the grout spacing. We highly recommend you measure first. The adjustable models from Drive Medical have 4.5” suction cups, so those won’t work either. We do have a single handle suction device that will work (1168), as there is only a single 3-7/8” suction cup to deal with.

Are suction grab bars safe? When installed properly, suction grab bars adhere really well. They are easy to install and remove and are ideal for many situations. That said, a suction grab bar is to be used as a balance assist only, not a weight leveraging device. In other words, a person has to be able to stand on their own in the unlikely event the grab bar should fail. The manufacturers do not accept liability for any injuries involving grab bars that come off unexpectedly – and neither should you! This bit of information cannot be stressed enough. If the user needs something to grab to assist then in entering and exiting a shower, suction grab bars are a great alternative to traditional grab bars which must be permanently installed. But they should not be used if the patient would not be able to remain standing safely if the grab bar should unexpectedly come off.

Are they returnable?Yes. All our suction grab bars are covered under our 30 day money back guarantee. If you find that it doesn’t work for your application, simply contact us for an RA number for a no hassle return. The item must be in brand new resalable condition and in its original packaging. The customer is responsible for the return shipping. The full cost of the item is refunded, but not the shipping charges. There are no restocking fees. See the guarantee tab on the product detail page of the model in question for the full return policy.

Why are the Drive Medical grab bars so much more expensive? The Drive Medical grab bars are superior in quality to the other bars that we carry. Also, the Drive model comes in very large sizes with adjustable lengths. Truth be told, we sell far more of the less expensive models and the vast majority of our customers are satisfied. Many come back to purchase additional quantities for other locations in their residence. If you do not need the additional size of some of the larger Drive Medical models, I would recommend saving your money any trying the cheaper models. With our 30 day money back guarantee, you can always upgrade if you are not satisfied.

Which is the most popular grab bar? By far our most popular grab is the 16” 1167. It is only a few dollars more than the 12” version and provides nearly twice as much handle gripping area. We find that most of the customers that choose the 12” version do so because of space or measurement constraints.

How do you install the suction cup grab bar? Installation is extremely simple. You simply push the suction cup against the mounting surface, and flip down the plastic tab on the outer side of the suction cup. This action pulls in the inside surface of the suction cup material, creating the vacuum that allows it to strongly adhere to the mounting surface. Repeat for the second suction cup, and you are done! To remove, simply flip up the tabs and the suction is released. 

The 10208PS currently comes standard with a universal basket that can be mounted under the seat or in front of the rollator. The pouch that I mentioned in my previous article is currently available as an option. This option can be selected on the customize tab of the product page. If the optional pouch is purchased, the rollator will still come with the universal basket as well. When the basket is in the front mounted position, it does not need to be removed in order to fold the rollator. That said, often a user might find it convenient to remove it rather than have it flap around when transporting it in the closed position. The cool thing about the pouch is that it folds neatly in its place, assuming the pouch is empty.

On our website, we only display the 10208 Go-Lite Deluxe in the PS or padded seat version. However, a plastic seat version is also available. The basket on the plastic seat version is front mounting only, not universal. It also comes in more color options including black and silver. If you are interested in the plastic seat, feel free to give us a call at 800-292-1129.