Frequently Asked Questions

What is ergonomics, how does ergonomics relate to chairs, and what do mechanisms, arm, and ergo options and fit have to do with it?

Q: What makes a chair ergonomic? A: A chair is “ergonomic” when there is a good match between the comfort and functionality of the chair and the people who use it, optimizing human well-being and performance.  An ergonomic chair can be simple or loaded with “bells and whistles” as long as it meets the human requirements of its user.

Q: What should I think about when I’m deciding if something is a good ergonomic fit? A: Points to consider when deciding on options for a good ergonomic fit include: 1. What work will be performed in the chair? 2. Will it be used in front of a work table or desk? 3. How high is the work surface? 4. How many hours will the user sit in a typical day? 5. Does the chair need to accommodate a single user who is extra-large, tall, short or small, or a person with special health needs – or a variety of users (i.e. shift work). 6. Will the chair be used in a heavy duty or unusually tough environment? Seating Inc. can custom configure seating products to meet all of these needs.

Q: What does the mechanism have to do with ergonomics? A:  A chairs mechanism determines what a chair can “do” – swivel, tilt, height adjust, weight activate, support 24/7 or other heavy duty work – and so on.  Ergonomic mechanisms can be simple(affordable) or complex(cost more).  Make sure the mechanism you choose matches the size and number of people who will be using the chair, the amount of time that the users will be sitting, and the type of work that will be performed.  Click here to learn more about mechanisms!

Q: I see some mechanisms are more expensive than others, why is it worth spending extra on a higher priced mechanism? A: Invest in a higher priced mechanism for the following reasons: 1. Increased adjustability and/or durability is required to increase the chair’s suitability for certain tasks. 2. The chair must accommodate the ergonomic needs of different sized people. 3. Smooth, easy and quieter movement is important. 4. To support American workers; mechanisms made in North America are more expensive than imports. Whatever mechanism you choose, be sure that users understand how to operate their chair to enhance their work experience.

Q: I am petite.  Do you have any chairs that will fit me? A: Yes!  Our chairs are made to fit a variety of bodies.  The key for you will be to order the SE – small edition option, available on task/work chairs and adjustable height stools, and swivels.  (Contour II, EDU2, Grid, Grid SQ, Jay, and Pearl II series, for users up to 300 lbs.).  This will narrow the seat, provide smaller custom seat molds, and a shorter cylinder.  With the small edition, you will have a chair you will love forever!

Here you will find information about weight, style, model, and options.

Q: What is the difference between a work/task chair and a swivel/executive chair? A: Seating terminology continues to evolve as technology changes the way we work.  Work/task chairs are designed to accommodate ergonomic adjustments and options.  Choose Work/task chairs for people who sit for extended periods of time at a computer and/or for applications that need to accommodate a variety of people (ie shift work).  Swivel/executive chairs offer fewer adjustment options.  They are an excellent choice for training rooms, conference & board rooms, or for desk applications that are not computer based.

Q: I have a chair that is going to be used in a heavy-duty environment; should I be getting a 550 chair just to ensure it stays strong though years of heavy-duty use? A: No, the 550 chair weighs over 100 pounds and is built to seat large people.  Because of its size and weight, a much smaller person will have difficulty operating the chair.  Furthermore, to prevent product failure, 550 chairs accept very few options.  If you want heavy-duty, go for the 400 weight class chair, which accommodates far more options and is a good fit for a wide range of sizes.

Q: What kind of casters/glides are available for my work chair or adjustable work stool? A: Work chairs and adjustable work stools are supplied with standard carpet casters (SCC).  These casters are suitable for carpeted floors, but are likely to leave marks on hard surfaces.  2 1/2″ Carpet/hard floor glides (GLIDE) may be specified to prevent rolling.  Caster upgrades are available: Soft twin wheel casters (STW) have a soft edge that will not mark hard surfaces such as wood, tile, and linoleum.  Soft wheeled breaking casters (SWB) steady chairs and reduce roll away as the user takes the seat(for hard surfaces).

Q: What kind of glides/casters are available for my 4 leg, stacking, and sled base chairs? A: 4 leg chairs are supplied with non-marking ball glides which are suitable for carpets and hard floors.  Casters (see SCC, STW, SWB above) may be added as an upgrade to many stack chair models. Most sled base models do not have glides.  To protect specialty surfaces which may be marked when chairs are moved, felt based glides (FBG) may be added. Indy multipurpose sled base chairs are supplied with a small plastic non-marking glide that is suitable for carpets and durable hard surfaces.  Felt based glides (FBG) may be added to protect delicate surfaces.  Ganging Glides (GG) may be added to lock chairs together.

Q: How do I choose the right chair? A: Making sure that the chair you buy is a good fit for the person or people who will be using the chair – and the work that will be performed – is an investment in the health and well-being of your workforce.  Consider comfort, function, appearance, weight, ergonomic and specialty requirements, and the length of time that people will sit at one stretch.  Our knowledgeable customer service staff can help you understand and select the options that balance your needs with your budget!

Here you can find information about all of the fabrics and finishes offered for your Seating Inc. chair.

Q: I don’t understand fabric “grades”.  Can you explain what the different fabric grades mean? A: Fabrics are “graded” so that chairs can be priced according to the textile chosen.  Seating Inc. price books include prices for grades 1 through 10. Fabric prices vary based on features such as exclusiveness of design and color, fiber and finish, durability, country of origin, and whether the textiles are purchased in full rolls or “cut” yardage. To see our American made fabrics, click here. To see our carded fabrics click here. To see our carded vinyls click here. To see our graded in textiles, click here.

Q: Why should I select carded textiles? A: Seating Inc. offers a wide variety of fabric and vinyl carded textiles.  Carded textiles are popular, established choices that are easily and quickly available.  They offer exceptional value because they are purchased and stocked in rolls from our textile patterns.  Many are woven in American Mills.  See links above to see our carded program.

Q: Can I put vinyl on your chairs? A: Yes, vinyl is often chosen for chair upholstery because it’s easy to wipe clean.  It is a suitable textile choice for all Seating Inc. chairs.  Make sure that the properties of your vinyl match your needs (i.e. bleach cleanable, antimicrobial).  Select commercial upholstery vinyl from our textile partners, or from our carded selection.

Q: What is (LV) Leather-Vinyl Match?  Why would I choose it? A: LV is a textile choice that provides the “look and feel” of leather without the big price tag.  When LV is chosen, upholstered parts that will touch the person sitting in the chair – such as the seat, inside back and inside arms – are made with leather.  Parts such as the outside back and outside arm are upholstered in a matching vinyl.  Click here to see our Leather Vinyl choices.

Q: What does it mean if a textile is “graded in”? A: Seating Inc. offers a wide array of fabric and vinyl choices from a wide variety of textile partners.  Patterns, colors, availability and cost change frequently.  To accommodate these changes, at regular intervals, we compare textile costs against established Seating Inc. textile “grade” levels and assign a grade to each pattern.

Here you will find information about Lead time, rep contact info, contracts, and returns.

Q: What is your standard lead time? A: Standard lead time is 3-4 weeks from receipt of a credit approved order.  Larger projects (300 pieces +) take more time.  We carry an extensive inventory of component parts.  Our production crew is well trained and flexible.  Tell us what you need, and we will do our best to accommodate you!

Q: How do I purchase a Seating Inc. chair? A: Seating Inc. chairs may be purchased directly by buyers qualified to purchase on Federal and many State furniture contracts, and through Group Purchasing Organizations.  Our chairs are sold to the public through office furniture dealerships.  A selection of Seating Inc. chairs may be purchased online through retailers like The Human Solution, Wayfair, and Bizchair.  For more information, click here to find a representative in your area.

Q: Do you accept credit cards? A: Yes!  We accept credit cards within 10 days of shipment(no discounts available).  

Q: I live in Texas, what kind of shipping charges will I have on my chair order? A: Please click this link to find which zone you are in: https://www.seatinginc.com/shipping/ Shipping charges are included for orders that meet a minimum quantity of chairs, by zone to a single address.  A flat rate per chair is added when zone minimums are not met.  Zone minimum quantity and flat rates are shown on the map in the link above (click on standard program for task, swivel, stacking, guest, and stools, click on cobra program for tandem seating).