In short
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A used massage chair can be a good deal if three things are true: the mechanics run quietly, spare parts are available for the model, and the price is significantly less than half of the original new price. It becomes risky with no-name models without distribution in Germany, as the first repair there is often also the last. Here is the checklist.
What ages in a massage chair
- The airbags. They become porous and no longer hold pressure. You'll notice this if one side presses noticeably weaker than the other.
- The upholstery. Faux leather tears at the edges, especially at the front edge of the seat and on the armrests. This is cosmetic, not technical.
- The track. If the roller mechanism no longer runs smoothly, you'll hear grinding or jerking. Expensive.
- The control. Displays and remote controls fail. If there's a replacement, it's cheap; otherwise, it's a total loss.
- The compressor. Runs for a long time, but when it goes, half of the air massage goes with it.
What are normal noises and what indicates a defect can be found in the article how loud a massage chair is.
The on-site checklist
Never buy without trying it out, and never without power. What can be checked in ten minutes:
- Run a full body program, don't just turn it on.
- Let rollers move from bottom to neck and pay attention to smooth operation.
- Feel each airbag individually: arms, shoulders, hips, calves, feet. Differences between sides are a warning sign.
- Raise the backrest fully and lower it fully, twice. A sputtering motor for raising is expensive.
- Turn on the heating function and place your hand on it after five minutes.
- Examine the upholstery at the seat edge, armrests, and neck area.
- Look under the chair: traces of oil indicate leaky mechanics.
Questions for the seller
- How old is the device and how often has it been used? A chair from a studio has many times the operating hours of a living room device.
- Are there invoices and warranty documents? Residual warranty often transfers with a private purchase.
- Does the manufacturer still exist in Germany and does it supply spare parts?
- Has anything been repaired, and if so, what?
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