Office chairs!

[bolidemichael]

We're due to move offices and with that aim to ditch our farrago of mongrel chairs and get some homogeneous but quality chairs.

I don't want to spend Herman Miller Aeron levels on eight chairs but would consider <c.£500ish on each, so long as they're durable and parts can be replaced. Armrests are beneficial, in my view. I would be interested in your experiences.

Can anyone recommend a shop in London in which I can sample a variety and perhaps benefit from a 'bulk' purchase?

[Mr Pointy]

You can get a Herman Miller Aeron for less than £500.

[48k]

Refurbed Herman Miller Aeron Size B Fully Loaded mk2 with a 2 year warranty.
£460 inc vat if you select used wheels, or £468.99 with new wheels.

https://www.aeroninternational.co.uk/product-page/...

The B2B enquiries tab suggests discounts for purchases of more than 2.

[bolidemichael]

Thanks. Fully loaded means arm rests?

What's a size B reference? Presumably it's one that offices go for that can accommodate the widest range of both shapes?

ETA: I found a fitment guide

Edited by bolidemichael on Wednesday 5th October 07:04

[dontlookdown]

Secondhand office furniture warehouses will do you Aeron chairs for less than 500 quid each. You might get a discount for 8.

I got one from a guy in Clapham ( no longer there) a couple of years ago. It was in great nick - fully working with no marks bar a couple of tiny paint scatches on the legs. Still going strong now.

[bolidemichael]

I'd rather submit them as capital allowances to the HMRC and get the 130% super deduction, hence the appeal of 'new'. Having written that, I had better check whether there is an exclusion for refurbished items.

Additionally, trawling through the second hand stores is a commitment in itself and my preference is to have them delivered, fully working, carrying a parts guarantee and ready to go in the new office from the beginning of Nov.

[dontlookdown]

Also, you can view the chairs you are buying to check condition etc. Lots of them in London, just Google.

The big banks etc buy new gear every few years which provides a ready supply of lightly-used high end furniture for the second hand market.

[dontlookdown]

Fair enough as a tax proposition if they have to be new. But if you want to try before you buy an office warehouse is as good a place as any.

I had the same issue - regular retailers don't carry much stock these days so actually sitting in a few options is harder than it should be.

[bolidemichael]

I can appreciate the merits of your suggestion, having picked up a number of decent office desks a number of years ago from Clapham.

[bolidemichael]

Well, I visited Andrews Office Furniture in Old Street today and tried a few:

The Enjoy chairs and Ergohuman range

The Herman Miller Posturefit and [urlLumbar support|https://www.andrewsofficefurniture.com/second-hand-herman-miller-aeron-chair-graphite-mesh[/url]

Firstly, the headrests seem very intrusive, as does the lumbar support on the Ergohuman despite looking impressive. The Enjoy chair had an excellent range of adjustment but just wasn't comfortable and the Aeron was immediately superb -- of the two, my preference was for the posturefit.

Now to do research on these... I may have to forgo the 130% super deduction and go for refurbished items. Andrews do have used one, but they're a little scruffy, 'money for old rope' comes to mind.

[dontlookdown]

Yes I can't see why you would need head restraints on an office chair. It's elf n safety gorn mad;)

I seem to recall that Humanscale was the other brand I looked at and that was comfortable.

But if going refurbed or secondhand, Aeron's are much more widely available. That one on the Andrews website looks pretty much identical to mine.

[JimmyConwayNW]

I bought a secret lab gaming chair for my office after always buying costco ones and them lasting 6/12 months and looking scabby falling to pieces.

Secret lab ones have been great. Highly recommend.