Customer Reviews

Aeron Chair by Herman Miller - Official Retailer - Basic - Graphite Frame - Nickel Classic Size C (Large)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I'm a little late posting this review (item purchased about seven months ago), but I wanted to use the chair for a good while before posting a review.

There are three sizes of this chair, each purportedly designed for people of different heights. I bought the large, even though I am 5'7" (I like a deep seat). I tried the smaller sizes in a retail location and found the seat back of the medium version slightly too shallow for me, and the small version very shallow. This is something you really need to "test drive" before purchasing.

I was having back problems (I spend many hours daily in front of the PC); I was using an old-fashioned wooden swivel desk chair (originally purchased from Pottery Barn, and passed on to me) after my desk chair broke. Progressively, my back got worse and worse. So, I deemed it was time to get a new chair.

Most of the chairs I examined at Staples, Office Depot, etc. were either uncomfortable or cheap (e.g.: cushioned with low density foam which I knew wouldn't last), so when I discovered the Herman Miller Aeron Chair, which I found to be very comfortable, and was convinced of its quality construction, I was willing to part with the $577.15 (sale price at the time) in order to have a comfortable chair with a 12 year warranty.

I love this chair. After a week or so of using it, my back pains disappeared. So long as the chair either lasts the 12 year minimum (warranty period) which I expect of it, or, should it need repair, is repaired by Herman Miller, I will be satisfied with the product and its price. As I see it, ~$50/year for a comfortable, high quality chair is worth it (my back says so, anyway).

Herman Miller does seem to have a good reputation for standing behind their product (i.e., honoring their warranty), based on the numerous reviews I've read about it on the 'net, so I'm unconcerned about this.

As for the chair itself, I bought the Basic version (non-adjustable arms, no lumbar support, and no forward tilt) and I don't miss these features at all. But, as I said, this is something you really need to test drive - you may find these features useful or an aid to comfort.

I didn't go into much detail regarding the physical construction of the chair, because, as I said, you really need to check it out for yourself in person before purchase. Suffice it to say that it's high quality and I'll be very surprised if it doesn't last a long time.

One last thing: your mileage may vary, but it took me a day or three to get used to the feel of the mesh seat. But, subsequently, it feels great and natural.

I didn't realize this chair was non-adjustable. It has seat height and tension, nothing more. This is my own fault, it is clearly stated in the product description, but I didn't think to look because frankly I didn't know H-M even MADE such a stripped down chair. I'm tall so the arms were in a completely unusable position for me.

On the other hand, if you're not mechanically helpless, you *can* move the arms and lock them into the slot you want. You will need a T25 Torx (the six-pointed star shape) screwdriver to take off the arms. If you remove the back piece (mine was shipped with the back already off) you can see the bolt holding the arms on. Remove the bolt, pull the cosmetic plastic strip out of the arm groove, and screw the bolt back in the arm piece at the desired height. It took me about 10 minutes and the chair now fits me perfectly.

So if you bought this chair without realizing the arms aren't adjustable, don't despair!

I had used one of these chairs in the past but finally I purchased one for my home office. Best office chair I have ever used/owned. And Amazon price was best I could find anywhere!

The chair is very comfortable. I did not purchase the upgrade lumbar support and it fits well without that. Also, I am average size so I did not need to adjust the arms, etc. I am very satisfied with the product.

You will use the warranty. The one I'm sitting in is about ten years old, and it has had to be repaired twice under the 12 year warranty. Fortunately, I live in Los Angeles, where there is an authorized dealer. I called, and the repair guy comes out after the parts have arrived. Before you buy, be sure there's an authorized repair facility in your area.

Update: About to have its third repair under warranty.

I want to clear up exactly what is included with this chair.
MOST IMPORTANT _ You get a tilt - but not a tilt lock. However you can reach up inside the bottom of the chair and flip a tilt lock gear to make the chair lock.
I've been looking for the switch gear and spring on ebay so I can install it myself... for about a week now with no success - but you can lock the chair; however a switch is not included to do so.
I can't stress this enough. Your $600 chair will always lean back. You cannot prevent it from doing so. There is no tilt lock. Hilarious and sad at the same time.

You get arms - but they are not adjustable - unless you use a wrench to detach and reattach in the desired position.
You get the basic raise/lower

No lumbar
No forward tilt
No tilt lock
No adjustable arms

Hope this helps future buyers. I think the chair is great but I was shocked that there was no tilt lock.

The Aeron is the first high dollar office chair I have ever purchased. Recently I have begun to work from home and in a remote part of the US and have been unable to go test chairs out in person. So I did extensive online research and looked at as many reviews about the best bang for the buck office chairs and the Herman Miller Aeron was by far at the top of the heap according to those reviews. Other notes I am 6'4" and 265lbs, have had lower back problems in the past, and work approx 10-12 hours per day in the office. With this criterion my needs are definitely custom to most office chair users. There is many Big and Tall Chairs out there to review. Most of these are for the combination of big and tall not just tall. The Aeron has a size chart that puts my height and weight into the C type chair and advertises two different lumbar options. One is stationary and the other adjustable. I chose the adjustable lumbar with my order. Once I received the chair I put it together. The chair is very simple to install only taking 10-15 mins. The chair is good looking as well. I then went through the instruction guide and adjusted the settings to my liking and begun to use the chair immediately. I have to say that I am very disappointed in the chair. The height of the back is not quite what I was expecting and when I lean back the chair top is at the middle of my shoulder blades. It is not very comfortable there and I will honestly say that I did not take a good look at the specs for the back height. All the reviews I perused were all positive on the mesh seat and back. This will be my first experience with a mesh back and seat and it was not a good one. With the mesh back is its locked and upright position it allows for my mid and upper back to sink in to the point of which there is no support at all for any part of my back except for the lumbar I ordered as an option. The mesh seat has a multitude of concerns for me. 1st of all it has no traction. This means it allows for my butt and thighs to slide forward ever so slightly every few minutes depending on how much motion I have in my normal daily tasks. 2nd the mesh seat drops all my bottom weight into the middle of the seat and strains the tailbone in a way that I have not experienced before. I feel after a few hours of sitting like I was sitting on a bench or in bleacher seating. The back and front of the seat is hard plastic, so as I put my butt back as far as I can in the seat for proper ergonomic posture I can feel the back of the plastic part of the seat under my butt and under my thighs as well. This brings me to the next point of concern. This seat is not made for anyone over 6 feet. The seat is too short for my long thighs. The seat does not come under my legs enough to support my thighs which in turn makes my posture less desired. As you can probably tell from my review I am constantly having to move and adjust and occasionally stand and walk around for a few minutes every hour or so for posture relief. I am not sure about someone of a little less weight and height but this chair was not for me and now I am on the hunt for another chair hopefully at a comparable or less price. Because to be honest the price of the chair for me was very expensive, considering it having so many drawbacks.

Buyer beware: This chair is ONLY adjustable for height (up/down). I have been researching an adjustable ergonomic office chair for several weeks and came across many glowing reviews of the Herman Miller line. Unfortunately, however, I purchased this model which does not have lumbar support, tilt adjustment, or other options available on many other models. I will be returning this chair. Look carefully at the item details and make sure you buy a chair that fits all of your needs, especially given the costs of the Herman Miller chairs.

It's my own fault, but I didn't catch in the fine print, this is a stripped down model of the Aeron chair, though it is selling for the price of the 'normal' full featured model.

I cannot do anything to fix this now, but I'm stuck with a chair with no features of the real Aeron at all and paid through the teeth for what would have been the fully featured version from almost any other source.

Lesson learned in my haste.

This model only has two adjustments, up/down and tension on the spring, it is utter garbage. There are Chinese knockoffs for 1/4 the price that will be more comfortable than this one.

I was simply unaware they even sold a model of "Aeron" with no features at all. I'm a very tall guy and this model with the arms set for a 5'1" person is utterly useless. This chair has less lumbar support than some of the cheap Costco chairs I have around here, the adjustable lumbar evidently is somehow an 'option' .

Yes, my fault, but don't buy this chair, priced as the 'real' Aeron and expect it, just a warning.