Why You Should Buy Your Reclining Lift Chair from a Medical Supply Store (Not a Furniture Store)
45+ Years of Expert Advice
After more than four and a half decades serving families in Mt Kisco, Westchester County, and Putnam County, I’ve seen countless people make the same mistake: they buy a lift chair from a furniture store, only to discover they could have saved thousands of dollars and gotten far better service by purchasing from a medical supply pharmacy. Let me share what 45+ years in this business has taught us.
When a customer comes to us after surgery or is struggling with arthritis, their primary concern is finding the right lift chair. What they don’t realize is where they buy that chair matters just as much as which model they choose. The difference between buying from a furniture store versus a medical supply pharmacy isn’t just about price—it’s about tax savings, warranty protection, professional expertise, and ongoing support that can last for years.
The Tax Advantage: Save Hundreds (or Thousands) on Your Taxes
Here’s what most people don’t know: a lift chair purchased from a furniture store is considered a piece of furniture—it’s not tax deductible. But purchase the exact same chair from a medical supply pharmacy, and it becomes classified as durable medical equipment (DME).
This distinction matters enormously.
When you buy a lift chair as medical equipment, you can deduct its cost as a medical expense on your federal income taxes—if your total medical expenses exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. For someone paying $800-$1,500 for a lift chair, this can translate into real tax savings.
A furniture store sales associate won’t explain this. They’re not trained in medical classification. They’re trained to sell furniture. At a medical supply pharmacy, we understand the healthcare implications of every product we sell. We know the difference between a chair and medical equipment—and we can help you document that difference properly.
HSA and FSA: Spend Your Healthcare Dollars on Your Health
This is one of my favorite advantages to share with customers because it’s often a complete surprise to them.
If you have a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA), you can use those pre-tax healthcare dollars to purchase a lift chair from a medical supply store. You cannot use them at a furniture store.
Think about it: you have money set aside specifically for healthcare needs, and a lift chair is absolutely a healthcare need for post-surgery recovery or managing mobility limitations from arthritis. Why wouldn’t you use that money?
The difference is substantial. If you have $1,500 in FSA funds and buy a lift chair, you’re using money that would otherwise sit idle. That’s money you’ve already set aside for healthcare expenses—use it or lose it. At a furniture store, this isn’t an option.
We accept HSA and FSA payments. Bring your card, and let’s get you the lift chair you need using healthcare dollars designed exactly for this purpose.
The Warranty Difference: 7 Year vs. 1 Month
Let me be direct: this is where the real difference becomes clear.
When you purchase a lift chair from a furniture store, you typically get a 1-month warranty on the lift mechanism. Thirty days. If something breaks on day 31, it’s your problem.
When you purchase from Robert Jacobson Surgical Pharmacy, our lift chairs come with up to a prorated 7-year manufacturer’s warranty on parts and labor.
Over 45 years, we have seen what happens when lift chairs fail and customers have no recourse. A failed motor, a broken footrest mechanism, a malfunctioning remote control—these repairs cost $200-$600. With a furniture store’s minimal warranty, those costs land on you. With our full-year warranty, they don’t.
This is especially important for seniors and post-surgery patients. You’re counting on that chair to work reliably during recovery. A broken lift chair isn’t just an inconvenience—it can prevent you from getting up safely, which defeats the entire purpose of owning one.
Professional Assessment: Medical Expertise, Not Sales Pressure
Here’s something I’ve witnessed thousands of times: a customer walks into a furniture store asking about lift chairs. Five minutes later, a salesperson sells them the wrong size, wrong position type, or wrong features.
Why? Because furniture store staff are trained in sales, not medical needs.
At our pharmacy, we take a completely different approach. When you visit us or call, you’ll talk with someone who understands:
- How post-surgery recovery affects your mobility needs
- Why arthritic knees require different chair features than other conditions
- How to properly measure you for the right size
- Which position type (2-position, 3-position, infinite) matches your specific situation
- How rental might be better than purchase for temporary recovery
We don’t sell you a chair—we help you find the right solution for your medical situation.
This professional assessment takes time and expertise. A furniture store simply doesn’t invest in this level of knowledge. They see a customer looking for a recliner; we see a patient with specific medical needs.
Delivery, Setup, and Professional Installation
You’ve just spent $1,500-$3,000 on a lift chair. You’ve made a significant investment in your independence and comfort.
Now imagine this scenario: The furniture store delivers it to your home. They drop it off in your living room. You’re left with a 400-pound chair, an instruction manual written for engineers, and a question: “Now what?”
Here’s what happens at Robert Jacobson Surgical Pharmacy:
- We deliver and position your chair exactly where it works best in your home
- We set up all functions and test every feature
- We teach you how to use it—every button, every position, every safety feature
- We ensure proper placement for wall clearance and electrical safety
- We remove all packaging and leave your home clean
This professional setup isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. A poorly positioned chair in a room without adequate wall clearance can be unsafe. A chair plugged into an undersized outlet can be a fire hazard. A customer who doesn’t understand all the functions won’t use the chair to its full potential.
Furniture stores rarely offer this level of service. When they do, it costs extra. At our medical supply pharmacy, it’s included.
Rental Options for Temporary Recovery
Here’s something furniture stores absolutely cannot offer: rental programs.
If you’re recovering from hip or knee surgery and expect to use a lift chair for 1-3 months, why buy one for $1,999+? At a medical supply pharmacy, you can rent one.
Here’s how it works:
- Monthly rental fee
- Same warranty and support as purchased chairs
- We handle delivery and setup
- Professional support throughout
- If you decide you like it so much you want to keep it, many rental payments can apply toward purchase
This flexibility simply doesn’t exist in furniture stores. They sell. They don’t rent. For post-surgery patients especially, this is huge.
Financing Options Including CareCredit
I understand: $1,900-$2,999 is significant money, even if it saves you from Medicare deductibles or provides tax deductions.
At Robert Jacobson Surgical Pharmacy, we offer financing options including CareCredit, which allows you to:
- Finance your lift chair with approved credit
- Spread payments over 6, 12, or 24 months
- Often get special promotional periods (like 6 months interest-free)
Visit CareCredit.com to learn more about financing options.
Furniture stores may offer financing, but it’s rarely designed around healthcare needs. CareCredit is specifically designed for medical equipment purchases. The terms are flexible, the rates are competitive, and it works seamlessly with medical supply purchases.
Post-Purchase Support and Troubleshooting
This is where the real value of buying from a medical supply pharmacy becomes apparent.
Six months after purchase, your lift chair’s remote gets sticky. Eight months in, the massage feature stops working. A year out, you notice the footrest isn’t extending quite as far as it used to.
What do you do?
At a furniture store: You call customer service, navigate a phone system designed to discourage calls, wait on hold, get transferred between departments, and eventually ship your chair somewhere for repairs—meaning weeks without your lift chair.
At Robert Jacobson Surgical Pharmacy: You call us at 1-800-578-7577 during business hours (Mon-Fri 9am-7pm, Sat 9am-5pm). You talk to someone who knows your situation. We troubleshoot over the phone or schedule a service visit. We carry replacement parts in stock. If we identify a warranty-covered issue, there’s no debate—we fix it. Your chair is fixed locally, at our facility, usually within days, not weeks.
Over 45+ years, we have learned that the post-purchase relationship is where medical supply stores prove their worth. We’re not trying to move on to the next sale. We’re invested in your long-term satisfaction because you’re in our community.
The Professional Difference Summarized
Let me give you a clear comparison:
| Factor | Furniture Store | Medical Supply Pharmacy |
|---|---|---|
| Tax deductible | No | Yes |
| HSA/FSA eligible | No | Yes |
| Warranty | 1 month | 1 year (or more) |
| Professional assessment | Sales-focused | Medical-focused |
| Delivery & setup | Basic (often extra cost) | Professional installation included |
| Rental options | No | Yes |
| Financing options | Standard | Healthcare-specific (CareCredit) |
| Post-purchase support | Limited | Comprehensive |
| Replacement parts | Order from manufacturer | Available locally |
| Troubleshooting | Phone system maze | Direct expert support |
After 45+ years in medical supplies, we can tell you with absolute certainty: the right place to buy your lift chair is from a medical supply pharmacy, not a furniture store.
Why Choose Robert Jacobson Surgical Pharmacy?
For more than 45 years, we’ve been helping families in Mt Kisco, Westchester County, and Putnam County find the perfect lift chair for their specific needs.
We’re not a furniture company trying to sell you a recliner. We’re medical equipment specialists who understand post-surgery recovery, arthritis management, mobility limitations, and what it takes to maintain your independence.
We Offer:
- Comprehensive lift chair selection across all sizes and position types
- Professional sizing and assessment in our Mt Kisco showroom
- Tax-deductible medical equipment classification
- HSA/FSA payment options
- Prorated 7-year warranty (with extended options available)
- Professional delivery and setup
- Rental programs for temporary recovery needs
- CareCredit financing for flexible payment options
- Expert post-purchase support including repairs and replacement parts
- Local expertise with 45+ years of experience serving your community
Visit Us or Call for Expert Advice
We’re here to answer your questions and help you understand your options. Whether you’re recovering from surgery, managing arthritis, or looking for a better solution for mobility challenges, we can help.
Robert Jacobson Surgical Pharmacy
359 E. Main Street, Mount Kisco, NY 10549
📞 Call us today: 1-800-578-7577
📅 Mon-Fri: 9am-7pm | Sat: 9am-5pm
Or visit our complete lift chair selection here.
I can promise you this: the difference between buying from a furniture store and buying from a medical supply pharmacy will be clear within your first month of ownership. The tax savings alone might surprise you. The warranty protection will give you peace of mind. The professional support will make you wonder why you ever considered buying elsewhere.
You deserve expert guidance, not just a sales pitch. That’s what Robert Jacobson Surgical Pharmacy has provided to families in Mt Kisco, Westchester, and Putnam County for over four decades—and that’s exactly what we’ll provide to you.