NTU spend $2200 on one chair
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Business school plans to spend RM1.4mil on office chairs
The Star
November 15, 2005
THE business school of Nanyang Technological University (NTU) is looking to buy as many as 300 top-end office chairs that can cost as much as S$2,200 (RM4,884) each.
These Herman Miller Aeron chairs, or their equivalent, are specified in a tender put out by the university to get bids from chair suppliers.
The Nov 4 tender has raised eyebrows.
One main reason is that the US-made Aeron, retailed at S$2,200 by local distributor X.Tra Office, is famous as a symbol of excess in the heady days of the dot.com boom less than 10 years ago.
Many Internet start-ups then raced to order the chair, named as one of 36 “Designs of the Decade” in 1999.
With its sleek contoured line and signature “breathable” mesh fabric that hugs the body, the ergonomic chair is said to help prevent backache.
But the benefit can be bought for less, said Patrick Ker, 34, an occupational therapist at Singapore General Hospital.
“You don't need to buy a Herman Miller Aeron or an equivalent.
“There are chairs costing S$300 to S$400 (RM666 to RM88
that are just as good.”
Also, an ergonomic chair reduces back pain only if it fits the user snugly, he added.
The prospective chair is for the staff as well as students of the Nanyang Business School.
If approved, NTU will be the first local university willing to spend as much as large multinationals in ensuring comfort.
An investment bank in Singapore reportedly bought 1,000 Aeron chairs for its staff earlier this year.
But should a public university be looking at the Aeron, or other similarly priced ergonomic chairs? NTU gave three reasons for considering them over plain office chairs.
One, many organisations, including business schools, buy them.
Two, the better back support they offer may help to reduce back problems, lower medical costs and increase productivity.
Finally, the 12-year warranty specified in the tender will ensure the price paid will, when worked out over its lifespan, be similar to that of regular chairs, which may cost less but also have a shorter life.
The university stressed that the die has not been cast. It is open to brands and models other than the Herman Miller Aeron.
Also, a tender board will scrutinise the quotes from bidders when the tender closes on Friday. Said its spokesman: “NTU has in place checks and balances in our tender process.
“If the quotes received do not meet the principles of frugality, no wastage and cost-effectiveness, the tender will not be awarded.” – The Straits Times/ Asia News Network -
damn... who's running NTU? the same idiots who run the Pentagon?
coz they paid about US$200 for a normal screwdriver
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the professors got golden backside ?
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omg was tat made of gold? 100 yrs nvr rust or unbreakable screwdriverOriginally posted by the Bear:damn... who's running NTU? the same idiots who run the Pentagon?
coz they paid about US$200 for a normal screwdriver -
the same idiots paid a few thousand dollars for toilet seats tooOriginally posted by RaTtY81:omg was tat made of gold? 100 yrs nvr rust or unbreakable screwdriver
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another tt durai? where are the funds from
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Stupid choice. They probably won't buy it now since there is so much publicity.
I say screw the bloody dean. -
omg i think they think with their as$ thats y they need toilet bowls costing a few thousandOriginally posted by the Bear:the same idiots paid a few thousand dollars for toilet seats too -
Something very wrong with all these top idiots management. No wonder they are so rich.Originally posted by the Bear:damn... who's running NTU? the same idiots who run the Pentagon?
coz they paid about US$200 for a normal screwdriver -
my chair at home cost only 30.
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remember its just peanuts mah...
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Someone may be thinking that compared with their responsibilities of producing our future world-class talents, a $2,200 chair is peanut.
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poor students... next time sch fees increase u noe why.
wasting pple's body for such things? Siao ar?! -
*shake head
Hiaz....a while ago after the recess week, they ask students (well, in EEE) to donate to support on going research, blah, blah because gahment is cutting subsidy to NTU, blah, blah, etc.
And now we heard this "wonderful" news.... -
You can justify it however you want by saying that it's good for the back, that it will improve productivity, that it has a twelve-year warranty, and the bottom line is that it is still a friggin' expensive chair.
What's wrong with a normal executive chair? One of those things costs under $200 and can last for several years if you take good care of it and don't do stupid things like leaving a hot iron on top of it or tossing it out of the window.
Heck, I've been using the same old typist's chair (which my father bought for less than $40) for my desk for the past ten years, and it's still works fine.
So, with all this in mind, how do they plan to explain to the students why tuition fees are being raised? To pay for CHAIRS? -
That is just unbelievable. You'd think that those of us using cheap <$100 chairs will all suffer severe and permanent back problems unless we switch to those overpriced gimzos. NTU is being fiscally irresponsible.
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It's a tender... and it's for business school only. other schools from NTU seems unhappy about it too.
i rather they give me that $2200 as bonus rather than a chair.
plus. that chair is NOT really that comfortable.. -
Can't blame the other schools, look at EEE, students there chip in to raise money for the research,etc,etc all under the impression that NTU = no money => because gahment cutting subsidy and everyone belives the other schools are also doing the same thing.Originally posted by Churra:It's a tender... and it's for business school only. other schools from NTU seems unhappy about it too.
i rather they give me that $2200 as bonus rather than a chair.
plus. that chair is NOT really that comfortable..
Then we hear this, quite saddening, if they have too much cash shld save it up for more useful stuff or cut their budget so that the other schools have more, etc. -
wah piang i push home one chair can support me & my family for one mth liao.
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Well, it's gonna be a bulk purchase and the price will definitely be much lower than $2200.
But still, i agree that it's an extravagant..... and i rather they pay me cash as year end bonus! -
u sure anot? u tried tat chair b4?Originally posted by Churra:
It's a tender... and it's for business school only. other schools from NTU seems unhappy about it too.
i rather they give me that $2200 as bonus rather than a chair.plus. that chair is NOT really that comfortable.. -
yes... dun really like it. I think girls with short skirt or bare back will have lines on their thigh after sitting...Originally posted by monoslayer:u sure anot? u tried tat chair b4?
herman miller aeron
I still prefer leather office chairs. keke -
why not buy a bloody OSIM chair for that kinda moolah?
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oh man! good suggestion!Originally posted by the Bear:why not buy a bloody OSIM chair for that kinda moolah?
/chu go back office and propose to dean.... -
Crazy NTU. Why not give the money to me and I buy them a cheaper yet more comfortable chair for them.