The Haworth Very Task Chair Buyer’s Checklist: What I Learned After $3,800 in Mistakes

Who This Checklist Is For

If you're a procurement manager, office manager, or remote worker trying to buy a Haworth Very Task Chair (or any high‑end ergonomic chair) for the first time, this checklist is for you. I've been responsible for outfitting three offices over the last 5 years, and I've personally made (and documented) 11 significant ordering mistakes — adding up to roughly $3,800 in wasted budget. Now I maintain our team's pre‑purchase checklist so nobody repeats my errors.

Below are 5 steps plus a set of gotchas that most first‑time buyers miss. Follow them in order, and you'll avoid the worst pitfalls. I'll use the Haworth Very Task Chair as our example, but the logic works for any premium chair.

Step 1: Measure Yourself (Don’t Guess Your Size)

What most buyers do: assume “one size fits all” or rely on vague height ranges.
What I learned: seat depth, lumbar height, and armrest width are specific to your body. In 2022, I ordered 12 Very chairs based on the vendor's “standard” recommendation — they all had to be returned because the seat pan was too long for our shorter team members. Cost: $240 in restocking fees plus a 2‑week delay.

Your checklist:

• Measure your popliteal height (back of knee to floor) — this determines the correct seat height range. I use a simple online chronological age calculator to check if my measurements align with typical ergonomic tables (though height and leg length matter more than age).
• Measure your hip width while seated — the Very Chair comes in two seat widths (standard and wide). I once ordered all wides for a team where only one person needed it; the extra space actually caused discomfort for the others.
• Check the lumbar support range — the Very Chair has adjustable lumbar height. Mark where your lower back naturally curves, then verify the chair's range covers it.

Pro tip: Use a free limit calculator to set your maximum budget before you start measuring — once you see the options, it's easy to overspend. I learned that after a $1,200 splurge on a chair that didn't fit anyone.

Step 2: Verify Compatibility With Your Existing Desk

Most people focus on the chair itself and forget the desk. The Very Chair's seat height range is 15.5" – 20.5" (standard cylinder). If you have a fixed‑height desk at 29", anyone shorter than 5'4" will have their thighs angled upward — terrible for circulation.

Mistake I made: In September 2023, I ordered 8 Very chairs for a team that used standing desks. I didn't check the chair's minimum height when the desk was lowered. Result: three people couldn't get their feet flat on the floor. We had to order low‑profile cylinders ($85 each plus labor). That mistake cost roughly $350 and a week of productivity.

Checklist item: Compare the chair's seat height range to your desk height (or standing desk range). Allow at least 2" of clearance between the top of your thighs and the desk underside.

Step 3: Test the Armrests in Your Actual Workflow

The Very Chair offers 4D armrests (height, width, depth, pivot). Sounds great — until you realize they don't slide under your desk for typing. The pivot function is nice, but the arms are relatively thick. If you use a keyboard tray or a pull‑out drawer, the arms may hit the desk edge before you're close enough.

How I caught this: After the third rejection in Q1 2024, I created a pre‑check list that includes a “armrest clearance test” with the actual desk. We now bring a sample chair to the user's workstation and simulate 20 minutes of typing. This simple step has saved us from ordering the wrong arm configuration on 4 subsequent purchases.

Side note: While waiting for the test results, one of our designers mentioned she was learning how to bake polymer clay to make custom keycaps. It's a completely different skill, but it reminded me that office comfort is personal — just like a chair, a desk ornament can affect your mood. (Okay, back to the checklist.)

Step 4: Don’t Rely Solely on the “Standard” Configuration

Haworth's Very Chair has several options: mesh vs. padded seat, different lumbar supports, adjustable vs. fixed arms, and three casters types. Most online stores show one “base” model. If you order the base model thinking you'll upgrade later, you'll pay more for aftermarket parts (and void the warranty on some items).

My worst mistake: In October 2022, I ordered 20 Very Chairs with the standard mesh back and foam seat. The team loved the back but found the foam too firm after 2 hours. I'd assumed “standard” was the safe choice. It wasn't. We ended up buying aftermarket seat pads ($45 each) that didn't match the chair's color — looked unprofessional. Total extra spend: $900.

Checklist item: Order at least two different configuration samples (e.g., one with the digital knit back and one with film back) and let your team sit in them for half a day before committing to a volume order. Use a limit calculator to compare the total cost of the base model + accessories vs. the fully configured model you actually want — often the latter is cheaper overall.

Step 5: Factor in Lead Time and Assembly

The Haworth Very Chair is made to order and typically ships within 5–10 business days in the US (as of January 2025). But if you customize the color (e.g., using Digital Knit), lead time can stretch to 15–18 business days. I once needed chairs for a new hire's first day and didn't check the lead time — they sat on a folding chair for two weeks. That earned me a reputation as “the guy who forgets logistics.”

Assembly is usually free (white glove service) for bulk orders, but verify this. Some online stores add a $50‑$75 assembly fee per chair. I've caught this hidden cost on two orders after the fact — $600 total wasted.

Checklist item: Before clicking “buy”, ask for a written quote that includes estimated ship date (not just “in stock”) and whether assembly is included. Add a 2‑business‑day buffer for your own sanity.

Bonus: The Things Nobody Tells You (But Should)

• Carpet vs. hardwood casters: The Very Chair comes with hard casters standard. If you have hardwood floors, you'll need the soft casters — or you'll scratch the floor. I didn't specify and had to replace 15 casters ($12 each).
• The warranty is 12 years (as of 2025), but it doesn't cover fabric staining or damage from improper cleaning. Read the fine print.
• Return policies vary by store. Haworth's own store allows returns within 30 days but charges a 15% restocking fee plus return shipping. Some authorized dealers are more flexible — ask before you order.

Final thought: An informed customer asks better questions and makes faster decisions. I'd rather spend 10 minutes explaining options than deal with mismatched expectations later. If you take only one thing from this checklist: measure your team, test the armrests with their actual desk, and always get a written lead time. And yes, after all that, you can finally relax and learn how to bake polymer clay — but make sure your chair is comfortable enough to sit in while you do it.