Originally posted by: pcslookout
The reason I say this is because we only sit in each chair we test for only a few minutes. Even if we sat in them for a hour each it would still not give us a good true test run of the chair. We would have to put it through real would tests like sitting in it for hours at a time. Like 4 to 9 hours +
So how can you all say you can test a computer chair before buying it when you really can't because it may start to feel horrible after the 2 or 4 hour mark. How do you suppose to know that before buying it so you don't have to return it and be charged the restocking fees or anything like that?
Do any companies offer free trial runs of their chairs in your home for at least 14 days ?
Well, I spent a year deciding on a chair that was intended to be my primary chair for my computer use. But instead of bouncing from chair to chair in that section of chairs that exist in OM, OD, Staples/whatever ( I did that initially to eliminate the ones that were horribly uncomfortable on initial sitting....if it was uncomfortable to sit in for a few minutes, it certainly wasn't going to be any better an hour later.)
The ones that made the first cut were then tested out, in the store, at a desk that had the same approximate design and height as the desk I was going to use the chair at....and any store is more than happy to accommodate you in that respect, well, if you're looking at more than their $49 specials, at least.
I spent more than an hour at a time in each of the three chairs I centered on.....unfortunately, all three were in three different stores. But, after seeing us--my wife and myself--repeatedly looking at chairs, talking with salespersons about them, etc., we were pretty much ignored and let to do what we wanted with rearranging the chair being tested and such. Of course, we always put the display/chair/etc, back where it was originally, so there was no work left to be done for the staff when we left.
I tried to replicate my desk situation as realistically as possible.....I read at the desk, even took a keyboard in and play-acted like I was typing.....I sat. Personally, I found that an hour in a chair would give enough of a comfort test for long-term sitting. If it was uncomfortable in an hour, it wasn't going to get better. If it was truly comfortable after an hour, it was probably going to be that way in several hours. An hour generally showed the niggling problems of a chair and its particular fit.....at least for me.
I guess the fact that we are older--->50---and were looking to spend >$350 for a chair, also increased the store's tolerance of us. And we'd give up the chair if another customer wanted to sit in it....immediately.
In the end I put hours in the 3 chairs over months.....different times of the day to make sure that being morning fresh didn't skew my feelings about how they felt....had to sit in them when I was tired, feeling horrible, etc.
But I guess a lot of people won't spend that much time in testing out the one device that makes your interaction with your computer a chore or enjoyable. (Of course, this discounts the kb and mouse....but most of us have long ago decided upon a kb design and mouse design that suits us and tend to rebuy another that replicates those designs over and over.)
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