Where's a good place to go and try some office chairs ?

[Pondlife]

But you have to be able to tell it's quality. Aeron are well-regarded but a significant part of the price comes from the design and brand. Half the price of an Aeron is still a LOT of money for a chair and as such I'd expect you should be able to get something which is ergonomically as good and will last as long for £1-200

You're probably correct I should think. But I paid just under £500 for mine with a 12 year warranty. I sat in various chairs in JL, Ikea and a couple of other places and found the Mirra the most comfortable - more so than the Aeron. I could have continued the search but it starts to become a waste of a Saturday after a point.

AFAIAC I found an incredibly comfortable chair that will probably be the last one I need to buy, for less than a days billing. I therefore didn't want to devote any more of my weekend to the search.

I wasn't looking for a bargain. I was looking for a comfy place to park my posterior.


(apologies if this post seem arrogant, it's not supposed to be)

[FiveTimes]

Anyone bought chairs from Staples recently?

I bought a couple over the years from Office World (before it became Staples), and they always felt cheap and plasticy, and would weaken then fall apart after a few years.

My last trip to Staples was to pick up my regular office supplies but the chairs looked more metallic, solid and stronger somehow.

I bought my office chair from Staples a couple of years ago and its been fine, plenty comfy and no aches/pains after a long day on it.

[northernladuk]

You're probably correct I should think. But I paid just under £500 for mine with a 12 year warranty. I sat in various chairs in JL, Ikea and a couple of other places and found the Mirra the most comfortable - more so than the Aeron. I could have continued the search but it starts to become a waste of a Saturday after a point.

AFAIAC I found an incredibly comfortable chair that will probably be the last one I need to buy, for less than a days billing. I therefore didn't want to devote any more of my weekend to the search.

I wasn't looking for a bargain. I was looking for a comfy place to park my posterior.


(apologies if this post seem arrogant, it's not supposed to be)

I bought mine because it was the most expensive on in John Lewis.... so I bought TWO and still got a load of wodge to spend on stuff poor people can't.

Probably won't sit on them much but look cool and will be the envy of my friends.

(apologies if this post seem arrogant, it's not supposed to be... ok, yes it was)

[northernladuk]

What's special about them?

All the settings you can have, floating seat back and seat, lock them in all sorts of positions, extending leg support. Can lock the back up behind you if you hunch over rather than sit back on the chair (marking or doing paperwork) so you have back support while leaning forward (if that makes sense). Can adjust the torsion when it's 'floating'. Was pretty impressive. I am sure I will spend 2 days playing with all the settings, find one I like, get bored and never change it again though

I think the term 'over engineered' is an understatement here but it was fairly impressive for a chair.

[northernladuk]

If I buy 4 I can claim the VAT back!! Bargain!!!

[darrylmg]

Bought mine on Ebay for £260 each, office repossession. As good as new.

No wonder the company went under, they spent too much money on chairs!

[d000hg]

You're probably correct I should think. But I paid just under £500 for mine with a 12 year warranty. I sat in various chairs in JL, Ikea and a couple of other places and found the Mirra the most comfortable - more so than the Aeron. I could have continued the search but it starts to become a waste of a Saturday after a point.

AFAIAC I found an incredibly comfortable chair that will probably be the last one I need to buy, for less than a days billing. I therefore didn't want to devote any more of my weekend to the search.

If it was genuinely the best product you could find and you can afford it, no problems there.

[mudskipper]

My local JL didn't have any Aerons or Mirras last time I checked. They did have this odd looking thing though:



Didn't try it out, a) because the mesh looks like the front cover of a 1980's maths text book, and b) there was a small queue of people wanting to sit in it and ask questions.

[edit: its the HM Sayl apparently]

Looks like a pair of Y fronts (with a nod to Nick's Monday Links)

[mudskipper]

I tried both the Herman Miller Aeron and Mirra at my local John Lewis. Decided on the Mirra and ordered elsewhere for about 300 quid less.

"never knowingly undersold" (do they still say that?)

I think if I tried one at JL, especially if the assistant had been helpful, I'd at least see if they price matched the one found elsewhere.

Guy next to me at clientCo had a 'posh' looking chair with a mesh back and seat, and lots of levers and handles. When he left, I nabbed it, but gave up after half a day 'cause it made my bum numb. Back in the £25 staples staple now.

[Scrag Meister]

"never knowingly undersold" (do they still say that?)

I think if I tried one at JL, especially if the assistant had been helpful, I'd at least see if they price matched the one found elsewhere.

Guy next to me at clientCo had a 'posh' looking chair with a mesh back and seat, and lots of levers and handles. When he left, I nabbed it, but gave up after half a day 'cause it made my bum numb. Back in the £25 staples staple now.

Yes they do, they even have a page where you can request a price match, you give them the website and details about what you saw, where and for how much and they get back to you if they are happy to match it.

I was considering a TV purchase and they were happy to match a price £250 down on theirs AND throw in their usual 5 year guarantee, compared to the manufacturers standard 2 years.