Posts Tagged ‘panasonic massage chairs’

Massage Chair Warranties – Who Covers What?

Wednesday, June 15th, 2011

This is a frequent question for us at www.massage-chair-relief.com, so here is a brief overview of the warranties from the major massage chair manufacturers:

1. Human Touch Massage Chairs

Here is a chart that Human Touch uses on their website that explains the warranties very well for their chairs:

Standard Consumer Product Warranty 2011
In-Home Service Parts Structural
Elite Series 1 year 3 years 5 years
Signature Series 1 year 2 years 3 years
iJoy / Casual Series 90 days 1 year 2 years
Perfect Chair Recliners 1 year 2 years 3 years

The Elite Series includes the HT-9500 and the HT-7450. You can purchase a 5 year extended, in-home service and parts warranty for $369.

The Signature Series includes the HT-3300, HT-5320, HT-5040, and HT-7120. You can purchase a 2 year extended, in-home service and parts warranty for $199 and a 5 year extended, in-home service and parts warranty for $369.

The iJoy/Casual Series includes only the iJoy HT-2580 on our website. You can purchase a 2 year extended, in-home service and partswarranty for only $99.

The Perfect Chairs offer a 2 year extended, in-home service and parts warranty for $159 and $179 for a manual and power chair, respectively. There is also a 5 year extended, in-home service and parts warranty available for $279 and $299 for a manual and power chair, respectively.

You can purchase all of Human Touch’s extended warranties at www.massage-chair-relief.com.

2. Inada Massage Chairs

Inada offers industry best 3 year comprehensive, on-site warranty on all their massage chairs, including the new Yume massage chair. An extended 5 year on-site warranty can purchased for $449. We include that warranty on the Inada Sogno. It should be mentioned that, as with all warranties, there are some logical exceptions to the comprehensive, full warranties, and Inada lists theirs as follows (this applies to most manufacturer warranties as well):

EXCLUSIONS - This Limited Warranty does not include service needed on Equipment as a result of any of the following: (1) Installation, set-up, moving, or relocation from the originally installed location; (2) Cosmetic changes, tears, or failure of fabrics, woods, foam, pads, plastics, upholsteries, exterior coverings, and damages and changes resulting from normal wear and tear; (3) Negligence, misuse, abuse, improper maintenance, electrical disturbances and power surges, acts of nature, or work, attachments, additions, alterations, or modifications by persons other than authorized Administrator service providers. (4) Failure by the Customer to use a high-quality surge protector during the entire Service Period; (5) Improper operating environment; (6) Any problem not involving a defect; (7) Damage or malfunction whatsoever caused by an animal or pet; (8) Damage or malfunction whatsoever caused by liquids of any kind; (9) Rental, business, commercial, institutional or other non-residential use; (10) Unnecessary service calls. If no problem is found upon diagnosis by us or any other third party, you may be charged our standard rate for service calls, shipping costs, and parts; (11) Dropped product or components (including remote controls); and (12) Use of any item with the Equipment if the item is not designated for use with the Equipment. Floor models that have been on display for more than nine (9) months are not covered under any provisions of this Limited Warranty.

3. Panasonic Massage Chairs

Panasonic offers a 1 year parts and labor in-home warranty on all their new chairs. They also have a 3 year limited warranty, which covers the “motor block” and mechanics parts, but not labor. You can get an extended warranty from Panasonic after your purchase and the chair is in your home. A card comes with the chair that offers the extended warranties, but you must purchase them directly from Panasonic. A 1 year extension on the parts and labor in-home warranty costs $199, while a 2 year extension costs $299.

4. Sanyo Massage Chairs

Sanyo explains their massage chair warranty as follows: “SANYO massage chairs are covered under a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty which includes in-home service. The roller mechanism is covered for three years from date of purchase.” The first year, like Panasonic, Human Touch, and Omega, is covered fully and comprehensively for 1 year. The next two years are limited in that the warranty only covers the roller mechanism and that coverage is for parts only…not service. Oddly enough, Sanyo claims that they do not offer any extended warranty at all, which is very interesting.

5. Omega Massage Chairs

Omega’s warranty varies according to the chair model, ala Human Touch. Here is the breakdown:

Aires/M-2 Orion:
6 months parts*
1 year frame

Serenity/Skyline:
90 days in-home service (parts and labor)
2 years parts*
3 years frame

Montage Elite/Premier:
90 days in-home service (parts and labor)
3 years parts*
5 years frame

*motors, solid state controls, electrical or mechanical parts and assemblies or leg rest mechanisms (collectively the “parts”)

So, there you have it…a breakdown of the warranties for the major massage chair manufacturers. Hope this helps!

Dr. Alan Weidner
www.massage-chair-relief.com

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Inada i2a/Inada i1 Massage Chairs vs. Panasonic 30005

Tuesday, June 7th, 2011

I received an email from a massage chair shopper last night asking for the differences between the Panasonic 30005 massage chair and the Inada i2A massage chair. The Inada i2A has been discontinued, but the i1 is available in it’s place. The difference between those two Inada models is that the i2A has the wooden panels on the side and arm vibration, whereas the i1 does not have those features. Below is the question from the shopper and my email response to him:

Hi, I am looking to purchase a massage chair for my father. He has calf and back pain due to standing for most of his work hours. 2 of my current top choices are Inada i2a and Panasonic EP30005. I haven’t try these 2 chair; however, I am leaning more toward the i2a due to Inada’s history and reliability. What holding me back from placing the order is the i2a does not have the color i want (black) and it is already a discontinued item since 4/1/11. Please provide more information regarding which chair will better suit for my father (5’11″). If there is (or will be soon) any reliable good chair around the price range, please also share the information with me. Thanks.

My response:

Hello!

Thank you for your inquiry.
I called Inada and they have only beige and chocolate in the i2A. Are you aware of the i1 chair by Inada? It is the same chair, minus the wooden side panels and arm vibration. It’s cost is $50 less than the i2A and also is available in black.

Now, comparing the i2A/i1 with the Panasonic 30005:

1. Panasonic chairs have foot massage, the Inada models do not.
2. Panasonic model is ideal for 5’10″ and shorter. 5’11″ may be pushing it as far as comfort goes for your father. If your dad has long legs, then the chair may fit him a bit small.
3. Inada has air bags in the seat, Panasonic does not.
4. Panasonic has air bag massage under the arm rests, whereas the i2A has arm vibration and the i1 does not have either.
5. Panasonic has an intensity adjustment for the rollers; the Inada i2A does not…it has one default setting, albeit comfortable.
6. Both chairs are manufactured in Japan.
7. Inada has a 3 year comprehensive, on-site warranty on all their chairs; Panasonic has a 1 year comprehensive, on-site warranty on all their chairs.
8. Both have great reputations for reliability and functionality…they are both very durable chairs with very low breakdown incidences.
9. One feels more like sitting in a bucket seat with the Inada, whereas the Panasonic chair has a more formal chair-like feel, if that makes sense. The Inada chair is a more snug fit when you sit in it.

That is about it, as far as I can recall. If I think of something else, I’ll let you know. Feel free to email me again or call me at 801-651-2026 if you’d like to discuss these chairs further.

Dr. Alan Weidner
www.massage-chair-relief.com

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More Info on the New Panasonic MA70 Massage Chair!

Friday, May 20th, 2011

I have been getting a number of calls about this massage chair for a couple of months now and I finally got the go ahead to be one of the few online retailers for this new Panasonic MA70 massage chair. It is a very hard to get chair with a very limited number of them in circulation here in the USA. I received a pdf brochure from Panasonic yesterday and wanted to share it with you right away. It is attached to this blog post for your enjoyment and learning.  I will have my webguy put up some of the images from that brochure on our site so that everyone can check it out.

Some of the features of this chair which I find very interesting and for which I am excited to try out in person include:

1. I really like the idea of thermal massage heads. Massage chairs that feature “heat” typically have a heating pad within the massage chair section that offers heat, i.e. back, butt, and/or legs/feet. What the Panasonic MA70 has is massage roller heads that incorporate a ceramic heating mechanism. It is reminiscent of the jade roller heads in the Ceragem roller tables, which I really used to like (although I didn’t enjoy the roughness of the rollers in those tables).

2. Human Touch has had rotating ottomans for years, and for the aesthetically sensitive folks who don’t want their massage chair to look quite so “therapeutic”, the rotating ottoman feature is a nice touch. To allow for ottoman rotation, Human Touch has not incorporated foot massage, but only calf massage, because I assume it was too difficult to rotate an ottoman that had the bulky foot massager component sticking out. Well, Panasonic has figured out a way to rotate the whole mechanism, foot and calf massagers included. I like that feature.

3. I like the 7.2″ extending ottoman feature too. The major drawback on the Panasonic 30000 series has been that the chair is designed ideally for folks 5’10″ and less. For people that are over that height, particularly over 6′, the chair feels a little too much like sitting in a small sports car with your knees up too high. Well, hopefully the 7.2″ extension deals with that issue (of course, now with the rotating ottoman, I suppose that people who are still too tall for the this chair can rotate the ottoman under and lay their legs on the flat surface of the ottoman underside, giving the taller person the ability to stretch out their legs…they just won’t get a leg and foot massage in this scenario).

4. Lateral shoulder airbags – now their are airbags at the side of the shoulders that massage the outside of the upper arm and shoulder. The 30007 just had airbags that pushed the shoulders forward…never could figure out the biomechanics in that feature (sorry…that’s the chiropractor in me trying to make sense of an airbag feature that probably didn’t need to be there). But, now with the MA70 it looks like there are airbags laterally that inflate and “massage” the outside of the upper arms and shoulders. Not the best, but better than what they had in the Panasonic 30007 massage chair.

5. Sliding arm rests when you recline. Now, there’s a good idea! The other Panasonic models with arm massage had a little problem when you reclined the chair all the way back…the arm rests didn’t move back with you. So, by the time the chair was reclined all the way, only your hands could fit in the arm rest massager. Now, with the new MA70, it looks like the arm rests recline with the upper body so that you can still get a full arm massage when you are fully reclined.

That’s about it so far, based on what I read and see in the brochure. Panasonic has never been terribly big on buttock massage. It looks like this one has extensive thigh and buttock airbag massage. They are also touting 3D massage in the brochure. So far as I know, Inada is the only other company to boast a 3D massage feature. I’ll be interested to see if it is a true 3D massage. Once we have the chair in our showroom, I can give a more thorough review. I think I will like this chair. It seems to address a few things that were lacking in previous Panasonic models. Price point is high at $6999, same price as the Inada Sogno. I won’t know if it is comparable until I try it out myself. It seems as though the typical 1 year comprehensive warranty will be applied to this chair. Panasonic’s are known for durability and toughness. I have no doubt that the MA70 will the much the same and last for years and years.

Hope this helps. For more information, check out http://www.massage-chair-relief.com/panasonic_ma70_massage_chair.html

Dr. Alan Weidner
www.massage-chair-relief.com

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Panasonic 30005 vs. 30007 Massage Chairs

Tuesday, January 4th, 2011

A common question we get from massage chair shoppers is the difference between the Panasonic 30005 and 30006 and 30007 massage chairs. I have previously written in this blog about the differences between the 30006 and 30007, which are relatively minor differences, i.e 30006 is made in China and has faux leather on arm rests, 30007 is made in Japan with wood on arm rests (http://www.massage-chair-relief.com/blog/chair-models/panasonic-30006-vs-panasonic-30007-massage-chairs/).

But, the differences between the 30005 and 30007 are a little more pronounced. I figured this would be a great forum to share those differences with you. The Panasonic 30000 series of chairs is their upper-echelon family of massage chairs. The are the most feature rich and more expensive of the Panasonic massage chairs army. I have been told that the Panasonic 30005 massage chair was made in conjunction with Premier Health Products. I think that they, and their family of websites, along with Panasonic’s own website, are the only retailers of the 30005 model. Here are the major differences between the two:

1. Total square inch coverage by the 30007 is 460 sq.  inches; coverage by the 30005 is only 296 sq. inches (other than the Inada Sogno massage chair, the 30007 has the most sq. inch coverage of any other of the major massage chair models – the Sogno covers over 1200 sq. inches, FYI),

2. 22 airbags in the 30005, compared to 36 airbags in the 30007,

3. Waist air massage and outer arm massage are available only in the Panasonic 30007 massage chair model. The outer arm massage is really a rear airbag shoulder massage that pushes the shoulders forward from behind,

4. The 30005 model has an “Ultra Deep Massage” feature that is not available on the 30007 model,

5. It seems as though the massage roller width is fixed on the 30005 and is adjustable on the 30007 (can be adjusted between 2″ and 8.3″),

6. Suggested retail price is $5999 on the 30007 and $4499 on the 30005. But, I can tell you that you can get the 30007 for around $4000 and I’ve seen the 3005 for around $3800.

Hope that assists you Panasonic massage chair shoppers.

Dr. Alan Weidner
www.massage-chair-relief.com

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Which Massage Chair is Most Intense?

Thursday, March 25th, 2010

We get this question ALOT at our showroom and over the phone when folks inquire about a massage chair.

I want to start by saying intensity is very subjective.  A chair that I may feel is very intense, another person may not feel is intense enough.  So, what I will share with you in this blog post is what my experience has been and the feedback that I have gotten from many customers.

Panasonic massage chairs have been known to offer a bit more of an aggressive massage overall compared to others.  They have Junetsu rollers that really get into the musculature and can be quite intense.  However, saying that, I have put some people on that chair fearing that it will overpower them and they have loved it, so again, who is to say!

Human Touch massage chairs are much the same way. I, personally, think that they are quite intense, generally speaking, but some folks who claim to be very delicate, sit in a Human Touch chair and find it “just right.”It is so hard to say. A lot of the nicer chairs have an intensity adjustment, just in case the chair is too intense for one person in the family or too light for another family member.

The other point that I would like to bring up about intensity is that the chair will be perceived to be more intense if it happens to roll over or work some areas on a person’s back that is already very tight, in spasm, or have trigger points throughout.  These are conditions that are most likely already firing pain signals but then with the added pressure from the massage seem to bring more awareness to the person.  This doesn’t necessarily mean that that chair in particular is not right for you; it just means that the chair is actually working out the areas that deserved to be worked the most, to decrease that sensitivity.    Hope this helps when it comes to deciding what chair is best for you!

Dr. Alan Weidner
www.massage-chair-relief.com

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Changes at Panasonic…Thank Goodness!! (I hope)

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

I just saw a press release announcing a new head of the Home and  Health Company at Panasonic. This division of Panasonic includes the massage chair division. A fellow named Dan Silver is moving up from the Home Appliances Group to head the Home and Health Company.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dan-silver-to-head-panasonic-home–health-company-as-president-82784402.html

You may ask why I say “Thank Goodness” and why I say “I hope!”. Well here are my reasons:

1. Panasonic is notorious for pricing their “new” models high and then letting retailers butcher the pricing to where their is little to no profit margin. Why is this a concern? Let me explain…

When we carry a new model for Panasonic, we are told that we have to charge the Minimum Advertised Price (MAP) or else we can’t carry the model. So, we price it accordingly. For example, when the new Panasonic 30007 massage chair came out we were told that we had to charge $5999 for this massage chair. Obediently, we charged that amount (Panasonic still charges that amount on their website). Well, before long I get calls from folks around the country telling me that they can get the 30007 on another website for $5499…then, a little later, $4999…then, $4499, then $3999, etc. As a matter of fact, now you can get this $5999 massage chair for about $3300 – 3400!! It is laughable. It cheapens the image of the chair, it makes retailers who are obediently charging the MAP look like money-grubbing idiots, and it builds distrust in the mind of the consumer. They wonder, “What is wrong with this chair that it keeps dropping in price?”. I just tell them that Panasonic is terrible at price-integrity and, eventually, they will discontinue such-and-such model, and come out with some new super-duper chair that will be priced high and then butchered again. I have seen this happen already to the Panasonic 30003 and 30004, which were just introduced 2 years ago! They are already discontinued. Unbelievable. It won’t be long before the 30007, the top of the line Panasonic massage chair, is discontinued. Then I will get the same old questions, like “What is wrong with this chair?”, “Will I be able to get parts for this model now that it is discontinued?”, etc.

Needless to say, I have dropped my price and I STILL honor our 110% low price match on even these low priced chairs (I have actually LOST money on some of these price matches!). Inada and Human Touch have had many of their models around for years and their prices remain consistent. Hhhhmmmm…I wonder if there is a correlation between price integrity and longevity of a product in the market.

2. I had a very disturbing experience with a customer of mine, named Lou. Lou is a wonderful client who was great to work with every step of the way. Well, she ordered a Panasonic 30007. It was delivered on time, as promised. When she opened up her box and pulled out her new massage chair (which was a Christmas gift, by the way), she noticed that it was warped when she first sat on it. It didn’t sit level on her floor. The box it was delivered in was in perfect condition…no holes, no dented sides, no sign of abuse by the shippers. When she called Panasonic customer support they told her it was not their problem. She called me about this issue. I called my Panasonic rep. He provided two companies in her state who dealt with Panasonic warranty work. Lou called them both…only one would help her. They came out and, after working on the chair for awhile, determined that it could not be fixed. She would have to call Panasonic back.

So, Lou called Panasonic back and they said that there was nothing they could do about it. After some complaining and pleading, Panasonic agreed to replace her chair but that SHE had to ship it back…at her expense or at my expense!! Neither of us could believe it. Again, I called my Panasonic rep and told him what Panasonic was suggesting. He said he was aware of this situation and, when I said that it was ludicrous that myself or the client should be held responsible for the return shipping, he simply said, and these are his words, “They (Panasonic) just don’t care!” Unbelievable. Here is a chair that my customer ordered from me, that I ordered through Panasonic, and that Panasonic delivered. Yet, with a structural problem that neither of us had anything to do with, Panasonic would not replace their chair with a new one AT THEIR EXPENSE. Every single other massage chair manufacturer who I represent on my website would have changed out that chair in an instant, without a murmur of complaint or resistance. That is why I carry their chairs…because I love their customer service. This incident of customer service by Panasonic was atrocious. I shudder to think how many other innocent customers have gone through a similar experience.By the way, Lou is now thinking about exchanging her Panasonic for an Inada or Human Touch massage chair.

Don’t get me wrong…I love the chairs; I just can’t stand for customer service like this.

I sure “hope” Mr. Dan Silver can make a change for the better for his retailers and his product consumers!

Dr. Alan Weidner
www.massage-chair-relief.com

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Panasonic 30006 vs. Panasonic 30007 Massage Chairs

Tuesday, May 5th, 2009

We get calls all the time asking about the difference between the Panasonic 30006 and 30007 massage chair models. They both come from the same 30000 series that Panasonic began a year or so ago withPanasonic 30007 massage chair the 30003. The design is the same, but there are a few subtle differences amongst all the 30000 series chairs…mostly with the number or airbags. Now, the differences between the 30006 and 30007 are as follows:

1.  same number of airbags; same appearance.

2. price difference. We sell the 30007 at $4499 and the 30006 at $3400. We do not have the 30006 on our website, but we do sell it.

3. the 30007 massage chair has wooden armrests; the 30006 has the faux leather material armrests.

4. the 30006 is manufactured in China; the 30007 is manufactured in Japan.

So, basically, what I am telling you is that the two models are pretty much exactly the same except for the material on the armrests and the fact that one is manufactured in China and one in Japan. Of course, there is a price difference. Some folks really appreciate the Japanese quality and will pay extra for it.

I hope this helps!

Dr. Alan Weidner
President
www.massage-chair-relief.com

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What is the difference between the Panasonic 30000 Series Massage Chairs?

Monday, February 23rd, 2009

I get asked a lot about the difference between the Panasonic 30004, 30005, 30006, and 30007 massage chairs. After Panasonic 30007 massage chairtaking the time to learn of the differences, it really all boils down to 2 words…”air bags”. The main difference between all these chairs, besides the price, is the number of airbags that each model has. The  new, made-in-Japan 30007 massage chair has waist, hip, and shoulder air bags that the others don’t boast. Here is a chart from the Panasonic website, showing the differences between the 4 models:

Panasonic Massage Chair Comparison Chart

The basic massage mechanism, design, and look is essentially the same for all 4 models. You’ll notice that the 30007 has a wood accented arm rest and the little shoulder “wings” that massage the back of the shoulders (subscapularis muscle area). All models are made with synthetic leather. The 30007 is the only model made in Japan.

Well, there you go…if you are shopping for a new Panasonic 30000 series massage chair and are not sure which one to go with, I hope this helps in some way for you.

Dr. Alan Weidner
www.massage-chair-relief.com

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Green Screen in Massage Chair Relief Offices!

Monday, September 22nd, 2008

We are actually creating a green screen in our Massage Chair Relief offices. We will be recording a video clip of me to be put on the home page of the website in place of the the image of me that is there right now with the audio recording. I’ve never liked the quality of the audio recording and I really like the idea of a more interactive Dr. Weidner greeting my visitors. I have a neighbor that is a movie director and he is setting everything up for me. ( If you ever need some video work done, this guy is great and his prices are very reasonable. Contact me or visit him on his website if you have any inquiries. Here is his site: http://jerrycraven.blogspot.com)

On to massage chairs…

The Panasonic 30007 is now available for the public. The only problem is that we have not much info on it yet. Our Panasonic rep said that the first shipment came from Japan on Friday last week, but the data on the chair has not arrived yet. Panasonic doesn’t even have the chair up on it’s site yet!

This much we know…it is an even better chair than the 30006, which was Panasonic’s previous top model.  This chair is made in Japan, not China, and the manufacturer’s suggested retail price is $5999. Call our office for special pricing, since the chair is not up on our website just yet. The Panasonic 30007 massage chair also only comes in black at this time.

The moment I have any info on this chair, we will pass it on to you.

Remember…until the end of this month, I am offering 2-for-1 massage chairs. If you buy an HT-1650 massage chair you get your choice of an iJoy 130, 300, or HT-2720 massage chair absolutely, 100% free!

Have a super day!

Dr. Alan Weidner
www.massage-chair-relief.com

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