Full disclosure: We're Mobility123, a New Jersey stairlift company. We'll show you exactly where we rank alongside everyone else, and you can verify every rating yourself at ConsumerAffairs.com.
When you're researching stairlift companies near you, you'll see a lot of advertising. Commercials during the evening news. Ads in your Facebook feed. Sponsored search results.
But advertising budgets don't tell you how a company treats its customers after the sale. Reviews do.
We pulled the latest ratings from ConsumerAffairs.com, one of the largest verified consumer review platforms, to see how stairlift companies actually stack up.
The Results Are Eye-Opening
Companies Rated 4.5 Stars and Above
| Stannah | 4.8 ⭐ | 1,862 | Manufacturer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bruno | 4.8 ⭐ | 2,528 | Manufacturer |
| Arrow Lift | 4.7 ⭐ | 216 | Regional Dealer |
| Lifeway Mobility | 4.6 ⭐ | 400 | National Dealer |
| Mobility123 | 4.9 ⭐ | 140 (750+ on Google) | Regional Dealer (NJ) |
Companies Rated 2–3 Stars
| Harmar | 2.6 ⭐ | 64 | Manufacturer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 101 Mobility | 2.1 ⭐ | 22 | National Franchise |
Companies Rated Below 2 Stars
| HomeAdvisor/Angi | 1.9 ⭐ | 22,711 | Lead Generation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acorn Stairlifts | 1.8 ⭐ | 303 | Manufacturer |
| AmeriGlide | 1.8 ⭐ | 83 | Manufacturer |
| National Seating & Mobility | 1.7 ⭐ | 6 | National Dealer |
| Handicare | 1.0 ⭐ | 102 | Manufacturer |
The Acorn Problem: Locked In and Paying the Price
Acorn Stairlifts is probably the brand you've heard of most. They spend heavily on TV advertising and dominate search results. But advertising reach doesn't equal customer satisfaction.
Their ConsumerAffairs rating? 1.8 stars from 300+ reviews.
Beyond the poor reviews, there's a business model issue that many customers don't discover until it's too late: Acorn appears to have designed a system that limits your options.
Limited independent service options
Acorn typically does not sell parts to other mobility companies. This includes companies that were once authorized Acorn dealers before Acorn moved away from its dealer network to focus on selling directly to consumers.
What does this mean for you? If your Acorn stairlift needs repair, you may not be able to call a local mobility company to service it. In most cases, you'll need to use Acorn. And Acorn knows this.
Proprietary parts that can be difficult to source elsewhere
Some Acorn components, like the batteries for their curved stairlifts, appear to be proprietary. They may not be readily available from other sources. If your battery dies, you could end up paying whatever Acorn charges, with limited ability to shop around for competitive pricing or alternatives.
Many customers report that this feels less like an oversight and more like a business strategy that prioritizes recurring revenue over customer choice.
Service delays and premium pricing
Reading through ConsumerAffairs complaints, certain patterns appear frequently:
- Service appointments reportedly scheduled weeks out, even for urgent repairs
- Elderly customers left waiting for technicians longer than expected
- Annual maintenance contracts that customers say cost $350 or more, with long wait times despite paying for service coverage
- Battery replacements and basic parts that reviewers describe as premium-priced
- Customers reporting difficulty reaching support by phone when problems arise
One reviewer wrote that their 93-year-old mother was stuck upstairs, with only one bathroom on that floor, for over a week waiting for Acorn to send someone. Another reported being quoted $80 for a battery replacement just six months after installation, despite being told batteries had "lifetime coverage."
Why this matters before you buy
When you purchase an Acorn stairlift, you may be committing to a single company for all future service and parts, potentially at whatever price they set, on whatever timeline works for them.
Other manufacturers like Bruno and Access BDD work through networks of authorized local dealers (like Mobility123). If you're unhappy with one dealer's service or pricing, you generally have options. With Acorn, customers often report having fewer choices.
A stairlift that seems like a good deal on day one can become more expensive over its lifetime when you factor in service, maintenance, and parts, especially if only one company can readily provide them.
AmeriGlide: Low Prices, Hidden Costs, and the Risks of Online Sales
AmeriGlide attracts customers with prices that look significantly lower than competitors. But those low prices often come with catches that aren't clear until after you've committed.
Their ConsumerAffairs rating? 1.8 stars from 80+ reviews.
The business model relies on online sales and subcontracted labor, a combination that creates problems showing up repeatedly in customer complaints:
- Misleading pricing Advertised prices often don't include installation, delivery, or other essentials. Customers discover the true cost only after they've started the process, when additional fees appear or they realize they need to arrange (and pay for) installation separately.
- Subcontracted installation AmeriGlide doesn't employ its own installers. When a company relies on subcontractors, quality control suffers. The person installing your stairlift may have little experience with the specific equipment, or no ongoing relationship with the company if something goes wrong.
- Online sales without home assessments Stairlifts aren't one-size-fits-all. Selling equipment online without a proper evaluation can result in products that don't fit the staircase correctly, or worse, don't meet local code requirements.
- Compliance issues When equipment is shipped directly to customers or installed by subcontractors unfamiliar with local regulations, you risk ending up with a non-compliant installation. This can create safety hazards and problems if you ever need to sell your home.
- Service gaps When something goes wrong, who do you call? The online retailer? The subcontractor who installed it? This fragmented accountability leaves customers stuck in the middle.
One reviewer described having boxes delivered to their driveway and being told to "ask a neighbor" to help bring them inside, despite being disabled, which was the reason they needed a stairlift in the first place.
The bottom line: if a stairlift price seems too good to be true, it probably is. What looks like savings upfront can turn into headaches, hidden fees, and equipment that isn't properly installed or supported.
Local Dealers vs. National Chains
You'll notice something in the data: regional dealers tend to outperform large national operations.
That's not a coincidence.
Reputation is everything for a local company
Local companies depend on referrals and reputation. They can't afford to leave an 85-year-old customer stranded for two weeks because word travels fast in a community. A single bad experience gets shared at church, at the senior center, with neighbors, and with adult children who are often the ones researching options for their parents.
National chains answer to corporate metrics and quarterly reports. Local dealers answer to their neighbors.
Faster response times
When your stairlift stops working, every hour matters. National chains and manufacturers often route service calls through centralized call centers. You might wait days just to get scheduled, then weeks for a technician to arrive from another region.
Local dealers typically have technicians who live in the area they serve. When something goes wrong, Mobility123 can often respond within 24 or less. For someone who relies on a stairlift to access their bedroom or only bathroom, that difference is enormous.
Accountability you can see
When you buy from a local company, you're often dealing with the owner or a small team that will still be there in five years. They have a vested interest in making sure you're satisfied because their business depends on it.
With national operations, you might talk to a different person every time you call. There's no continuity, no relationship, and often no accountability when things fall through the cracks.
Knowledge of local requirements
Lift installations may need to comply with local building codes and regulations. Local dealers understand what's required in their area and ensure installations meet those standards. National companies using subcontractors or centralized installation teams may not be as familiar with local requirements, which can lead to compliance issues down the road.
They service what they sell
Many local dealers handle both sales and service with their own employees. That means the company that installed your stairlift is the same company that will fix it when something goes wrong. They know the equipment, they know your home, and they have a direct stake in keeping you happy.
National chains may outsource installation, service, or both, creating gaps in accountability when problems arise.
What to Ask Before You Buy
Regardless of which company you choose, these questions can save you headaches:
What's your average response time for service calls?
Anything over 48 hours for urgent issues is a red flag. Ask specifically what happens if your stairlift breaks down and you can't access part of your home.
Do you employ local technicians, or do they travel from out of the area?
Local techs mean faster service and better familiarity with your equipment over time.
Can I visit a showroom and try the equipment?
Reputable companies will say yes. Sitting in a stairlift before you buy helps ensure comfort and fit.
What's included in your warranty, and what costs extra?
Get specifics on parts, labor, and batteries. Some companies advertise long warranties but exclude key components or charge for labor.
How long have you been in business, and can you provide local references?
Experience matters in this industry. A company that's been around for 10 or 20 years has proven they can support customers long-term.
Do you sell parts to other service providers, or will I be locked into using only your company for repairs?
This is critical. If the answer is no, understand that you may have limited options and pricing leverage for the life of the equipment.
Who actually performs the installation, your employees or subcontractors?
Companies that employ their own installers typically provide more consistent quality and accountability than those who subcontract the work.
What happens if I need service after hours or on a weekend?
Stairlifts don't break down on a convenient schedule. Ask if emergency service is available and what it costs.
Is the quoted price all-inclusive, or are there additional fees for delivery and installation?
Some companies advertise low base prices but add fees later. Get the full cost in writing before you commit.
What's your process if the equipment doesn't work correctly after installation?
A good company will have a clear policy for addressing issues promptly at no additional charge during the warranty period.
The Bottom Line
Stairlift advertising is everywhere. You see it during the evening news, in magazine ads targeting seniors, in Google search results, and in your social media feeds. Companies spend millions to make sure you've heard their name.
But advertising budgets don't equal customer satisfaction. The companies spending the most on commercials aren't necessarily the ones earning the best reviews from actual customers. In fact, as the data shows, some of the most heavily advertised brands have the lowest ratings.
Do your homework before you commit
A stairlift is a significant investment, often costing several thousand dollars. More importantly, it's equipment that you or a loved one will depend on every single day. The wrong choice doesn't just mean wasted money. It can mean being stranded in your own home when the equipment fails and help is weeks away.
Before you sign anything, spend 10 minutes on ConsumerAffairs.com. Read what real buyers say, not just about the product, but about what happened when they needed help after installation. Pay attention to the patterns. One negative review could be an outlier. Dozens of similar complaints about service delays, hidden fees, or unresponsive support tell you something important about how that company operates.
Price isn't everything
It's tempting to go with the lowest quote. But a stairlift isn't a one-time purchase. It's the beginning of a relationship with the company that will service and maintain that equipment for years to come. A low upfront price means nothing if you end up paying premium rates for parts that only one company can provide, or if you're stuck waiting weeks for service while a family member can't safely use the stairs.
Consider the total cost of ownership: the equipment, installation, warranty coverage, ongoing maintenance, and what happens when something breaks. The company offering the best value on day one may not be the cheapest option over the life of the stairlift.
Trust the patterns, not the promises
Every company will tell you they offer great service. Every salesperson will assure you that help is just a phone call away. But promises are easy. Patterns in verified customer reviews tell you what actually happens after the sale is complete and the commission is paid.
Look for companies with consistent positive feedback over time, not just a handful of glowing reviews. Look at how companies respond when customers have problems. And pay attention to complaints about service after the sale, because that's when you'll find out what a company is really like.
The data is public
Everything in this article can be verified. The ratings are on ConsumerAffairs.com for anyone to see. The reviews are written by real customers sharing real experiences. We encourage you to read them yourself, compare what you find, and draw your own conclusions.
The decision is yours. We just want to make sure you have the information to make it wisely.
Mobility123 has served New Jersey families since 2003 from our locations in Absecon and Hillsborough. If you'd like to learn more about your options, we offer free consultations with no obligation.
