Aeron Chair - Posture Fit - Medium Size (B)

Comment: After going through a bout of physical therapy for my shoulder, my PT recommended the Aeron chair. After finding a retail outlet an hour drive away, spending $900 and waiting a month for it to arrive, I had my chair.

I couldn't wait to sit in it. The floor model seemed fine on my back so I was good to go, right?

Not exactly. I adjusted the chair according to the instructions and video and settled in. Truth be told, it wasn't exactly comfortable, but my shoulder felt great in it.

Then after about 30 min, my legs began to tingle and go slightly numb. I tried re-adjusting the chair although it was already adjusted correctly. Nothing helped and it began to get painful where the lump on the end dug into my thighs. Finally I had to get out of the chair as it had become very uncomfortable. What was worse was that the semi-numbness and weakness in my legs lasted for 3 days.

I knew I couldn't sit in it again and I called Herman Miller to see if they had any advice. They confirmed that I had adjusted the chair correctly and acknowledged that "some people do have that problem with the Aeron....everyone's body is different."

Now for the clincher; "we have a no return policy." Any advice? "Yes, you could try one of our other chairs!"

OK, so I just paid $900, waited a month, have weakened legs, the company acknowledges that their chair does that to some people, they won't take it back, and they want me to buy a different Herman Miller chair!

Fortunately, the store where I purchased it first offered a store credit and then after firmness on my part offered a full refund if none of the other Herman Miller chairs in the store were acceptable. One felt "sort" of OK, but after my experience with the Aeron and my desire to not get stuck with a chair that the manufacturer wouldn't stand behind I decided to pass.

Clearly this chair works for many people. Just make sure that you aren't one of the ones that it is problematic for...I now know that there are lots of those folks out there as well and Herman Miller won't care about your problem.

Comment: I ordered the herman miller posturefit model (with the butterfly pad near the wasteline). Recieved it two weeks ago. After sittig on it for two weeks, I have severe back ache now. Before buying, I tried it out in a local store (just a few minutes but not long enough) and felt very comfortable. Now, I feel very disappointed that I spent so much money only to hurt myself. I had a $150 chair which never gave me a back ache, though it wasn't very comfortable.

This posturefit model (I think it is their newer invention) doesn't suit as they are advertising. Now, I am trying to get that butterfly pad removed and a lumbar support installed on this which will cost me even more.

update 3/1/2010

I called the authorized dealer I bought it from. Their initial response was that it is a custom made chair and it cannot be returned or exchanged. This is the first time, I have been told that I can't even return a product which is causing me injury. Then I called the Herman Miller head office and complained. They said they will contact the dealer and they are supposed to help out with it. Dealer recommended removing the posturefit pad and insert a lumber pad they will charge $55 for the pad and charge $100 for labor. Later (probably after the Main office contacted them), they called me and said if take the chair to their dealership, they will just charge for the lumber pad ($55) and no service fee. They removed the posturefit pad (I think it costs around $100 thru web sites) and kept it. Then inserted a lumber pad (charged me $55). Lumber pad is easy to slide it it.

Its a lot better for my back now. But that lumbar pad also isn't comfortable, as my back touches ony the top edge of the lumber pad. And it is very hard also and somewhat painful. This pad is not designed properly for comfort or proper contour so that your back will rest evenly on it.

Anyway, for the amount of money I spent, and the kind of support I received from them, also, the fact that product is not exchangeable or returnable, and the comfort from using the chair, I feel that it was not worth the investment.

I would rather buy a chair locally, make sure that it is returnable if it is not comfortable or at least exchangeable after using it for a minimum one day.

It might work out well for a lot of people, as the body structure is different for each person.

3/12/2010

Also, ensure that you get the right size. I got a size A chair based on the recommendation by the salesperson at the store. When I sit, I feel like I am sitting at the edge of a chair with a narrow base. I should have had a size B.

The authorized dealer wouldn't let me even exchange it. I bought it from an authorized Herman miller dealership in Dallas (WorkPlace Resource, Carrollton, TX).

After buying something like this for a high price to help you with your back and posture, you realize that it makes the situation worse. To top it, you get an arrogant response from a dealership you purchased it from.

My recommendation is you should deal with a dealership who will let you at least exchange it if it is not working out for you or causes injury. This is true if you are buying it for home use or you are buying for your business.

Comment: A lot of people like this chair, but I've always found it to be highly uncomfortable. The back support (the plastic bar in in older versions) is hard and knife-like, or if removed, insufficient. There's a hard steel bar along the front edge of the seat that cuts off leg circulation unless you sit in a precise position. Our office has had them for years and many have broken down in some way or another, and you see a lot of folks sitting in rather unergonomic positions.

No chair is perfect for everyone. I recommend trying this or any other chair for a couple of weeks before purchasing.

Comment: I sat in this chair for nearly 10 hours a day for a year at my office. I thought, "wow, this is a fancy chair". I bought one for my home office as I work from home more often.

$850 is a lot of money for one chair. In my fifteen years of office work- there is no better office chair to sit in and relax without stress points and sweat on your back and legs.

Comment: For everyone asking for a headrest, email Herman Miller and tell them you need this option!

I have seen a headrest for the Aeron. It can be seen in the Movie "Stealth". In my opinion, it would not make any sense for a chair company to make several dummy Aeron headrests for a movie, as this would be wasted marketing attempt.

You can see this headrest clearly all throughout the movie when the military officers are remotely controlling the aircrafts from their ground computers.

I have also talked with several Aeron repair contractors which indicate they have gotten other headrests to fit the Aeron because they receive so many complaints of next pain and poor head support.

Thanks,
F.