The Real Reason Why Office Chairs Are So Expensive

 

We spend almost eight hours a day in the same chair, and being uncomfortable for long periods of time can really tire you out. When you want to upgrade your office space, we always feel that one question keeps popping up in your mind: "Why are office chairs so expensive?". Today we will answer exactly that question.

Why are office chairs so expensive?

You're a smart guy: you know all these companies don't just invent a price for their chairs. There must be a logical reason for cheap and expensive office chairs to exist. Let's take a closer look at some of the main reasons.

Material

It sounds obvious, but different materials have different costs, as do the different qualities of those materials. Most chairs are made up of many parts, each with different material options. The different components are:

• Legs with/without wheels

• vehicle

• Fill

• Coverage

Each component has a variety of materials from which they can be made, often with different qualities and/or appearances.

For example, the chair frame can be made entirely of metal or partly of plastic. Also, the same leather chair will be more expensive than the fabric version because leather is a more expensive material. If you check out the Secret Lab chairs, both the Omega and Titan collections are available in fabric, polyurethane (PU) leather or nappa leather. Their prices reflect the different qualities and properties of the materials, with nappa leather being twice as expensive as PU leather.

A large part of the price difference between different materials is due to their quality and the properties they possess. Metal is stronger but heavier than plastic, faux leather is easier to clean than genuine leather, memory foam is more supportive than standard foam, and so on.

manufacturing

Not only what it's made of, but how it's made also affects the price of an office chair. When chair parts are made in one piece rather than parts that need to be assembled, this can drive up prices because special machines or processes are required to make them.

Imagine a wooden chair: Carving a chair from a tree requires more work than piecing together small pieces of wood. When you look at different chairs, it takes more effort to create a beautiful design element than a simple shape, which can increase the price.

For example, if we look at the office chairs that CB2 offers, those with one-piece seats, wheels, and height adjustment are more expensive than multi-piece static chairs.

technology

 

Sitting is definitely a science. Using an ergonomic office chair can make a real difference, and the technology costs money. Creating the correct seat shape, foam density and adjustable hydraulics requires research and development (often called R&D) to make sure everything works.

Companies like Herman Miller have a full line of high-performance seating and well-designed office chairs that offer a variety of functions and benefits. They combine this with their renowned design aesthetic to make their chairs some of the most expensive pieces of office furniture.

brand

It's not something people like to talk about, but sometimes you have to pay extra to get a brand name. Why? It boils down to the fact that brands with famous or long-standing names are generally more trustworthy and reliable. Another part is that a recognizable brand name or design can give the owner a specific look. In business, the right image of customers or employees is critical to success. Choosing the right chair brand for your office can be unwittingly sending a message of your reliability and success, as well as reassuring your employees that you are competent.

shipping

 

Office chairs can be heavy. Even stuff that's mostly covered in plastic and fabric can be heavy, and it gets even heavier when you start replacing plastic and fabric with metal and leather. Other than that, the chair is a bulky item, and you already have a rather large shipping case in front of you. But shipping the chair to you doesn't just cost a fortune. Shipping the chair to the warehouse where it is stored and then shipping to you can add up.

Sometimes the parts of the chair aren't all made in the same factory, sometimes they are. Once the parts are complete, they either need to be assembled and shipped to you ready to use, or packaged ready for self-assembly.

One place that definitely doesn't have high shipping rates is Amazon, especially if you're a Prime member. The marketplace giant has simplified its logistics into a science, saving a lot of money and passing it on to consumers. If you browse the different brands of office chairs they carry, you can easily compare materials, manufactures, and brand names.

bottom line

Now that we've looked at several reasons why office chairs are expensive, and a few different companies, you should feel confident choosing the right office chair for your needs. "How much does an office chair cost?" The question should be off your mind, and you can focus on asking the right questions now. When looking at different office chairs, it can be helpful to consider the following questions:

• What materials do you want?

• What style are you looking for?

• What functionality or technology do you need?

• Does the brand name matter?

• What is your budget?

Once you know the answers to these questions, you should be able to easily find the chair of your dreams. As we said at the beginning, we sit in the same chair almost all day. If you consider a cost-of-use scenario (divide the price by hours or days of use), you may realize that what at first looks expensive is actually an investment in convenience.