Full Version: Eyebrows raised over NTU's tender for 300 designer
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| Hot seat Eyebrows raised over NTU's tender for 300 designer chairs 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 $2,200 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 United States-made Aeron, retailed at $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 Mr Patrick Ker, 34, an occupational therapist at Singapore General Hospital. 'You don't need to buy a Herman Miller Aeron, or an equivalent, to achieve these benefits. 'There are chairs costing $300 to $400 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 the 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 to chair suppliers 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.' Both the National University of Singapore and Singapore Management University told The Sunday Times that they have not made any bulk purchases of ergonomic chairs such as the Aeron. However, the Chicago University Graduate School of Business, in Penang Street, has 216 Aeron chairs, bought in 2000 when the local campus was opened. The chairs are a 'necessity' for its students, who are busy working executives, said marketing director Ria Sugita. 'The chairs are placed in the lecture hall and study group rooms because they are intended for the students' use only,' she added. NTU undergraduates interviewed were either indifferent or opposed to the proposed purchase. Some, like second-year banking student Alvin Loke, felt it was an 'overkill'. Said the 22-year-old: 'I don't see the need. My chair at home costs $200 and I don't get a backache sitting in it. 'The money could be better used for, say, student welfare.' However, others do not give a hoot. Said Ms Lee Chuiling, 20, a second-year accountancy student: 'If the school thinks it helps the lecturers teach better, I don't really care whether they sit in a $2,000 chair or a $50 one.' Chair distributors were, of course, all praise for NTU's plan, saying it would be money well-spent because productivity will rise when workers are more comfortable. One of them is Mr Ong Kok Thai, managing director of Vanguard Interiors, which distributes an even costlier chair: Humanscale's Freedom. The high-back version, with a gel-cushioned seat and a headrest, sells for $2,800. Said Mr Ong: 'A small bump in productivity essentially means the company is getting the chair for free.' What NTU wants in tender Ergonomically designed With arm rest 12-year warranty period Good back support Delivery within three months Chair material is fire retardant Can take a load of 100kg Easy to maintain Adjustable lumbar support Seat height adjustable Tilt tension Brand/model: Herman Miller Aeron chair or equivalent |
seen those chairs selling in taka.... not my cup of tea.
It's kind of excessive. Paying 2,200 for a single Chair ?!?!? NTU is too rich liao, dun know how to better spend the money.. 
They should be aware that Singaporeans dun not react kindly upon hearing news of public institutions wasting such precious money..
They should be aware that Singaporeans dun not react kindly upon hearing news of public institutions wasting such precious money..
Prefect waste of $$$. 
have u guys tried sitting on one? the feeling is totally different from any other chairs that u had sat before... i do still think it;s a little "overkill" to get so many....
Ithink the impt thing is whether the students are going to benefit and whether this expenditure might eat into other nessesary funds resulting in the potential need for future fund raisers or rise in school fees. If everything can funtion as per normal and the students get to benefit then i think its ok. Can afford the best why hold back?
DAMN! Why I graduated so early!
ITs very painful to imagine the money my parents pay for my sch fees is used in such areas.....
Pain free when seat on them, humm it does strikes to me that now more people are going to be "designer chair handicap" with those exhorbitant "cash laden" chairs. Humm its not as if those students are going to stick their butts on the chairs for their sch hrs and wheel it to the canteen, LTs and even when doing sports meh?
Well so whats next for engineering students? another newly produced jet fighter for aero engineers? WIthout any courtesy from armed forces?
Will one be made smart when sitting on it? shes...well anyways the bus students shld be happy with this ya....
Pain free when seat on them, humm it does strikes to me that now more people are going to be "designer chair handicap" with those exhorbitant "cash laden" chairs. Humm its not as if those students are going to stick their butts on the chairs for their sch hrs and wheel it to the canteen, LTs and even when doing sports meh?
Well so whats next for engineering students? another newly produced jet fighter for aero engineers? WIthout any courtesy from armed forces?
Will one be made smart when sitting on it? shes...well anyways the bus students shld be happy with this ya....
I have a 'golden tap' feeling about this. Whether the chairs are truly beneficial for its price is the real issue but I think it's going to take a lot to convince most people that it is so.
Any student unions that are ready to bite?
hummm or they choose to import these chairs during the exam periods to divert peoples attention.....
hahah "golden tap" it would be more convincing if the gold is replaced by diamonds thus they can say oh "drink already =healthy" as the ad of the diamond water goes...
Ai ya...fact is students can only accept, u dont like, u quit uni but thats silly.....so "bo pian" see no evil.
hummm or they choose to import these chairs during the exam periods to divert peoples attention.....
hahah "golden tap" it would be more convincing if the gold is replaced by diamonds thus they can say oh "drink already =healthy"
as the ad of the diamond water goes...Ai ya...fact is students can only accept, u dont like, u quit uni but thats silly.....so "bo pian" see no evil.
Being a graduate from NTU, I've gotta say NTU's administration really sucks...big time. How many times have they made decisions which were not throughly thought thru? Syllabus changes, academic calender changes, just to name a few. This again to me sounds like a stunt by them to look "cutting-edge" and "different"...
i think its excessive
I'm not convinced over the wisdom of spending an exorbitant amount of money on merely "chairs" as the money can be better spent for the student's welfare like meals, accomodations, scholarships/loans, transportation, more computers, books, etc. There are a million more important things to consider. After all, this is an education centre and not a fashion centre.
To make it more ironic, engineering students are normally taught how to be economic in their projects n stuff and this is waaay above economic.
However, having said that, there was this one time I sat in a REALLY REALLY Comfortable chair (notice the capitalised 'C') in one company's meeting room. I nearly slept in it! Having comfortable chairs is important but there are definitely less-expensive options than a $2,000++ chair!
To make it more ironic, engineering students are normally taught how to be economic in their projects n stuff and this is waaay above economic.
However, having said that, there was this one time I sat in a REALLY REALLY Comfortable chair (notice the capitalised 'C') in one company's meeting room. I nearly slept in it!
Having comfortable chairs is important but there are definitely less-expensive options than a $2,000++ chair!
| QUOTE (PloKoon @ Nov 13 2005, 05:13 PM) |
| However, having said that, there was this one time I sat in a REALLY REALLY Comfortable chair (notice the capitalised 'C') in one company's meeting room. I nearly slept in it! Having comfortable chairs is important but there are definitely less-expensive options than a $2,000++ chair! |
Haha, exactly! We won't want the students or lecturers falling asleep now right? Haha.
There should get the mechanical engineering undergrads from the design stream to design an ergonomic chair instead of buying one. Use it as a FYP project, prototype it then sell the design. Make money instead of spend money...
Instead of giving more bursaries, they going to spend over $2000 on a chair.
1 chair can save 1 student.
Rubbish spending.
1 chair can save 1 student.
Rubbish spending.
i agree. What's the point of spending $2k per chair and it's for NBS lecturers and students.
cost of 1 chair is about a semester school fee for an undergrad.
how about Engineering? Mass Communications?
I think $2k should be spent on EVERY LECTURER to brush up their CLARITY in pronunciation and learn communication skills!
Most (not all) of the lecturers either speak monotonously, or speak to the OHP, no eye contact with students, or pronounce like S#%&.
Imagine half the time trying to understand what the words the lecturer is trying to say instead of understanding what the concept the lecturer is trying to bring across.
cost of 1 chair is about a semester school fee for an undergrad.
how about Engineering? Mass Communications?
I think $2k should be spent on EVERY LECTURER to brush up their CLARITY in pronunciation and learn communication skills!
Most (not all) of the lecturers either speak monotonously, or speak to the OHP, no eye contact with students, or pronounce like S#%&.
Imagine half the time trying to understand what the words the lecturer is trying to say instead of understanding what the concept the lecturer is trying to bring across.
I have a feeling NBS is trying to be the elite school in NTU.
hehe my Company is using Herman Miller Aeron chairs now... well if u ask me i dun really find got any difference from the normal ones... except that it looks nicer! 
Now NTU's Butt open wide wide sitting on the chair for us public to poke them liao . Wouldn't those money be better use on somewhere else like helping more middle incomed sinkaporean to continue study in NTU?
this is one of the reason why the research fund in NTU getting smaller. all goes to such things. any how spend money.
the price stated is only the retail price.
if they choose to get those chairs, it will cost lesser definately from the tender.
if they choose to get those chairs, it will cost lesser definately from the tender.
| QUOTE (noelchiew @ Nov 13 2005, 07:34 PM) |
| the price stated is only the retail price. if they choose to get those chairs, it will cost lesser definately from the tender. |
How much cheaper can a $2k chair discount until?
like 10% discount ah?
which amount to $200.
(golden tap also given 10% discount if i wasn't wrong)
I have this chair at home. Very comfortable. It's needed for you need to work like for straight 8 hours and not moving. The chair is also feature in "Infernal Affairs" in Andy Lau's office, and the chair Drew Carey sits on "Whose Line Is It Anyway."
I bought it at $800 if I'm not wrong. Original price is $1200 to $1500 me thinks.
But then again, I guess I was so heavy that the side of the seat cracked after 2 years.
I bought it at $800 if I'm not wrong. Original price is $1200 to $1500 me thinks.
But then again, I guess I was so heavy that the side of the seat cracked after 2 years.
| QUOTE (Booker @ Nov 13 2005, 08:46 PM) |
| I have this chair at home. Very comfortable. It's needed for you need to work like for straight 8 hours and not moving. The chair is also feature in "Infernal Affairs" in Andy Lau's office, and the chair Drew Carey sits on "Whose Line Is It Anyway." I bought it at $800 if I'm not wrong. Original price is $1200 to $1500 me thinks. But then again, I guess I was so heavy that the side of the seat cracked after 2 years. |
Figure most people should practise abit of common sense or logic when comes to working long continous hours, ala staring in to a screen or just working seated. The human body have its "alarm" & reaction to those, aches & pain. If experiencing these, should just get up for a stretch or break rather than an excuse for jillion dollar designed chair or LCD
hmmmmm so wats nex they gonna buy?
the OSIM i Desire?
maye the one approving the budget signed it while sitting on one bought not by his money
the OSIM i Desire?
maye the one approving the budget signed it while sitting on one bought not by his money
IF i were to find somethings debatable there, it gonna be quiet a lot so "diam diam" and just get my degree....what they do to the sch sadly is beyond my control....
just not hike in sch fees this 3.5 ys more.....
just not hike in sch fees this 3.5 ys more.....
look at the article -- the word is "that can cost 2,200". Anyone know whether this is the retail price or the tender price?
Let's look at it with perspective, if the price is actually retail price, then the Papers really did not give the right spin in the article and just wanted to create some hype about the whole "golden tap" thing.
For tenders the prices can be really low and can be competitive. given also the 12 year warranty -- well it might make sense; if the warranty is comprehensive enough.
My two cents-- there is more than meets the eye lor
Let's look at it with perspective, if the price is actually retail price, then the Papers really did not give the right spin in the article and just wanted to create some hype about the whole "golden tap" thing.
For tenders the prices can be really low and can be competitive. given also the 12 year warranty -- well it might make sense; if the warranty is comprehensive enough.
My two cents-- there is more than meets the eye lor
one example is the tender for the new police cars.
i cant rem the figures, but the subarus were really cheap!
correct me if i'm wrong. i'm just relying on memory.
i cant rem the figures, but the subarus were really cheap!
correct me if i'm wrong. i'm just relying on memory.
i'm sitting on one of teh chairs right now... if u buy in bulk it costs below $1k
my company also using the chair. have to agree that it's indeed comfortable as i'm slaving in front of PC nearly 10 hours a day.
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