Author Topic: ballin' on a budget office chair  (Read 37504 times)

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Offline digi

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ballin' on a budget office chair
« on: Sun, 09 February 2014, 11:35:25 »
I'm in need of a new home office chair and I'm ballin' on a budget, so the high end chairs are out of my price range. I'm highly considering this chair and was wondering if any of you have this model or might have some recommendations in the $150 shipped range?

http://www.amazon.com/Office-Star-5500-Mid-Back-Swivel/dp/B000PWINLQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1391967084&sr=1-1&keywords=5500+chair

Offline Photoelectric

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Re: ballin' on a budget office chair
« Reply #1 on: Sun, 09 February 2014, 11:44:09 »
I got this chair and love it!
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GAPU4B4/ref=oh_details_o03_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Super comfortable in terms of having great adjustable height (can go very high for taller desks), swivel arms, and really good back support.  It's comfy but not a sloucher's chair.  I had a nice slouchy leather chair before that was great for reclining on but really not so good for back support.  This one has been very nice.
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Offline 1pq

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Re: ballin' on a budget office chair
« Reply #2 on: Sun, 09 February 2014, 11:53:46 »
I'm in need of a new home office chair and I'm ballin' on a budget, so the high end chairs are out of my price range. I'm highly considering this chair and was wondering if any of you have this model or might have some recommendations in the $150 shipped range?

http://www.amazon.com/Office-Star-5500-Mid-Back-Swivel/dp/B000PWINLQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1391967084&sr=1-1&keywords=5500+chair

I have a very similar model and I love it. It is very comfortable and easy to adjust to your liking.
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Offline tp4tissue

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Re: ballin' on a budget office chair
« Reply #3 on: Sun, 09 February 2014, 13:08:14 »
so you guys bought these blind online? and hoped for the best?

Offline vivalarevolución

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Re: ballin' on a budget office chair
« Reply #4 on: Sun, 09 February 2014, 13:55:58 »
Craigslist or used office furniture store.  That's my rec.
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Offline digi

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Re: ballin' on a budget office chair
« Reply #5 on: Sun, 09 February 2014, 13:56:40 »
Not sure how comfortable the seat rest is without a cushion but this also looks like a decent deal:

http://www.staples.com/Staples-Hyken-Technical-Mesh-Task-Chair-Black/product_990119?cmArea=home_box1

Offline berserkfan

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Re: ballin' on a budget office chair
« Reply #6 on: Sat, 22 February 2014, 19:08:14 »
Not sure how comfortable the seat rest is without a cushion but this also looks like a decent deal:

http://www.staples.com/Staples-Hyken-Technical-Mesh-Task-Chair-Black/product_990119?cmArea=home_box1

I've used mesh chairs for long periods. Comfort wise, don't worry. Cost wise is the problem. Without a cushion and hard support below, mesh seating wears out in a few years - often in less than 2 years the support is gone and you will need to replace the mesh seating which is often over 1/2 the price of the original chair.

So factor in your total costs when making decisions.
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Offline CPTBadAss

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Re: ballin' on a budget office chair
« Reply #7 on: Sat, 22 February 2014, 19:10:39 »
Craigslist or used office furniture store.  That's my rec.

I got my Steelcase for like 1/5 the price from a used office furniture store. And I've heard of people finding Herman Miller chairs for $20 on Craigslist :D.

Offline jacobolus

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Re: ballin' on a budget office chair
« Reply #8 on: Sat, 22 February 2014, 20:05:51 »
For anyone who wants to try a saddle chair, this thing is a reasonably cheap introduction at $179, and can be used with whatever random regular chair:

http://www.humantool.fi/english/toiminta.shtml
http://www.ergodepot.com/HumanTool_Balance_Seat_p/ht-balance.htm

I’d recommend anyone near SF try going to Ergodepot (or there are probably similar stores in other big cities), and testing a variety of chairs.
« Last Edit: Sat, 22 February 2014, 20:07:25 by jacobolus »

Offline luis911

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Re: ballin' on a budget office chair
« Reply #9 on: Sun, 23 February 2014, 10:57:41 »
Not sure how comfortable the seat rest is without a cushion but this also looks like a decent deal:

http://www.staples.com/Staples-Hyken-Technical-Mesh-Task-Chair-Black/product_990119?cmArea=home_box1

I've used mesh chairs for long periods. Comfort wise, don't worry. Cost wise is the problem. Without a cushion and hard support below, mesh seating wears out in a few years - often in less than 2 years the support is gone and you will need to replace the mesh seating which is often over 1/2 the price of the original chair.

So factor in your total costs when making decisions.

Not if you get a new Herman Miller Aeron. Those chairs are tanks (sitting in one), and the company offers a 12 year warranty that they actually stand by. But of course it costs ~$800. Way over OP's budget.
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Offline berserkfan

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Re: ballin' on a budget office chair
« Reply #10 on: Sun, 23 February 2014, 21:37:44 »
Herman Miller is another of these POS companies that bully little third world nations like mine.

It's $2500 here, about USD$2k. Yup, $1200 to fly it over via FedEx from the USA. Lots of local Herman Miller fans buy in the US, then have the chairs shipped over. There's generally little fear that you actually need to use the warranty, but if you do, the shipping will kill everything.

These guys offered to set up a 'sitting test' (where I sit in several chairs for a few hours each) but there was no way I am going to pay them this much.
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Offline digi

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Re: ballin' on a budget office chair
« Reply #11 on: Mon, 03 March 2014, 19:26:07 »
I settled on the chair I originally posted. Just got done putting it together, I'm very happy with it. The only minor issue I have with it is that the armrests are a little more forward than I wish but for the price, it's great.

Offline Novus

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Re: ballin' on a budget office chair
« Reply #12 on: Thu, 13 March 2014, 19:52:42 »
Those chairs look nice.
I'm going to save them into a list.
I'm going to get a new chair in 1-2 months.

What do you guys think about this?
http://www.amazon.com/VIVA-OFFICE%C2%AE-Ergonomic-Multifunction-Adjustable/dp/B00DQKJIP4/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1394758865&sr=8-8&keywords=ergonomic+chair

Not sure if the headrest is necessary.
Looking for a nice chair with good back-support, easy to adjust tilt.
« Last Edit: Thu, 13 March 2014, 20:49:09 by the1onewolf »

Offline Dreamre

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Re: ballin' on a budget office chair
« Reply #13 on: Thu, 13 March 2014, 22:42:59 »

Offline Sniping

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Re: ballin' on a budget office chair
« Reply #14 on: Fri, 14 March 2014, 00:02:24 »
I found an Aeron on Craigslist for cheap recently so I would recommend that you do the same.

Offline blackbox

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Re: ballin' on a budget office chair
« Reply #15 on: Tue, 18 March 2014, 06:10:09 »
If you have an IKEA store in your country I can recommend this chair:

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00103102/
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Offline skcheng

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Re: ballin' on a budget office chair
« Reply #16 on: Tue, 25 March 2014, 23:26:53 »
Uhhh......welll, these are bit expensive (can be found for less) but really just about the best chair out there.   My surgical stools at the office cost 3x these and I'm not convinced that I wouldn't be better with one of these at the office as well. 

http://www.madisonseating.com/steelcase-leap-chair.html?gclid=CMCMuvWsr70CFeJF7AodYW4AmQ

I guess it's not exactly a budget rec, but I love these chairs enough where we use these in the kitchen as dining chairs as well.   

Before you mock at the price, just sit in one.    1000x better than an Aeron and I prefer it over the Humanscale as well.   

Why would I spend so much on chairs .......  cuz my back sucks, and any amount of money is worth avoiding chronic back pain.   

Offline EvillePanda

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Re: ballin' on a budget office chair
« Reply #17 on: Wed, 26 March 2014, 10:49:46 »
How can they afford to sell Steelcase for so low?  That's like half off.
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Offline MsYutai

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Re: ballin' on a budget office chair
« Reply #18 on: Wed, 26 March 2014, 11:03:34 »
If you have an IKEA store in your country I can recommend this chair:

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00103102/

Yeah I would also watch Craigslist as plenty of offices close and don't need their high end chairs.

I got my desk chair off CL, for like half price with a foot-rest. I think the chair is a HON? Something like this: http://www.hon.com/Products/Chairs/VL630.aspx
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Offline CPTBadAss

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Re: ballin' on a budget office chair
« Reply #19 on: Wed, 26 March 2014, 11:56:48 »
The Hon chairs are *ok*. I prefer the Steelcase chairs in the office over those Hon chairs.

Offline ajunakey

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Re: ballin' on a budget office chair
« Reply #20 on: Sat, 05 April 2014, 16:32:01 »
If you have an IKEA store in your country I can recommend this chair:

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00103102/

Yeah I would also watch Craigslist as plenty of offices close and don't need their high end chairs.

I got my desk chair off CL, for like half price with a foot-rest. I think the chair is a HON? Something like this: http://www.hon.com/Products/Chairs/VL630.aspx

Agreed! CL is a great place to find used chairs. Got my Aeron from there :D

Offline EvillePanda

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Re: ballin' on a budget office chair
« Reply #21 on: Sat, 05 April 2014, 20:52:37 »
I found a Steelcase Leap for 200 and a Herman Miller Aeron for 500 at a local used furniture store.  Just gotta wait til I get paid.
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Offline ajunakey

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Re: ballin' on a budget office chair
« Reply #22 on: Sat, 05 April 2014, 21:29:47 »
I found a Steelcase Leap for 200 and a Herman Miller Aeron for 500 at a local used furniture store.  Just gotta wait til I get paid.

Whoa, great price on the Leap.

Offline noisyturtle

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Re: ballin' on a budget office chair
« Reply #23 on: Mon, 07 April 2014, 16:38:01 »
One of my greatest fears, rape by chair:





Offline blackbox

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Re: ballin' on a budget office chair
« Reply #24 on: Mon, 07 April 2014, 16:40:24 »
One of my greatest fears, rape by chair:

(Attachment Link)

(Attachment Link)

Well, that chair looks like it a bit unergonomic.
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Offline EvillePanda

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Re: ballin' on a budget office chair
« Reply #25 on: Tue, 08 April 2014, 16:39:12 »
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Offline karazi

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Re: ballin' on a budget office chair
« Reply #26 on: Sat, 12 April 2014, 01:19:10 »
How can they afford to sell Steelcase for so low?  That's like half off.

Chairs at Madison Seating are open-box, that's why.  Check reviews on google, buyer beware.

Offline EvillePanda

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Re: ballin' on a budget office chair
« Reply #27 on: Sat, 12 April 2014, 15:55:01 »
How can they afford to sell Steelcase for so low?  That's like half off.

Chairs at Madison Seating are open-box, that's why.  Check reviews on google, buyer beware.

Ah, well, that makes sense...
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Offline karazi

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Re: ballin' on a budget office chair
« Reply #28 on: Tue, 15 April 2014, 17:15:53 »
In October of 2012 I bought a Steelcase Leap in fabric for $379 directly from Steelcase's website using a coupon code.  I thought this was an annual sale but I haven't seen it since.  I would recommend setting up a deal alert on Slickdeals.net or some other deal site so if/when this comes up again, you will get an alert via email.  I love my Leap and it is in excellent condition having used it almost every day since I bought it.  I didn't get it with the headrest but I think it could be useful for those long computer sessions.

Offline ajunakey

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Re: ballin' on a budget office chair
« Reply #29 on: Wed, 16 April 2014, 22:24:27 »
In October of 2012 I bought a Steelcase Leap in fabric for $379 directly from Steelcase's website using a coupon code.  I thought this was an annual sale but I haven't seen it since.  I would recommend setting up a deal alert on Slickdeals.net or some other deal site so if/when this comes up again, you will get an alert via email.  I love my Leap and it is in excellent condition having used it almost every day since I bought it.  I didn't get it with the headrest but I think it could be useful for those long computer sessions.

That's a pretty insane price. Have any one these sales happened recently do you know?

Offline digi

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Re: ballin' on a budget office chair
« Reply #30 on: Wed, 16 April 2014, 22:27:54 »
FYI - I recently replaced my armrests on another computer chair, the originals were cracking. Slapped these bad boys on, very happy with them so far, super comfy:

http://chairarmpads.com/soft-memory-foam-chair-armrest-pads.html

Offline EvillePanda

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Re: ballin' on a budget office chair
« Reply #31 on: Thu, 17 April 2014, 09:06:20 »
The Human Solution is having a huge sale right now.  And I found a coupon for 25% off (save25) and one for an unspecified dollar amount off a chair (ergotron) for the site.  Not sure if they still work, but throwing it out there for anyone who's looking.
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Offline tufty

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Re: ballin' on a budget office chair
« Reply #32 on: Sun, 20 April 2014, 14:09:49 »
So, I've got a bad back (lateralised discopathy L1-L2 L2-L3 L4-L5), and after spending a week on my back with twice-daily valium injections, I'd decided to do something about my seating arrangements.  I was looking at a "posture chair", but they are hideously expensive, and so I was going to make one.

And then my physio gave me a bunch of exercises for the back, all of which revolve around one of those big gym balls.  So I decided to do my exercises whilst programming, and have found that one of those big gym balls, at 29 euros, is more comfortable than any chair, ergo or not, I've ever used.

the only downside is a tendency to get a sweaty arse.