by Philip |
Last Updated: May 26, 2016 When you buy something using the links on our posts, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Learn more.
The Full Body Shiatsu Chair Recliner Bed BM EC69 is especially intriguing. This massage chair also doubles as a recliner. Is this the chair-bed of our dreams? Read our review to find out!
Executive Summary
At first glance, the BM EC69 looks like a marvelous bargain. You get a cheap massage chair that gives a terrific therapeutic massage. You can target specific spots for massages, and you can adjust the chair to various heights so that it fits you perfectly. It has a couple of downsides like slightly noisy motors and challenging assembly.
The catch though, is that 1 out of every 4 chairs shipped out is defective. And there is no after-sales support or warranty honor.
Are you feeling lucky? You could get a bargain chair, or you could be out several hundred bucks with nothing to show for it.
Caveat emptor.
Frankly, it’s worth spending a bit more and getting a chair with a decent warranty and good after-sales support. (And quality assurance checks, while we’re at it.)
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Last update on 2024-09-11 at 10:01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / More info
Product Details
We’ve failed to track down the identity of the manufacturer, which would lead us to discuss the suppliers instead. However, we are also loathe to give those companies unearned publicity due to bad feedback on returns and repairs.
Specifications
• Item Weight: 200 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 200 pounds
• Origin: China
Warranty
The Amazon seller does not provide readily available information on the warranty for the BM EC69. See our Cons section below for more information.
Main Features
• The BM EC69 has a range of massage techniques to choose from: Rolling, Kneading, Shiatsu, Compression, Percussion, Chop Action Tapping, and Flapping
• In addition to massage rollers, it carries vibrators strategically placed for your feet, calves, buttocks and thighs, back. The vibration stimulates blood vessel dilation and helps eliminate impurities and toxins from your blood, tissues, and organs.
Pros
Cheap
The BM EC69 is one of the lowest-priced massage chairs on the market. If budget is a concern, this very affordable chair might interest you.
Effective Massages
The BM EC69 gives a firm massage that’s geared more towards being therapeutic rather than relaxing. It won’t put you to sleep but it will work out the kinks in your back. People with lower back pain report that the chair is effective at relieving their discomfort.
It also allows you to target problem spots that need more attention so that you can get your neck, back, legs, and buttocks individually massaged if necessary.
Adjusts To Height
Height adjustment is a feature that’s actually not too common. Thus, it becomes one of the strengths of this particular massage chair.
Even at much higher price points, quite a lot of massage chairs don’t adjust to height at all. Worse, most are set to fit people less than 6 feet tall. Even then, they may give taller people some trouble regarding getting neck and lower back massages.
The BM EC69 allows you to adjust the shoulder height so that people from 5 feet tall to 6’2” can sit in it easily. A 6’2” individual sitting in the chair can get a full massage from his neck to his lower back without issues.
Cons
No Assembly Instructions
You’ll have a great time guessing which tab slides into which slot, because the BM EC69 comes with no instruction manual. There are also some fuses whose intended destination is a bit tricky to figure out.
Motor Is Quite Audible
The BM EC69 doesn’t make a tremendous amount of noise, but it’s definitely noticeable. You’ll hear the chair running the entire time unless you’ve got some nice music and noise-cancelling earphones.
Uncomfortable Back + Back Rollers Can Be Too Strong
You take a sip of your afternoon drink, lean back for a soothing massage, and… get jolted around violently. To add to your discomfort, the BM EC69 chair back feels lumpy.
This doesn’t bother everyone. Just some people, depending on one’s sensitivity.
There’s an easy solution for both the noise and discomfort though. Unzip the back cover and insert some padding. It will both cushion the rollers to dampen the massage intensity and also make the chair back feel softer for you.
High Chance of Breaking Early
You have to wonder what is going on at the BM EC69 factory. Twenty-four percent of online buyers report the chair arriving already defective, or breaking down within a few months of use. Some break down within days.
The breakage can be related to any part of the chair and isn’t concentrated on a single area. Customers have reported the massage programs no longer running, the chair randomly turning on and off, the back rollers refusing to function, and so on.
Much Ado (and Secrecy) About the Warranty
When you look at the BM EC69 warranty page, it merely says to contact the seller directly. Buyers have then reported that when they contact the seller, they still cannot get a straight answer on the warranty.
Poor to Non-existent After-Sales Support
To add insult to injury, there seems to be no after-sales support whatsoever.
When the buyers of said broken BM EC69 massage chairs above contacted the seller on Amazon, they either received no response or were refused any assistance. No repairs, no replacements.
It looks like you’re out of luck (and your hard-earned cash) if you fall into the unlucky group that gets a faulty chair.
To clarify, here we’re talking about third parties selling via Amazon – as always, Amazon themselves will do their best to sort out your issues.
What about sellers who aren’t on Amazon? Strangely, there also seems to be little to no support from other sellers. Newegg seller Best4Less only offers its 30-day return policy under the chair’s warranty section. Factory Direct Wholesale on Rakuten provided no support for a BM EC69 that broke within a year. Perhaps the loss from so much breakage became too cost-inefficient for them to cover. Who knows for sure?
Note: Beware also of using the SquareTrade electronics protection plan to cover your massage chair. One buyer purchased a 3-year plan but SquareTrade refused to cover the breakage that occurred within the first year.
Conclusion
The BM EC69 can be a great massage chair—when it works. Its massage is effective at relieving lower back pain and can be targeted at problem spots. It’s a good option for really tall people. It’s a bargain at the price.
However, it’s frankly not worth the risk. It’s only a bargain if it works for you and there’s a 24% chance it won’t. Unless you’re willing to risk never needing after-sales support, you’re better off looking for a different massage chair.
- 【Easy Controls with Large screen】 Our Massage Chair is in a Easy way to use: With Screen control. It will smoothly and safely control...
- 【Space Capsule Zero Gravity】 Our Massage Chair there is one-button for zero gravity angles for zero gravity massage, clicking the button...
- 【Foot Relax】Located on the bottom of the feet that provide a soothing kneading style application with air bag full roller kneading. As...
Last update on 2024-09-11 at 10:01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / More info
Author: Philip Andrew
A writer and teacher who enjoys lazing around and building winter nests out of duvets. “Most are too itchy. You’ve got to be picky.” His goal is to create a complete home spa for 24/7 access to rest and relaxation. Next on the agenda: a barrel sauna for the garden. Connect with Philip on Twitter @completehomespa.