Mantis and Grasshopper

[Macabre]

I am searching for a starter chair that doesn't cost to much. I saw a couple on Ebay made by NRG called Mantis and Grasshopper. I was wondering if anyone had one of these chairs and would care to give me their opinions of them. Also anymore opinions on the Quicklite? Didn't see many in the stickys.

 

[Marc C]

YIKES!

I know these chairs are cheap, but you really get what you pay for. My previous employer had one of these chairs, and what a P.O.S! The chair was used infrequently (in 8 months maybe a hundred 15 min massages) and was falling apart about a month after we got it! The cam locks always needed tightening, the face cradle never stayed attached, and the arm rest ended up breaking! :evil:
:idea: My advice, do your research, save your pennies, and buy a well known brand.

 

[Layla_77]

Also, haunt your local craigslist

You never know what you'll find... I found my chair by searching posts by people selling their chairs, and then I'd look up the make/model of chair they were offering to see if I should be interested.
I came across someone selling a Dolphin and really liked the idea of it... then went in person to check it out, and found that it was in VERY-near-mint condition and he gave it to me for $100!!! Turns out he'd had it hanging around for about 5 years in his garage, hardly any use since it was purchased, pristine vinyl and all. Of course, the carry bag that the chair had been protected in was a COMPLETELY different story... :shock: but nothing that a good disinfectant/destaining soak couldn't completely reverse

Ya never know!

 

[melmelfish]

I have been working chair events more and more lately and am VERY glad my partner bullied me into buying a more expensive chair with the features I wanted!!!

I saw the Grasshopper in use, and to me it is unstable and not easily adjustable. I also noticed it couldn't not accomodate larger people.

My opinion is don't stint on your chair, especially if you are going to use it to try to promote your practice. You'll thank yourself later!

 

[You can call me Rob]

Thanks for the advice. Looks like I will wait a while and save up some money and buy a higher priced chair. Great deal on the Dolphin! Hopefully I can find a deal like that! So jealous. t104

 

[Djanti]

No real comment to add but that I love the names Mantis and Grasshopper! My chair has a white frame and lavender upholstery, and every time my husband sees it set up he refers to it as the "Easter Mantis." I think it's hilarious that NRG admits what massage chairs really look like! :

 

[kiki-cat]

Your chair is a Mantis or just looks like one? If it is a mantis do you like it? had any probs with it?

 

[Chelsea]

Hi! I'm a recent graduate and I saw this thread and just thought I would mention that I have heard pretty much the same as the others here about the cheaper chairs. I was looking into getting one myself as well, and I do remember hearing from other therapists and some of my instructors that the cheaper ones can definitely be more shoddily made (not to slam NRG or anything).

And I'm glad whoever had suggested checking craigslist to see about getting a good one for less (thanks for the reminder!). I heard good things about looking around online...I think one of my fellow students had gotten a steal on a pretty much brand new aluminum frame portable table (I think it was an Astralite).

Anyway, from the sound of it, it could be worth doing some poking around on the 'Net for a good buy.

 

[Sincerly Me...]

Sorry to be unclear Shirl - my chair is an Oakworks Portal Pro III. Like all massage chairs, it just looks like a praying mantis!

 

[sunny n]

Personally I wouldn't use anything other than a Stronglite chair.

Those dolphins, etc, look so fancy I know, but they are a nightmare to adjust. Especially in a chair massage situation, one just doesn't have the time to be futzing with adjustments more than necessary.

A lot of chairs have adjustable elements that depend on each other, so you go to adjust one thing, and it throws something else off, so you adjust that, and it throws something else off.

With the stronglite I rarely have to make more than two adjustments for the next person, often just one.

 

[Im a PCSO]

With the stronglite I rarely have to make more than two adjustments for the next person, often just one.

The Oakworks Portal Pro is the same way. Easy to use, easy to adjust, very comfortable for the client. Well worth the money.

 

[Pompal 09.]

Interesting. That was not my experience of the OPP.

 

[dwbaldeagle]

That's interesting that you had a bad experience with the Portal Pro. Everyone else I know that uses one, loves it. However, I did a quick internet search & found that the Stronglite chair (which you recommend) is $100 less than the Portal Pro. Since this is a budget-chair thread, it looks like Stronglite's the winner.

 

[Diego]

It's possible that I didn't spend enough time with it. The first time I had to readjust the pin that connects to the cord, I was done with it. How have you dealt with that? Did it just become routine for you? I know familiarity makes things easier over time.

 

[Diet C]

Oh! I can see why you didn't like the chair. That pin's not an adjustment I make regularly. I adjusted the pin just once, for my height as a practitioner. For clients, the only adjustment I make every time is to the face cradle. I work on all size clients and the chair's always comfortable at the same height/angle. Occasionally for very tall clients, I need to change the height of the arm rest, but never the pin.

I remember I lent the chair to a friend once, and he's 8 inches taller than me. He changed the cable setting, and it took me forever to figure out how I had it originally. :x I told myself, I'd make a note of the setting before lending the chair out again. That cable is not something you want to mess with. :