Q: Why don't you keep your chairs in stock?

A: There are so many options / variations that it is unrealistic to keep stocks apart from basic versions of a few models. We would also need a huge warehouse and need to charge much higher prices! Our belief is that you should have your chairs in the fabric & finishes that you want rather than be restricted to a limited stock range. And with an average lead time of 4 weeks and sometimes as little as 2/3 weeks, it's not loo long to wait.

Q: Isn't a chair a chair a chair?

A: Lots of chairs do indeed look very similar but often the similarity ends there. Underneath they use inferior components, lack design intregrity and are purely meant to hit a price point. Indeed, many chair manufacturers are not really manufacturing anything at all but are simply component assemblers. The comparison of chairs with cars is a good one - they all have very different characters and you get what you pay for.

Q : What guarantees do you offer?

We offer full manufacturer guarantees which are typically 5 years for normal office use and 2 years for 24 hour use. The warranty covers the replacement of any part which fails during normal office use. It does not generally cover fabric wear. Sometimes we are able to offer an on-site repair service and at other times the chair will need to be returned to us. Please ask us at the time - we always try to keep any warranty charges to an absolute minimum.

Q: What is a rub test?

A rub test is the industry standard method for determining the durability of a particular fabric. The idea is to simulate the number of movements or rubs which the fabric would have to withstand in real use. This is done using a machine which is stopped while the fabric is still basically intact, resulting in a figure which for example might be "in excess of 70,000 rubs". It is interesting to note that some 100% wool fabrics actually have lower rub test ratings than synthetic fabrics, even though they are more expensive. This means that if durability is your main priority, a cheaper upholstery may be the best option.

Q : What is the difference between normal use & 24 hour use?

This is a very good question. The answer is not a simple 3 times as much, as we will see. Let's say that the average chair is used for 7 hours a day, 5 days a week, 48 weeks a year. That equals 1,680 man hours. The chair that is in 24 hour use however is in theory occupied 24/7/365, with weekends, holidays and even lunchbreaks being covered. This equates to 8,736 man hours or over 5 times the usage. This reflects in warranty periods which are usually 5 years for normal use and between 1 & 2 years for 24 hour use. We have seen chairs literally destroyed after only 18 months use!

Q: The upholstery on my chair is dirty - how can I clean it?

The first step in cleaning chair upholstery is to give it a good vacuum to remove any surface dirt. It is amazing how much difference this alone can make. (Ideally vacuuming should be done on a regular basis but is rarely part of an office maintenence program). If you have stains then it is best to start with just a clean damp cloth and wipe gently. If that doesn't work use a slightly wetter cloth, then move on to a light detergent (washing-up liquid) and only resort to a spirit-based product like turpentine if you think the stain may be oil-based. Basic stain rules apply : 1) Try not to make any in the first place & 2) If you do, try to get them out immediately!

Q: What should I do to look after my chair?

To be fair, this last one is not a frequently asked question - but it should be! We ask a lot from the humble office chair which is expected to perform faultlessly day in and day out. Many of them never see a vaccuum cleaner or a duster throughout their entire life, let alone an oil gun. Compare that with the care that is often lavished on the interior & mechanics of a car. And yet we jump up and down on our office chairs and swivel around in them relentlessly, 7 hours a day, 5 days a week, 48 weeks a year (allowing for lunchbreaks, weekends and holidays). Vacuuming of the upholstery should be done on a regular basis (say every 3 months) and a damp cloth used to clean the armrests, base and trim parts at the same time. Any loose parts (e.g. armrests, backrests) should be tightened if possible or investigated further if not. Prevention is better than cure and if you have any doubts about the safety of a chair, then take it out of service immediately. Any build-up of fluff, carpet fibres, stray hairs etc should be removed from the castors to make sure they turn and swivel freely. Finally any squeaks (e.g. castors, mechanisms) should be attended to with a hint of oil. Take care not to use too much - you don't want a clean chair and an oily carpet!