iJoy Massage Chair: Do Not Even Think About Purchasing Unless....
Written: Oct 27 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Very comfortable
Cons: Tacky colors, no heat, expensive massage option, trying too hard to be cutting edge
The Bottom Line: A nice thought, but not something I would purchase.
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| hwz1's Full Review: Ijoy Massage Chair with Human Touch Technology |
Have you been to Brookstone or Sharper Image lately? Did you notice the bold, tacky, stylish chairs that they are almost forcing down your throat? The chairs that massage you as you sit in them? The ones that are typically very bright in color and comfortable? The ones that your significant other would never let in the house unless it was bound for the basement, or unless you live in an ultra modern home?
So what is this thing that we keep seeing at the ultra hip stores? Well, for all practical purposes it is a massage chair. You sit in it and you can get a massage that is supposed to feel as if it came from the "hands of a masseuse". Sorry, but the feel is nothing like the hands of a masseuse. Yes it is very comfortable and feels great, but to advertise it as feeling like a masseuse is a little ridiculous. More on this later.
At any rate, the chair has a option that can be set to auto on. This will lead to a feeling of rolling, kneading, tapping and compression on your back that lasts for 15 minutes per program. The massage goes the entire length of your back- from top to bottom- and feels absolutely wonderful. You can also set the chair to focus on a certain place in your back and it will stay in that area. In addition, you can recline the chair to basically a flat position. The massage is known as the "Human Touch" and is supposedly a healing technique favored by masseuse's all over the world.
The chair comes with a control panel that is built into the arm of the chair. The control panel actually sits right where your arm is when they are at you sides and resting while in the chair. A problem here: Have you ever seen a control panel on the arm rest of a chair? Anyway, the panel is quite a sight the first time you see it. To my eye, it is way to big as there are just not that many things that you have to worry about controlling with the chair.
Which brings me to the another problem I have with the iJoy- why the horrible colors? The Sharper Image we spent an hour in had chairs that came in the following colors: Black, a blue, a purple that matches Barney's shade, and the most ridiculous of all colors, a flourescent lime green. I do not know about you, but my soon to be Mrs. would shoot me if I bought home one of these chairs simply because of the colors. Black is ok, but the others just do not so it unless you are ultra trendy or color blind. In addition to the colors, the chair is constructed in a manner that to me says that you are trying to hard to be trendy. For instance, the arm rests are cubes that are attached the to chair. Sorry, not my type. The chairs are made out of faux suede material.
My final problem with the iJoy chair? How about the fact that you can do all of this for much less money and not sacrifice on the design. What do I mean? Well, Sharper Image, Brookstone, and dozens of other places have massager's that can and do perform the same functions. Many have heat as an option- something the iJoy does not have. The speeds can be changed in many different ways, but not with the chair. You can also purchase a slip like massager that goes over you existing furniture and provides a great massage with heat. All of these options costs less than $100.00. How much does the chair cost? Try a cool $650.00 and another $100.00 for home delivery. (If Sharper Image tried to charge me $100.00 for a delivery that was three miles away from the store I would return my purchase in a heartbeat.)
So, what can I say about the iJoy that is good? Well, it is a wonderfully comfortable chair. As someone who from time to time has back stiffness, it does a great job massaging the sore back. You can easily find yourself falling asleep in this chair after the 15 minute massage. Tip the chair back and you are lying down and away you go on your way to sweet dreams.
The other positive is that the chair is relatively small. The dimensions are 41 x 42.5 x 34 and it weighs just under 90 pounds. The positive here is that you can move it into another room when guests come by.
Hey, if you are into the ultra trendy and hip scene, then this may be the chair for you. Otherwise, I think you will agree with me that the colors, the built in remote, and the thought of the chair are too much. Especially so when you consider that you can get the same massage for less 10% of the price if you purchase a massage "slip" or a handheld machine. I would stay away from the iJoy chair.
Recommended:
No
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hwz1
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Location: Philadelphia, PA
Reviews written: 845
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Just got a big promotion that will move my new wife and I to Atlanta.
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