Bought an Expensive Ergonomic Chair: Herman Miller Aeron
Since I have to do design and writing at home for extended periods, I considered getting an ergonomic chair. Hopefully, this chair will last at least 10 years.
The chair I sit on now is an IKEA chair I bought for my daughter, 300 RMB. It’s a chair you can sit on, but not comfortable. At the company, I’ve sat on chairs that cost three to four thousand RMB, which felt okay, not particularly uncomfortable or particularly comfortable.
Since I’m aiming for a 10-year use, this time I wanted to experience what a top-level ergonomic chair feels like. So, I made an appointment at the Herman Miller showroom in Shanghai (Address: Building 2, No. 550 Jumen Road, Luwan District, Shanghai).
The showroom displayed almost all of Herman Miller’s products. The staff were enthusiastic and professional, guiding me through their star products: Embody, Aeron, Mirra 2, and Sayl. Although Embody is the most high-end, I found Aeron and Mirra 2 more comfortable. Sayl was unacceptable, felt too rigid. So, it came down to choosing between Aeron and Mirra 2 if going for this brand.
Coincidentally, it was June 18th. The staff mentioned that there was a promotion on JD.com, with significant discounts (about 2000-3500 RMB). If I wanted one, I should hurry, otherwise wait until Singles’ Day. I was internally rolling my eyes because these are typical sales tactics: raise the price first and then discount.
Interestingly, the Herman Miller showroom only offers experiences, not sales. To buy, you go to their official website, or Tmall/JD.com. Also, Herman Miller chairs have a 12-year warranty.
Afterward, I considered visiting the Okamura showroom. Some of Okamura’s products are much cheaper than Herman Miller’s. But then I thought: for a product I plan to use for 10 years, what’s the real difference between 5000 RMB and 10000 RMB? Over 10 years, the average cost difference is minimal, but the experience and physical support can vary greatly. We need to train ourselves to adopt a long-term perspective on price versus value. It’s not easy.
If there’s financial capacity, why not choose the top product? Better treat my backside better 😄, so I’ve pretty much decided on the Aeron.
Since there was a discount on June 18th, I thought I’d try it. It was my first time participating in JD.com’s 618 shopping festival (I’ve hardly done Tmall’s Singles’ Day before). The chair was originally 12,010 RMB (shipping 365 RMB), JD.com’s 618 price was 8,855 RMB, a 3,520 RMB discount. After 618, I checked the original price, and it was indeed 12,010 RMB. If any friends want to buy an HM chair, wait for Singles’ Day. They do play it straight, without tricks.
After receiving the chair, I spent some time configuring the settings to match my height, sitting posture, and desk height. It truly feels like a personal chair (others might not find it comfortable). After setting it up, I mused that if Herman Miller could save multiple chair setting profiles for one-touch switching, that’d be great.
Finally, borrowing a picture (and Zhihu answer) from Zhihu user and CEO of Heart Network Huang Yimeng, here’s a quick way to judge the quality of an ergonomic chair: look at the armrests. In a good chair, the armrests connect to the back; when the back tilts, the armrests also tilt. In a lesser chair, the armrests connect to the seat.
The image above is the Herman Miller Aeron. Huang Yimeng’s Zhihu answer: https://www.zhihu.com/question/20436327/answer/22448970
NetEase Yanxuan ergonomic chair, endorsed by Luo Yonghao. Armrests are connected to the seat.