“I should say up front that I have never owned a Steelcase chair of any kind including an Amia new or otherwise. Some of my feedback may be off base because of that lack of experience with a new chair to compare against. Depending on what a new chair is like my rating could go up or down a star. In the future I would like to try a new or factory recertified version to compare against.
Overall I like the chair and think it was a good investment. I would like to have a local place I could try high end chairs to better find a perfect fit for me, but I can still say this is the most comfortable chair I've owned so far. I am coming from a Secret Labs Titan 2020 and for me this chair is definitely superior. I was starting to have leg numbness and back pain in the Titan. I think primarily because the racing style seat just doesn't have the adjustability to be comfortable for long hours. This was a little more expensive as a refurb than I paid new for the Titan, but I still think it was worth it. I got the vinyl option and like it as well. I have a dog that sheds all year round and the fabric seats are a pain to keep clean. The vinyl is hotter though, so there is a tradeoff with breathability, but the maintenance is so much better and I like the look as well.
PROS:
- Very adjustable and feels comfortable even after a long day of sitting
- Easy to lean back and change position in. Can move around very naturally
- Cost vs. a new chair was a great deal and assembly was super easy
CONS:
- Packing could use a little work. The video on the site showed a special packing piece that holds the chair in optimal position for shipping. My chair came in a box full of packing paper and one inside flap of the box was folded under the armrests to hold the chair in place. Probably fine except UPS and FedEx seem to think every package I get needs kicked, dropped, or mutilated in some way. The box had a small hole in one side and was crushed a bit on the other side. The box flap under the armrests had pushed on one arm hard and was stuck under it really right. The armrest was turned inward to the max adjustment and pinned that way by the box flap. It was fine this time, but a little more abuse and it could have broken. Needs better packing to handle shipping service incompetence.
- Maybe it's like this on a new one as well, but the seat cushion isn't padded quite enough for me, even with the extra they add in the refurb. It could use double the extra padding to me. It's sufficient as is, but just barely and feels too hard in some sitting positions.
- Back material looks a little over stretched in the center and the adjustment for the back won't stay where I put it on its own. After a day or two it falls to the bottom of the range, and I have to pull it back up to the place I like it. Not the end of the world, but makes me worry that I got a refurb that is a little more worn out than I would have liked at this price.
- Armrests are mostly comfortable, but are a little too hard for me. Looking at BTOD review videos on YouTube for Steelcase chairs, I was expecting them to have more give and a better cushioned feel. They aren't bad, but after a long work day they rub on the elbows a little too much and the hardness make the bones ache a little. Not sure if the refurb material impacts this is worse that a new chair or this is just how Steelcase armrests are? It takes all day to get that bad though and my Titan was no better by any means, so not a big gripe.”
“I really like the refurbished Amia I purchased from BTOD.
The shipping time was reasonable and there were no hiccups in the buying process. Also, when the chair arrived it honestly looked brand new.
My only criticism would be of the Amia's design/features that I overlooked or didn't think would matter that much to me. The biggest con is that the back cannot be locked in multiple positions. I didn't think I'd care about this feature, but sitting in the Amia for 8+ hours a day for work, there are times where I want to just tilt back a bit. Unfortunately, when you unlock it so that it can tilt back, it goes all the way back without enough resistance to my liking. This leaves me leaning way too far back. I spend most of my days with the chair simply locked in the vertical position.
I'd still recommend this chair for most people, and BTOD did a great job.”
“Chair was delivered in excellent condition with the exception of a broken caster wheel. I contacted customer service and received a replacement within a few days. I would definitely buy from btod again. thanks.”
“This chair is perfect for a computer programmer who has to sit at a desk for 8 hours a day. The chair is super comfortable and very ergonomic. The padding is perfect and the quality is exceptional. This is a great deal as a refurbished product.”
“It's a fantastic chair. It was packaged well and it's pretty comfortable. I upgraded from a $40 Amazon chair"¦and I don't think I could ever go back. It pays to have a better chair but it's much more worth it than I thought.
A more detailed analysis was I did upgrade to the wheels that play well with wood floors. Great decision because my chair glides across so smoothly.
The arms were a game changer. I love the fact that it was customizable to a good height for my arms or the width to my arms. I have a standing desk so it makes the experience of the standing desk even smoother. I did go some of the recycled options for the chair that were offered and the parts don't look recycled at all. Amazingly well kept.
The cushion on the chair was great. The cushion on the seat is comfortable as well as the back. I like to lay back in my chair a lot so it was helpful. I wish there was a head rest but I'm just getting picky with that.
My least favorite part was the lumbar support. It was good in the beginning but it's not as supportive as I would've liked. I'm a heavyset dude so I'm all about comfort all around. Also, I like the tension of the Herman miller sail chair for when I lay back and this chair doesn't give me that kind of satisfaction. However, I still chose this chair over the Sayl chair which says a lot.
Overall, fantastic chair for the price. If I had to buy it all over again, I'd do it the same way.
Note: the shipping carrier was terrible. It's a 5-star but the carrier left my chair downstairs (I live on 3fl walk up) so I had to bring the chair up the stairs by myself. Also, the carrier damaged the box. Not BTODs fault though.”
