AmeriGlide Stair-LIft

Full review
I called Ameriglide and was connected with a very helpful salesman. He asked me several questions and had me do some specific measurements. All told I spent about 20 minutes on the phone and ordered my stair lift. One week later it arrived.

On opening the boxes I noticed that the controller that is used to move the unit up and down was broken. Not a good omen. The installation instructions are okay. I've had better and worse. Overall I had 2 problems with the installation. First was clearance at the top of the stairs. I explained to the salesman that there was a door at the top. He said no problem. Well, while there is enough clearance to operate the lift there was not enough clearance to actually install the lift on the track. I had to pull the entire track up in order to install the lift. Second, a key part of the installation is not explained clearly. Immediately after installing the lift you must leave the rail endcap OFF before moving the unit down the rail. Lot's of frustration.

The Ameriglide stair lift is made by ThyssenKrupp Access. This in not normally a problem as long as they (Ameriglide) stand behind the product. Unfortunately it hasn't been the case for me. My unit has multiple problems, including the broken controller and what so far appear to be broken switches that stop the unit at the top and bottom of the stairs. Ameriglide says, sorry, we don't actually know anything about fixing our products, you'll have to call the manufacturer. Okay.

I call TK Access. I can't get through because they're experiencing heavy call volume. Interesting. I call almost every day. Nothing. Every once in a while I'm able to communicate, very slowly, with someone there via email. From him I get some helpful tips and am finally able to secure a replacement for the broker controller. But otherwise I get this: "Since you bought this unit on the internet all I can do is suggest a dealer in your area you can call to have come out and service it" and this "...part would be under warranty. But the labor for working on the unit is not covered."

I would never do business with either company again. After spending over $2,000 and 2 months all I have is a non-working stair lift and the prospect of spending hundreds more to get it working. It's been an incredibly frustrating experience. I highly recommend spending more and working with a local dealer who will install, service and stand behind the product.