Big Apple Mobility — Local services in New York

This place is an absolute nightmare. If you’re thinking of going here -- take the time to read my review. is is an absolute train wreck of a business -- a huge bait-and-switch waste of time The starter switch on my 2-year-old mobility scooter actually came off in my hand. But I could see there were two wires that just needed to be soldered back onto the switch. I called around for half a day trying to find someone who does scooter repairs - and who wasn’t going to try to sell me a $149 diagnostic package to tell me what I already knew. But then - I got Eric from Big Apple Mobility on the phone. I explained my situation -- and he said it sounded like something they could fix if I brought it in -- and yes, it was possible to do the same day. But that I would need to call back and talk to José the technician to be sure. I called three times that afternoon trying to talk to Jose-- who always seemed to be “out for 10 minutes”. That should’ve been my first clue that this was a bad idea. Finally, on the third try, José came to come to the phone. I explained my situation, told him I could even email him pictures if he wanted - but I really needed to be able to bring the scooter in and have it fixed the same day. José told me he didn’t sound like it was going to take much at all to fix, and if I could bring it in after 11 AM any weekday he would be able to get to it within a couple hours. I then asked him how much it would cost. He answered somewhere between $50 and $100 -- in cash -- depending on how long it took him to fix it. So the next day, before we got ready to drive into Manhattan, I decided just to be safe to call back and make sure that José was in. Unbelievably he actually answered the phone, and said “I remember you - no problem, you can bring it in today”. Two hours later, we got to the store, and my wife first carried in the base with the steering column -- and was met at the counter by Eric. She told him it was the broken key switch job her husband had talked to José about having it repaired. He said, okay, if you don’t need a full diagnostic test I guess you don’t need to bring in all five pieces. But José had just stepped out, and he probably wouldn’t be back for at least a half an hour. So just leave it and come back in a couple of hours. So, my wife got back in the car, and we drove around in one-way rectangles from street to street for two hours. Until I finally called to make sure that the repair was done. And then the nightmare really started. José told me that he needed to do a diagnostic test. And since we didn’t authorize the test -- which would be an upfront cost -- he couldn’t even look at the switch. I reminded him we had talked last night and he told me to bring it in and he could just fix the switch. José replied no, I can’t do that, the boss won’t let me do anything like that, everything has to have a total inspection first. Plus he probably didn’t even have the right part. I reminded him that I had all of the parts -- all they needed was to be put back together again. He said we don’t fix parts. We have to order them -- and then fix the scooter. But we can rent you a loaner scooter while you’re waiting for yours to be repaired. I stopped talking to José because I couldn’t stand it anymore. Talking to Eric again would’ve been a waste of time as well -- because he would’ve told me he’s just the front desk guy. You need to talk to José. This place is an absolute train wreck of a business -- a huge bait-and-switch waste of time -- that anybody in their right mind should totally avoid at all costs. If I could give them “0” stars – I would have. Because there is absolutely nothing that they did that could possibly score them...

This was a wonderful experience from the start to the finish. I chose them at the recommendation of the bellman and am very glad I did. Everything was handled by phone and the Pride Victor (which the staff helped me pick out and was perfect size for me) was waiting at the Crown Plaza Times Square when I checked in. We left it at the front desk when we left five days later (we left before they opened) and they picked it up as promised. The scooter was well worn, but it looked and operated flawlessly. I rode it from the hotel to Carnegue Hall and it never came off full charge, neither did it after a full day of exploring the 9/11 museum area and a day of sightseeing (which was handicap accessible). Incidentally, the seat was more comfortable than Carnegue Hall's seats and they had a spot just the right size for it). It had a short learning curve because it had a speed adjustment dial as well as the lever on the handle. It was nice that the key was easily removable which made me feel more secure in restaurants etc. The Grey Line on and off touring buses accommodated it easily and had a special spot to park it on the first floor of the bus. Just go to the head of the line where the bus stops and they load one wheelchair per bus (so you may have to wait if there is more than one which was rare). Everyone I talked with were extremely friendly and helpful. We highly recommend them, with my mobility problems sightseeing in NY would have...

Don’t you ever rent an electric scooter from Big Apple Mobility in Manhattan , NY.

Since they could not delivered the scooter on time to my hotel I’ve decided to go to their store on 37th St. Nice fellow Mr Jose , told me about the battery autonomy etc. At the time I was having a problem with my leg that I could barely walk. When I was near 54th St. I’ve notice that the scooter was losing strength and that the battery was nearly dead so I’ve called Mr Jose and told him about the problem ( even before that I was being very careful in order to save the battery life , low speed , turning off the scooter etc ). It was 4:40 PM and he told me to go back two blocks and wait for him at the corner of the street that he will meet me there at 5:00PM. So I did …. and waited for him until 5:20PM , 40 minutes in the frozen cold of this day in NY and he never showed up. Not even a call and he had my 2 mobile # !!!!! and I even called him again before going to our meeting point to tel him the most suitable # to call me if he needed anything. When I picked the scooter the battery was fully charged but for sure it was an old battery that could not hold the charge for a long time. I ended up calling a cab to be able to return to my hotel. It’s probably one of the most expensive rental service in town and for sure the least reliable place to rent an electric scooter or an electric wheel...