This email and my response were so long that I decided to just include this one conversation in the Mail Bag this week. It is from a customer in Hawaii. The letters discuss the right chair based on a laundry list of requirements, but also addresses shipment to Hawaii, inquiries for which we get quite regularly.
Customer E-mail:
Aloha Dr. Weidner,
Thank you so much for your e-mails and your highly informative website and You-Tube videos. By all accounts (client testimonials in particular) you seem to be a man of impeccable integrity and honesty. A very refreshing way for a man of business to build and maintain a loyal clientele. Thank you for providing us with your valuable services.
My wife and I are looking for the perfect massage chair (I know, I know, if you only had a nickel for every time you’ve heard that). I’m hoping that you’ll provide us with some guidance as to which of your chairs you might recommend for us. Let me list some of the criteria we have in mind for a chair.
– First, this chair would be for relaxation. There are currently no health issues that we are expecting the chair to address.
– I’m 5′ 10″, my wife is 5′ 4″, our son is 6′ 3″. Adequate roller stroke length and auto-extension foot/calf ottoman are a factor.
– I like a deeper massage than my wife does so the intensity of the massage rollers needs to be adjustable, adjustable with a control on the remote that physically adjusts the roller position, not by simply adding or removing pads on the back of the chair. A wider spectrum of intensity settings would be optimal.
– 3D body scanning.
– Adjustable width rollers.
– I’m intrigued by the versatility of the 3D roller concept but welcome your advice if you think that 3D mechanisms can’t be adjusted to a more gentle massage for my wife. Or conversely, maybe 3D rollers offer a better/wider spectrum of intensity.
– We’re interested in the “reflexology” concept in the foot and calf massage. The foot massage unit would have to have a mechanical roller component that works in conjunction with airbag compression from the top/side of the foot. Intensity adjustment would be a valued feature.
– Zero gravity positioning.
– Special focus area capability. 1) Neck & shoulders 2) Lower back 3) Feet & calves.
– Neck & shoulder massage is particularly important to us. Not sure how best to describe what we’re looking for, but on a couple of chairs I’ve noticed that they describe a “Grasp/Closed Fist massage mode for neck & shoulders. We want something that will “grab, knead & pound” the neck/shoulder area. Airbag compression isn’t enough.
– Multiple massage styles, as you recommend in Part 1 of your “8 Things You Must Know ….. ” primer. Combination mode of massage styles would also be appreciated.
– A varied selection of built-in auto massage programs.
– Heat, particularly in the back and lumbar area, would be a desirable feature, but not a deal breaker.
– Memory capability to save repeated routine massage programs.
– A long, strong warranty and “ease of repair” is a definite must. Hawai’i is a long way from anywhere! It appears that you handle only the “best in the business” so that’s comforting. Your personal desire to address your client’s needs and insure that they’re completely happy with the chair they purchase (as evidenced in your videos and client testimonials) greatly enhances whatever it is that the manufacturer is offering.
– Our budget is between $3,000 – $5,500 (shipping and White Glove Service fees not included).
– Lastly, we live in Hawai’i. Do you deliver to Hawai’i? I understand that there would be a shipping charge to the islands. Do you offer White Glove Service with a chair shipped to Hawai’i?
Looking forward to your comments and recommendations.
Mahalo (thank you) for your time and the wonderful service you provide Dr. Weidner, priceless.
Marshall.
My Response:
Hi, Marshal
Thank you so much for your email and your kind words. Of course, it is almost impossible to find a chair that has all of the things you want, but here are some things for you to think about, based on what your criteria are:
- 3D roller technology is basically the same thing as roller intensity adjustment. So, for chairs that have 3D roller technology and that fit all of your sizes, here are some chairs to consider: Inada Dreamwave, Osaki OS-3D Pro Dreamer, Osaki OS-3D Pro Intelligent, Panasonic MA73, iRobotics 7, Apex Regent, and any of our Cozzia models.
- 3D body scanning is a marketing term, IMHO. It just means that the chair will scan the body to map it for a better fit during the massage. Most chairs have a form of body scanning. Inada has the most sophisticated scanning technology where the shape of the back is mapped out and matched to a database of over 130 body shapes…finding the one that most closely matches yours.
- Each of the chairs above have heat in the low back, except the Cozzia models.
- Of the chairs listed above, the only ones with foot rollers would be the 2 Osaki chairs and the iRobotics 7. All of them have foot and calf airbags, but only the Osakis and iRobotics 7 have the foot rollers. Those models and the Cozzia 16027 and 16028 are also the only ones that have zero gravity.
- Many chairs do not have a fabulous neck massage, but all chairs have rollers in the neck to massage the neck musculature instead of airbags. The Osaki chairs, the Inada, iRobotics 7, Cozzia, and the Apex chairs all have good neck rollers. There is only one chair that actually hits the traps and works those muscles…and that would be the Panasonic MA70/73 series. That is quite unique to that chair.
- Memory function is only available in the Apex Regent, iRobotics 7, and Panasonic models.
- The Japanese chairs, i.e. Inada and Panasonic, have the best warranty – 3 years parts and labor. The Osaki OS-3D Pro Dreamer and iRobotics 7 have a 2 year parts and labor warranty. All the rest of the Chinese-made chairs have a 1 year parts and labor warranty with another year of parts. I would strongly recommend buying the extended warranty on any Chinese-made chair.
- I might also suggest taking a look at the new L-track chairs (extended roller track). Our top selling model at the current time is the Titan Alpine, which has the extended roller track to massage the butt muscles, as well has having a firm neck massage, foot rollers, and zero gravity. The only drawback with ALL the L-track chairs is that they don’t have 3D roller intensity adjustment. But, the trade-off for the extended roller track might be worth it.
- Yes, we do ship to Hawaii, but at an additional cost, as you have already figured. I am not sure what the cost would be for regular vs. white glove delivery, but if you send me your zip code I can get shipping quotes for the chair you are interested in.
Based on what you outlined, I might recommend taking a look at the Osaki OS-3D Pro Dreamer or the Titan Alpine, both of which have most of what you are looking for and also fit within your price budget.
Take a look at the chairs I’ve recommended and let me know if you have any other questions. I am always at your disposal. You can also call me anytime at 801-651-2026.
Dr. Alan Weidner
www.massage-chair-relief.com