If I got a dollar for every time someone called me looking for help with a problem with no-name massage chairs that they bought for a "great deal", I would be a wealthy man! So, I have decided to dedicate this article to the differences between the brand name massage chairs and the no-name models.
I consider brand name massage chairs those chairs built by reputable companies with a track record of sales and, even more importantly, a history of great customer support after the sale.
Because massage chairs are electronic gadgets, there are times when failures occur, be it a circuit board, an airbag, a mechanical roller, etc. When you spend so much money on a gadget like a massage chair, you'd like to believe that a great sounding warranty is going to have great warranty support. Well, that isn't not the case with no-name brands.
Many people import cheap Chinese knock-offs of popular massage chairs and sell them for considerably less money than their brand name counterparts. Saving money is great, but in the long run, it will just leave a lousy taste in your mouth. You know the old saying that, paraphrased, says the bitterness of a lousy product far outlasts the sweetness of a good deal. Nothing could be more true and applicable to massage chairs.
I'll go through the pro's and con's of going with a name brand and a no-name chairs.
No-Name Brand Massage Chairs
Pros:
1.Save money - generally less expensive products.
2.Great looking products.
3.Well, actually, that is it.
Cons:
1.Most likely the company that sold the chairs will not be in business beyond 6 months to a year.
2.Poor, if any, warranty support.
3.High failure rate.
4.Questionable parts availability.
5.Difficult to reach customer support (you usually have to leave a message or send an e-mail and hope for a response).
6.Silly warranty claims. I've heard of one reseller that was offering a 10 year full warranty. Boasting of a great warranty but having no warranty support is very poor form.
Brand Name Massage Chairs
Pros:
1.Great customer support. If you ever have a problem with your chair, their customer support will be ready and willing to assist.
2.Easy to reach customer and warranty support. Phone calls are usually answered when you call or live chat is available for immediate support.
3.Continuing improvement of their products. These companies put time and money into developing new products and improving existing products.
4.Good parts availability. The brand name companies have thousands of their chairs in the marketplace. They will definitely have parts available for your chair.
5.Customer reviews should be available on the web. With so many of their chairs out there, the chance to "read up" on their chairs and their service increased.
6.Should you need service after the warranty has expired, the name brand companies can hook you up with one of the technicians in their network that is in your geographic area.
Cons:
1.Cost. Brand name chairs will cost more for the same feature set. Many of the brand name chairs are made in Japan, which is typically more expensive and usually of better quality than knock-off chairs made in China.
2.Ummm....can't think of any more cons.
Well, that should just about convince you to stay away from the cheap, no-name massage chairs, unless of course you are a high risk taker and sure don't mind losing money. In that case, go for it!
Brand names include, but are not necessarily limited to, Inada, Human Touch, Sanyo, Panasonic, Osaki, Elite, OSIM, and Omega. Do your homework!! The internet is a vast resource to find out what the scoop is on massage chairs and their manufacturers. Find out how their customer support is. Even with the name brands chairs. And, when you buy from an online retailer, make sure you do some homework on that retailer too. Buy from someone reputable and with good roots in the business.
By: Dr. Alan Weidner
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