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My StressMaster Chair is Stressing me out
I've had a stressful last couple of weeks. One of my clients is in a bind as far as needing enterprise software, I have a couple of contracts that are ending, some of my students are starting to ask really cool but in-dept questions like 'what makes a good type?", and I have a few new business opportunities that I'm having to juggle all at the same time.
But I'm ready. A month ago, I purchased a brand-new, black leather, StressMaster office chair. Normally costing a cool 300 bucks, I found one on sale for 100 bucks. It has heat, 3-levels of massage, a timer, programmed massage options, and 9 different massages.
The thing is driving me nuts.
First, it never works when it should. You plug up the chair, sit there, and push the button on the remote control (did I mention the remote control?) It does -- nothing.
This is why I got it on sale. The office store guys thought it was broken. It's not broken, it just sucks hiney.
After a minute or two of pressing the button every so often, the little power light comes on. Sometimes you can then push the timer button or select one of the massages.
But not most times.
Most times you push the button and --- nothing happens. If you sit for a couple of minutes pushing the button, still nothing happens.
You might think that it is broken, but that, alas, is not the case. If you then power off, then spend another few minutes powering on, you can press the buttons and the chair will respond.
Most times.
Sometimes it doesn't listen to you at all. It has sensors, somewhere in there, that make sure there's a real, live, person sitting in the chair. Obviously, we wouldn't want people calling in from Aruba and making the chair dance around by itself, so measures must be taken to be sure a person is actually IN the chair.
Sometimes it doesn't like the button you pressed. Some times it ignores you. Some times you pressed the button too quickly -- it doesn't like that. You have to wait a few seconds -- somewhere between 4 and 10 seconds -- before pushing the next button.
My chair doesn't like a lot of things. I'm beginning to think that I might be one of them.
But eventually, you get the control warmed up, you get into the rhythm of how often you can press buttons, and you're humming along. 15 or 30 minutes spent just zoning out and getting a great massage. When those times are finished, I feel like a new man.
Or, sometimes it's not like that. Sometimes you spend fifteen minutes desperately mashing buttons, cursing the gods, jumping up and down in the chair so it thinks you are there, counting the number of seconds between clicking. Sometimes you twist and contort, thrusting your finger at the buttons, finally kicking the chair across the room and stubbing your toe. Sometimes when it is like this, you do NOT feel like a new man. You feel like a sucker for spending good money on a poorly-designed piece of electronic office trash that no person in their right mind would put up with. You want to grab the chair and run into the office store, swinging at random passerbys like a politician passing out twenties at a political blogger meeting. You look around for the can of gasoline you left out next to the mower, and mumble things under your breath regarding the procreative habits of the chair designers' families.
I think perhaps the chair could have been designed better.
It's a really cool chair, though. I wonder if they have it in white?
Absolutely 100% right - the chair is a real pain in the back.....you have to sit just so to have the sensors realize you are indeed sitting in the chair - and Heaven's forbid if you need to move while sitting in the chair - you either run over the cord (I am just waiting for the electric shock day) or you put the plug out of socket- which in my case means wiggling in behind my desk to replug it in - ouch my back.... opps one last thing
I am in search of the correct power cord "specs" that was not included in my used chair purchase. Now I can hardly wait to be sent into an emotional riff.
Can u help me out with power supply cord info??
Denise
I'm looking for power cord info as well, having just gotten one at a moving sale, without cord.
I need some parts to repair mine, but they don't answer phone or e-mails. They must be out of business or don't care about customers.
I have the same problem with my massage office chair, it only works sometime after playing with the power cord and the buttons on the remote. I purchase the warranty for the 3years(purchase it in 2007 at Office Depot in Fontana,Ca.) Plan No. is 574346. Please advise how I can resolve my problem. Thanks Garland Bethel
Hi Garland,
I'm sorry, but after 2 years, I've just finally gotten used to the torture. I only use the chair once every month or two, and it works.
Mostly.
Good luck on getting something done. If you find anything out, please let us know!
Hi Denise,
I am looking for a power cord also that works for my Stress Master Massage Chair. Just wondering if you have had any luck locating a cord yet. Please let me know.
Thanks,
Susie
susan.montgomery62@comcast.net
Hi Sue,
Have you cad any luck in finding a cord for your chair? please let me know.
thanks, Susie
I picked up one of these on Craigslist. It's comfortable, but I'm unable to get the control to turn on or work at all :(
The power cord, or power brick I should say is a standard 12VDC 2000mA (or 2 amp) adapter. Should helped those missing one.
I'm about to dissect this thing to find out why it won't work.
I need a controller, I just purchased a new multi-volt transformer and the controller does not function. Is a separate controller available and if so what is the cost.
I just got a StressMaster chair from a friend but without the power cord. Can you give me the specs so I can get one?
Why are you ever going to come back and look so you can tell the sucker you sold it to, so he can get the cord? Well Darla?!? I'm waiting..
I am looking for a new or used controller also. My mother has worn it out and I need to replace it. Any help would be great.
The battery on my Stress Master Massage Chair has expired and I lost the original specs sheet so I don't know which battery (ie: 12Volt/6Volt)to replace it with. Can't locate the company to order one. Anyone know where I can locate them or the proper battery?
Hi Spence,
Any luck in finding a replacement battery? I had purchased several for an office that I was planning to open up but never happened. Finally got around to assembling them and looks like the batteries have died and will not recharge. Took it apart but there are no markings that explain output or manufacturer.
>>> SOLUTION >> CHAIR NOT WORKING PROBLEM SOLVED
We have one of these chairs and one day it started developing a mind of its own and worked sometimes snd then sometimes not.. and so finally i decided to look for these so called sensors that tell it there's a person in the chair and there are two sensors located in the seat part of the chair one is located in the middle towards the back and another in the middle towards t he front... And i noticed that these are cheaply made sensors that are basically switches with washers inside and foam to keep them separated until you sit down and they touch the wires together so rather that repair them i just cut them off and threw them away and twisted the two wires from each one together so that they are always "on" and so now the chair works every time you turn it on and of course it works without anyone sitting in it...lol.... but that's ok ... just remember to turn it off when you get up .... i hope this info helps
NOTE: we got our chair used and it already had a big slit right across the top of the seat and so we put a cushion on it to cover that up so it was very easy for me to just reach my hand in there and rip out the sensors that are glued inside to the foam and so not sure how you will get them out of yours with out making small incisions in the cushion but they are easy to find they are each about 4 inches wide x 1 inch tall and a 1/4 inch thick in size
I HOPE THIS INFO HELPS...