Buying an Ergonomic Chair Online? Shappa’s 30-Day Chair Comfort Trial Explained

Buying an ergonomic chair online comes with one question that specifications alone cannot answer:

What if the chair arrives, I sit in it, and it simply doesn’t feel right?

You can compare seat height, lumbar support, armrest adjustment, mesh materials and weight capacity before buying. You can read reviews and measure your desk.

But comfort is personal.

A chair that works well for one person may feel completely different to someone with a different height, body proportion, sitting position or preference for lumbar support.

That is why Shappa has introduced a 30-Day Chair Comfort Trial for eligible ergonomic and office chairs.

The idea is simple:

Assemble it. Adjust it. Sit in it. Make sure it feels right for you.

Why Buying an Ergonomic Chair Online Can Feel Risky

Shopping online makes it much easier to compare ergonomic chairs, but it removes one thing customers traditionally relied on: sitting in the chair before buying it.

And even a quick showroom test has its limitations.

Five minutes in a chair may tell you whether the seat feels soft or whether the backrest feels comfortable at first, but it does not necessarily tell you how the chair will feel:

• after several hours at your desk;

• at your actual desk height;

• with your monitor and keyboard position;

• once the lumbar support has been adjusted;

• while typing, reading or reclining;

• or during a full working day.

This creates a genuine concern when buying an office chair online:

“If I assemble it and sit in it, have I already lost the right to return it?”

Under Shappa's new Chair Comfort Trial, the answer is no.

What Is the Shappa 30-Day Chair Comfort Trial?

Eligible Shappa ergonomic and office chairs can be assembled, adjusted and reasonably used indoors for up to 30 days from the date of delivery.

The trial is designed to give you time to evaluate how the chair works in your real workspace.

During the 30 days, you can reasonably:

• assemble your chair;

• adjust the seat height;

• adjust the armrests;

• set the lumbar support where available;

• adjust the headrest and backrest;

• try different recline positions;

• sit in the chair during your normal desk routine; and

• decide whether the chair feels right for you.

Normal assembly and reasonable trial use do not, by themselves, make the chair ineligible for return.

That is an important difference from a traditional change-of-mind policy where a product may need to remain completely unused.

So Can I Actually Sit in the Chair?

Yes.

That is the purpose of the Comfort Trial.

We don't believe an ergonomic chair can be properly evaluated while it is still sitting inside its carton.

You need to assemble it, set it up for your body and spend some time sitting in it.

However, a Comfort Trial is still a trial, rather than 30 days of unrestricted use.

If you may want to return the chair, it should remain clean and in good condition, without significant scratches, stains, odours, damage or excessive wear.

All parts, accessories and hardware should also be kept together.

Why We Recommend Keeping the Box for 30 Days

Nobody enjoys keeping a large furniture box in the house.

But for the first 30 days, we strongly recommend keeping the original carton and protective packaging.

If you decide the chair is not right for you, the original packaging is generally the safest way to transport it back without causing damage.

Think of the box as part of your trial period:

Keep it while you're deciding. Recycle it once you're happy with the chair.

If you have already disposed of the packaging and need help with a return, contact Shappa before arranging anything yourself.

What If the Chair Doesn't Feel Right?

Before deciding that a chair is unsuitable, it is worth checking its adjustments.

Ergonomic chairs often feel very different after relatively small changes to:

• seat height;

• lumbar position;

• backrest height;

• armrest position;

• recline tension; and

• desk height.

Our team can help you work through the setup.

But sometimes the answer is simply that another chair will suit you better.

Different Shappa chairs are designed around different combinations of body size, adjustability, support and sitting preference.

That's why the Comfort Trial includes another option:

Your First Chair Comfort Exchange

If your first eligible Shappa chair is not the right fit, you can request an exchange for another eligible Shappa chair during the 30-day trial period.

For your first eligible Comfort Exchange, Shappa covers the standard return freight of your original chair within eligible Australian service areas.

The replacement chair is then delivered according to Shappa's standard delivery terms.

If the replacement costs more, you pay the difference.

If it costs less, the difference is refunded.

Regional, remote or special-delivery locations may involve additional freight charges, which will be confirmed before the exchange is arranged.

One complimentary Comfort Exchange is available per original chair purchase.

The goal is not simply to take a chair back.

It is to help you find the chair that works better for you.

What If I Want a Refund Instead?

You don't have to exchange the chair.

If an eligible chair is returned during the 30-Day Chair Comfort Trial and you would prefer a refund, Shappa can arrange the return courier.

For eligible chair returns from standard metropolitan Australian delivery areas, a $69 return shipping contribution is deducted from the refund.

Additional freight costs may apply to regional, remote or difficult-to-service locations.

Any additional cost will be confirmed before collection is arranged.

Eligible chairs returned in acceptable Comfort Trial condition have no restocking fee.

This distinction is worth remembering:

First eligible chair exchange: standard return freight of the original chair is covered by Shappa.

Return for refund: a $69 return shipping contribution applies to eligible metropolitan returns.

Why Isn't Every Product Covered by the Same Trial?

An ergonomic chair is unusual because it needs to be assembled and sat in before its suitability can really be evaluated.

A standing desk or desk frame is different.

Once a desk has been fully installed, screw marks, mounting points and other signs of assembly may affect its condition and resaleability.

For this reason, eligible Shappa standing desks, desk frames, standard desktops and accessories have a 30-Day Change-of-Mind Return period, but different conditions apply.

In general, these products should remain unused, uninstalled and in resaleable condition for a standard change-of-mind return.

So when you see 30-Day Chair Comfort Trial, remember that the trial specifically applies to eligible Shappa chairs.

What If My Product Is Faulty or Arrives Damaged?

A Comfort Trial is designed for situations where a chair works correctly but simply isn't the right fit for you.

A faulty, damaged or incorrectly supplied product is different.

If something is wrong with your Shappa product, contact us and tell us what has happened.

In many cases, we can resolve an issue quickly by supplying a replacement component or spare part directly from our Melbourne warehouse.

Your rights in relation to faulty or non-compliant products under Australian Consumer Law are separate from Shappa's voluntary Comfort Trial and change-of-mind return policies.

A Better Way to Buy an Ergonomic Chair Online

We know that buying a chair online requires a certain amount of trust.

Measurements help.

Specifications help.

Adjustment guides help.

Reviews help.

But none of them can completely predict how a chair will feel to you.

The Shappa 30-Day Chair Comfort Trial is designed to remove some of that uncertainty.

You don't need to decide whether a chair is right while it is still inside the box.

You can:

assemble it, adjust it, sit in it and experience it in your own workspace.

And if it isn't the right fit, you have clear options for an exchange or return.

Because choosing an ergonomic chair should be about finding the right support — not worrying about what happens if your first choice isn't perfect.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the 30-Day Chair Comfort Trial begin?

The 30-day period begins on the date your eligible chair is delivered.

Can I assemble the chair?

Yes. Eligible chairs can be assembled as part of the Comfort Trial.

Can I use the chair while deciding?

Yes. Reasonable indoor trial use is allowed.

Can I return the chair just because it doesn't feel right?

Eligible chairs can be returned during the 30-Day Chair Comfort Trial subject to the applicable return conditions.

Is my first chair exchange free?

For the first eligible Comfort Exchange, Shappa covers the standard return freight of the original chair within eligible Australian service areas.

The replacement chair is shipped according to our standard delivery terms. Regional, remote and special freight charges may still apply.

What happens if I want a refund instead?

For eligible metropolitan chair returns, Shappa can arrange the courier and a $69 return shipping contribution will be deducted from your refund.

Is there a restocking fee?

There is no restocking fee for an eligible chair returned in acceptable Comfort Trial condition.

Do I need the original packaging?

We strongly recommend keeping all original packaging throughout the 30-day trial period because it provides the safest way to return the chair.

Does the 30-Day Chair Comfort Trial apply to standing desks?

No. Standing desks, desk frames, desktops and accessories have separate change-of-mind return conditions.

Ready to choose your chair with more confidence?

Explore our range of ergonomic chairs, or read our Returns & Refunds page and Return Policy for complete details before purchasing.