Elite Medical Supplies, LLC

BUYER BEWARE

To all those caring for aging parents or loved ones in Casper, Wyoming:

I recently purchased a new bariatric walker from Elite Medical Supplies in Casper, Wyoming, for $254 for my 91 year-old father. He refused to use it, so I sought to return it to Elite a few days later (in perfectly pristine condition). There had been no verbal warning prior to purchase that a refund might be problematic.

The receipt states: "CUSTOM ORDERS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE." It was not a custom order. No problem.

The receipt states: "PRODUCTS BEING BILLED TO INSURANCE ARE NON-RETURNABLE." No problem, I paid out of my pocket.

The receipt states: "THERE WILL BE... A 20% RESTOCKING FEE ON PRODUCTS OVER $100.00." Fine, I could live with that and assumed I would receive an 80% refund. Wrong.

The receipt also states: "THERE ARE NO REFUNDS OR RETURNS ON HYGIENE PRODUCTS." I was informed there can be no refund because the "the walker is a hygiene product." When I expressed my dismay at this preposterous categorization, I was told that "Our products are increasingly all categorized as hygiene products." To me, this seems to be a clear case of deliberate deceptive retail practice.

If you look at this company's website, which my wife and I did prior to going there to purchase this as well as a new wheelchair, you will see a very vague and not terribly-useful description of what the company has to offer. There are no prices for any of their equipment or services.

When you walk into the store, there are no prices posted. We were told this is because "prices change so often." A reasonable conclusion is that this business purposely lacks transparency.

It also charges too much. I sought to buy a gel foam cushion for the wheelchair. I was told it would cost nearly a hundred dollars and take 4-5 weeks to deliver. By now I had lost all faith in Elite Medical Supplies, so I did a bit of internet research and quickly found what we needed, for $38, and ordered it for next-day delivery.

My conclusion is that Elite Medical Supplies is not an honorable place to shop.

Buyer beware!

Dr. Stephen W. Nicholas, son of Stephen L. Nicholas, Casper, Wyoming
Professor of Pediatrics and Population and Family Health
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
New York City