apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Great design. But 2.5K - 3K for a chair?! I fail to understand the fascination and love for DWR. I like their products, including this chair, but they're all over priced. I'm sorry, NO chair is worth 3K to me. I know, I know.... others will say "you get what you pay for", "the quality and longevity of the piece being worth the cost", etc. Like most people though, my tastes and interests change over the years. Do I want to be stuck with a houndstooth Marcos Zanuso Lady Chair for years on end, long after I've gotten tired of it, just because I think it's "cool" now? I think not. I say give me a $500 chair that, should I wish, I can justify replacing in 5-10 years. And, no, I don't typically throw away furniture after a few years. In fact, I have a fabulous couch from the late 50's that I love, love, LOVE, and I didn't pay an exorbitant amount for it either. I'm not suggesting buying throw-away furniture, but rather buying quality furniture at a DECENT price.

Just my thoughts on DWR.

Another reason behind high prices for high design is so that not everyone and their brother will wind up having it. Like it or not, exclusivity can equate to uniqueness, which a lot of design-sensitive buyers will pay for. As long as the quality is also high, it's part of the value.

This complaint doesn't have anything to do with DWR. They are a retailer, not a manufacturer (or not much of a manufacturer, anyway). Their prices will be substantially similar to those of any other retailer/distributor of the same product. Indeed, most of their products are distributed by other retailers as well. It is fine to think their products are too expensive, but you should direct your complaints to the manufacturer (or brand owner, etc.), not the retailer/distributor. Take a look at DWR's Annual Report (they are a public company): in 2005, the generated revenues of $158.2mm, but still lost money (negative $2.1mm in net income). In 2004, they made only $3.7mm in net income on revenues of $120.6mm, a low percentage. Lest you think that the employees are raking in money, you can also learn through public filings that the CEO/President made a relatively modest salary of $284,100 in 2005 (and received no bonus, on account of the poor financial performance). Nor is she getting rich off the stock - she has a modest (by public company standards) 110,207 shares worth less than $700,000. This message is not particularly directed at you, Daily Nuance, but rather, at the many people on this website who complain about DWR and its prices. The complaints are misguided. In realty, DWR is not making any money at all (related to, more than anything else, aggressive expansion and high real estate costs).

I agree with mmm,

DWR is an easy target, probably because of the name "within reach" which has more to do with time of delivery than cost. I don't hear the same complaints about the manufacturers like Herman Miller, Vitra and Knoll.

First, I don't think its such a great chair - it looks clunky and dated. Second, I wouldn't spend that kind of money on a big bulky chair unless it converted into a bed. And Third, I like the vase much better. Is the vase for sale?

mmm and etslee, I feel the same way about DWR. DWR isn't making a fortune off of the products they sell, they just happen to sell many products with a high MSRP. As far as DWR itself is concerned, I've only purchased a couple smaller items from them but was very pleased with the customer service I recieved.

A - the chair is too clunky and awkward for my taste too. And for that price, I'd expect the chair to earn it's keep by doing housework.
I think that cute vase is the Gourd vase by Jonathan Adler - http://www.jonathanadler.com/shop/product.php?productid=16674&cat=329&page=1

Not sure why dwr gets such a bad rap on the site. I usually make a few purchases from dwr every year when they are having sales-usually 30 to 75% off. Recently I purchased a ray chair for $350 that was regualrly $1000. In addition to their great sales, they have amazing customer service. Early this year I purchased a sofa from them, on sale of course. Two months ago a crly hair pillow-yes, sale. Unfortunatly, the pillow left a die stain on my off white sofa and thought I was screwed. Two emails later Dwr replaced the sofa with a new and credited my account for the pillow. I didn't have to get angry or even request a replacement and it was all handled in 2 weeks with white glove delivery. They have acustomer for life.

i guess you cant read a chair by its presence alone.
This design won first place in the 1951 Milan Triennial due to its innovative use of latex foam.

"this comment is not a tree"

i like dwr, their catalogs, and products, but whether they make money or not should not factor into their likability. dwr decided to increase overhead on their own,
now about that $3000 chair, what's the big deal other designer chairs cost just as much or more, i don't understand what seems like sour grapes when it comes to something beyond others budgets. isn't anyone aspirational anymore? instead they just sound bitter.

patrick: I'm very aspirational and can certainly afford a $3K chair. My budget isn't a problem. Spending $3K on a chair is simply an incredible waste of money, money that could be far more wisely and to much greater benefit be spent elsewhere.

Having sat in the chair, I find it incredibly, deceptively comfortable. Also, at 30" x 30", I think it fits in an nyc apartment nicely.

I think that sometimes people focus on the "within reach" part of the name but forget about the "design." The fact is that this item, and many others offered at DWR, are design landmarks.

Sure, there are less expensive and equally-functional seating alternatives - just like a quartz watch tells time equally (or perhaps better) than a mechanical watch. Yet, what you get with these pieces (much like some high-priced mechanical watches) is the knowledge of owning a design marvel - a piece of art, if you will. In that capacity, $3K for a nice watch or for a nice piece of art is a price that is "within reach."

Daily Nuance go buy some IKEA furniture as you have no taste and no appreciation for not only art but for sophistication and beauty!

Congratulations Zanuso for giving the world timeless grace in the "Lady" Chair.