Trusted family firm is North East’s leading independent supplier of stairlifts for all mobility needs

Dolphin Lifts is the North East’s leading independent supplier of stairlifts, hoists and through-floor lifts and has one of the biggest showrooms and choice of stairlifts in the region. Not not only will they offer the best chance of finding the right one for your home, you can come and try them out for yourself.

Illness, an accident, injury or just getting older are all reasons people might struggle to get up and down the stairs in their own home.

Husband and wife team Steve and Mary Smith, who run Dolphin Lifts and Mobility, know better than most what a difference it can make to someone’s quality of life and how important it is to ensure you have the right one for you and your needs. They also have their own team of engineers and tradespeople and have a reassuring ‘no pressure’ approach for customers.

“We’re about finding solutions, not about sales,” says Steve.

The team has over 50 years’ experience between them – Steve worked for the previous owners for about 12 years before taking the opportunity to buy the business. There are few challenges, or circumstances, they won’t have come across  – or found a solution for – across the decades. We asked Steve to tell us more about the business, and the exceptional customer service and choice.

What kind of stairlift would be best?

This all depends on you, your mobility issue, your home, your budget and your needs.

Because Dolphin, which was established nearly three decades ago, is an independent stockist it can choose from different manufactuers. This means offers a wider choice than most and is not tied to one brand.

Having said that, you’ll still find top names like Stannah, Bruno, Handicare, Stiltz and ETAC.

“This is where we can offer more than single brand companies,” Steve explained. “They will have a more limited range to choose from because it will just be what that manufacturer produces.

“Whilst we are an approved specialist for Stannah, and our engineers are Stannah trained, we are not allied to any one dealer.”

How do I know it will fit in my house?

You don’t have to worry about that, whether you have straight or curvy stairs, a twist at the top or bottom, or stairs which start right by the door (as many Sunderland homes do) it’s not a problem. Steve or one of the team will come to your house to do an initial survey – which will take no more than 10 minutes.

“We’ll always try to find a solution to any tricky problem in a house, and if we can’t, we’ll be honest and say so,” Steve said.

And if any adaptations or changes need doing – moving a newel post or balustrade for example – then Dolphin has the answer, as it can deploy its in-house tradespeople from sister company Shape Adaptations, which supplies and fits wetrooms, to carry out any alterations.

What will it cost?

This depends on what you buy, what you want and your budget. Did you know you can rent a stairlift? Most suppliers don’t do rental or reconditioned stairlifts but Dolphin do.

You could rent one for as little as £350 per year or buy a reconditioned lift for around £895– which will still come with a full service and warranty and all the after-sales options that a new one has. New lifts start from around £1,450 and come with a two-year warranty.

“We pride ourselves on finding a lift for every budget,” says Steve, who understands that sometimes a stairlift might only be needed short-term (for recuperation) or that it might not be affordable or economical to invest in a brand new one.

Can I try a stairlift before I buy?

Absolutely! In fact everyone is encouraged to do just that. There’s plenty to see at the showroom with 10 or more working lifts you can sit on and try. Steve says it’s vital to ensure it’s the right model and design for YOUR specific needs.

“If, for example, you have had a stroke and it affected your left side, it’s no use getting a stairlift fitted and finding out that the seatbelt or controls are on the left,” Steve explained. In fact, Steve feels it’s so important he is even prepared to arrange to bring them to and from the showroom. 

Am I too big or heavy for a stairlift?

Most stairlifts take people up to 22 stone, but Dolphin work with US brand Bruno, which make models to accommodate people up to 30 stone.

If you’re particularly tall and long legs might be an issue with a narrow staircase Steve says there are plenty of solutions which can be found – so shape and size shouldn’t be a worry for anyone.

What if something goes wrong?

The sameday breakdown service can get it sorted! Dolphin has a team of five engineers on call from 8am to 10pm, 365 days a year, so if you call first thing you can be moving again within the day.

“We had a late call the other night, from a lady in Northumberland and the engineer went out from Newcastle to Berwick and fitted a new battery right away,” said Steve.

All the lifts come with a manufacturers’ warranty and these can be extended with a Dolphin warranty, which also includes an annual service.

Dolphin fit and maintain stairlifts across the North East up to the borders and down into Teeside to Darlington.

How do I get a quote?

“We can always give a ballpark quote, but it will be subject to a survey. The initial survey takes no more than 10 minutes but from that we can give an accurate quote which we’ll post or email out, or ring you and follow that up with a paper quote in the post,” Steve said. “We won’t chase you up and there will be no follow-up call to get an answer, we’ll just leave it for you to come back to us if you want to take it further.”

Is it a lot of work to fit and does it make a mess?

Not at all. Stairlifts screw into the treads and not the walls and the rails sit above the stairs. When they are removed the carpet usually springs back to cover up where the screws went in. Fitting a straight one can be done in an hour or so, and a curved one in about half a day.

How long will it take to come?

A straight stairlift could be ordered and fitted the next day, but to make a bespoke curved lift the team needs to take measurements and send all the details to the manufacturer so it can be two to four weeks from ordering to fitting.

Having said that, Steve will loan and fit a temporary lift for free if it is needed and it’s possible. For example if you’re waiting for a curved lift to go round a corner at the top or bottom of stairs and it’s just a couple of steps, they could fit a straight lift for the main staircase leaving you just a couple of steps to manage, until your full lift is ready.

Where’s the showroom?

You’ll find the full range, lots of information and a relaxed, no-pressure welcome at the Independent Living Showroom, Unit 16F, Airport Industrial Estate, Kingston Park,  Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE3 2EF. You can call 0191 271 2600 to find out more, or take a look on the website here.