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To the best of my knowledge, these go for around $100 each at most places on the Bowery, and you can haggle if you're buying a set.

I've seen look-alike vintage office chairs (usually in need of paint or polishing) at thrift stores for years and years. Try poking around?

It's cute, but from a practical perspective, that seat looks considerably less comfortable than the Emeco, even though it's cute. At over $600, you could probably find a better and more comfy stand-in. Am I wrong? Has anyone sat on these? Could you see sitting in one for the duration of a long dinner party?

Target has a version that looks more like the Emeco, but I wonder about its comfort/quality. $259.99 for two chairs. Anyone tried them?

http://www.target.com/Cafe-Aluminum-Side-Chair-Set/dp/B0002VISEC/qid=1222279052/ref=br_1_2/602-0841936-8262250?ie=UTF8&node=388923011&frombrowse=1&rh=&page=1

I agree... the cb2 chair looks positively painful to sit in. I think the butt contours are essential for a metal chair.

I have a knockoff set of the EMECO that I got on CRAIGSLIST. I think there is some chair website that sells them. Can't find it right now. Quite happy with the knockoff.

A word to the wise - those aluminum chairs suck the body heat right out of your bum. I have a chair cushion on the chair that I use for my desk.

I was in the CB2 in Chicago a while back and while I can't comment directly on those chairs, I was rather impressed with the overall impression of quality for the price. Better than West Elm and IKEA.

I don't have experience with the CB2 chairs, but would caution against the buy 2 and 4 suggestion unless you've seen a close grouping of these chairs and are happy with how the differences compliment each other. Slight variations in design, finish and scale might look mismatched or just "off". Sitting at a table where the chairs are different heights can be uncomfortable.

Uggh.. I hate this question. It's like comparing a Mercedes to a DaeWoo. They may have some basic characteristics in common, but the quality is miles apart. The Navy chair is expensive - and for good reasons: first, it's made in the United States, by people who get paid a living wage and health insurance. It's also made to last more than your lifetime or mine. Each chair can hold almost a ton before collapsing. And Emeco ones are also 80% recycled aluminum. (and add LEED points to projects)

The Bandit is a cheap chinese product and you should expect it to last for less than a year before it disintegrates. Restaurants all around Boston have cheap copies of the Navy chairs, and they ALL look like shit after about a week. The surface of the Bandit is a metalic paint - not actually aluminum, so it's very prone to scratching and eventual peeling. Not to mention that if any..ahem...larger folks... sit in it the Bandit is likely to collapse underneath them.

hmm, we have some knowledgeable people here about these chairs.

For those of you looking for counter or barstools, Crate & Barrel's Delta chairs and stools are very close in design.

http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=900&f=7341

Sorry, no chairs.

Modfan - the Bandit is made of polished aluminum, no paint involved. When they start to look scuffed, you buy some cleaner and re-polish them just as you will have to with the Emeco chairs. If it's made of metal, it will scuff (USA made or not). I've been super impressed with everything I've purchased from CB2, and you seem to be making some very bold assumptions about the quality of this item without having seen it.
I'd say if you like the look of the chair, and someone who ACTUALLY sat in it says it's comfy, go for it. A lot of chairs I've owned don't have the "butt grooves" (including lots of high quality, american-made stuff) and I haven't observed any noticable difference in comfort.

go with the emeco chairs (if you can afford it). they will last forever. just pray your tastes don't change.

Here's pretty much the exact replica chair for over half the price of the original --notice the listed prices is for TWO. It's much closer in style to the original than the CB2. Can't vouch for the quality of this exact item but I bought my fiance an Eames replica office chair from this company and I was very pleased with what we received.

http://stores.advancedinteriordesigns.com/-strse-677/soho-side-chair%2C-emeco/Detail.bok

Don't buy six chairs at once. Take advantage of DWR sales and buy one at a time. You will look at the chair and love it and look forward to buying more.

ChrisB - I don't remember saying that I HADNT tried the Bandit. I actually have. And I own an Emeco.

Which, by the way -you dont polish the Emecos and they dont get scuffed unless you scrape them against the pavement. Emecos finish is an oxidation of the aluminum caused by dipping it in various heat/chemical baths. It is slightly less than the hardness of a diamond (10 on Moh's scale) The Emeco aluminum is tempered up to T6. Bandit is going to be about T2. You can bend T2 aluminum with your bare hands.

Most of the finishes on the cheaper copies (and I cannot 100% vouch for the Bandit) are a silver paint that is stippled with a bruch to give the same 'brushed' look as the Emeco.

The reason that I know all of this is because I did a lot of research into making the same decision Clay asked about. And to succinctly answer Clay's original question: If you love the Emeco you will be disappointed with the Bandit.

I have 4 Emeco chairs I bought 5 years ago. They are fabulous and very durable (but do need a cushion in the winter!) I even use them on the porch when needed. When I have more than 4 for dinner, I mix in antique wood chairs that are almost exactly the same size. They look great together.
Dee

I def wouldn't do 4 and 2. I'd buy all six of the same, or buy one by one (if my budget was more limited). 'Close' but not anexact match really wouldn't work here.

I say: spend money on items that you love and that get your heart pumping. You can always save money on elements that don't excite you.

Modfan, you are awesome. Your advice was great and I'm going to pass it on to others.

Clay -- buy one chair at a time. If you can't afford it now, save money and buy later. There is no reason to buy the crappy obvious knock-off just because you can afford it now. You will regret it.

The Emeco is stunning. Just wait.

Get the Emeco. I did my research a while ago:

http://blueantstudio.blogspot.com/2007/04/emeco-navy-chair-1006-aluminum-icon.html

The target one sucks.

Ultimately, when someone comes forth with a question asking about the quality of a lower cost alternative to an expensive piece, the default answer is usually that they shouldn't even consider the cheaper piece, and that the better one is always totally worth it.
Clay simply asked if anyone had tried the CB2 chair, and if they thought the quality was decent - maybe someone who actually owns it? Or did you bend the floor model with your hands and then see it crushed under the weight of an obese person? I get the impression that the bandit must be made out of tin foil hot glue.
Maybe this guy just wants a nice chair that will hold up around the house, even though it's not diamond-hard and won't hold a fully grown elephant. Does anyone own this chair? We've established that it's not an Emeco, but how does it handle normal household wear and tear?

I got original EMECO chairs on Craigslist from a person who didn't know what they were selling ($25 each!). I believe that you can find anything you ever want on Craigslist if you wait for it to appear.

I must say, I hate the new 1006 Navy Chairs at DWR because they have a hideous EMECO stamp on the back of the seat (not underneath like older originals). I don't want to come across as a brand-whore when I have people over for dinner.

I am still unclear how Clay is going to take advantage of a sale offering a 15% discount off 6 or more chairs when you are advising him to buy only one or two. Even if he mixes and matches with the CB2 chairs (or some other similar style) he still will only be buying one or two from DWR. Am I the only one that is confused by this advice?

At any rate, I do love the Emeco chairs. However, I couldn't afford them myself. I maybe could justify one. But not six. I would probably stalk Craigslist to see if I could get a fabulous deal like medenver.

Chris - Hot glue and tin foil? Not too far off. And I might ask - have YOU had any experience with Emeco or Bandit?

And for the record, Clay asked "How's the quality? If we love Emeco, will we feel like cheapskates for the next decade for buying the Bandit?"

I dont see how I've done anything besides advise him about the quality. The Emeco are far superior chairs. Buy 2 now and add another every few months as you save up.

Why is it also a common response that the more expensive chair must only be so because of branding and prestige and has nothing to do with the quality of material, craftsmanship, historical significance, ecological, and human rights impact? That somehow all things are equal between two products that are vastly different amongst their production values, lifespan, and payoff to the end user simply because they share a vague visual resemblance?

The inherent quality of a product goes far beyond it's price tag. For the price of 6 Bandits (which will last a year or two) Clay could have 2 Emecos - which will last 100 years. If he ever decides he doesnt want the Emecos he can safely put them on Craigslist or ebay knowing that their lifespan will bring a decent return.

Get the Emeco. Tons of places sell knock-offs like Target, Chiasso, CB2, etc... But, they're all pretty shady in comparison to the real deal. Watch the videos on Emeco's website on how they make and test the chairs. If you can throw the chair off the roof of a building and it only scratches, you've got a GOOD chair. Talk about an heirloom piece.

I've seen and examined the CB2 chair in person. It's just "eh" in my mind. Nothing I'd pay money for - no matter how cheap. The solid back is VERY thin and looks cheap cheap cheap.

Invest in the quality chairs. You won't be sorry.

I have Emeco knockoffs which I have been using as my dining room chairs since 2003. I paid around $125 each for them. I have had no problems with them and have no complaints. I opted for the knock offs for 2 reasons. First, I wasn't sure I was going to love the look, so I figured if I hated them and had to sell them on Craigslist for half price, I would only be out $60 bucks a chair. Second, since there are a large number of copies and fakes out there, it is very hard to get a great resale price on original Emeco chairs. When it comes time to sell them, you will probably get no more than the price of a new knockoff each.

I agree with RichardinLA. I found 2 emeco bar stools on craigslist for $100 each. I also found an eames stool on craigslist for $200 because it had a water stain (which I got out). You don't need to buy it brand new if you have patience. If they're so well made someone will get rid of one eventually.

So basically, if you have champagne taste but (domestic) beer budget, you will forever be stuck with with the dilemma of either having chic but low-quality knock offs, which will be a vicious cycle because you will be re-purchasing over and over again... OR, you live without, trying to save up for the real thing, but pretty much will take forever because these originals are just so priced out of the stratosphere, that by the time you finally have enough money to buy that one piece, you're most likely be too old to enjoy it for long anyway. Therefor if you're not wealthy (or just actually need the money for, like, feeding your family,) forget about wanting to live with style and quality. Thanks, thanks a lot.

I own the Emeco chairs and LOVE them, just FYI. I've seen the CB2 chairs in person and they just did not look as nice, so I didn't bother to sit in them. Not sure if that helps or not.

I got my Emeco's on eBay and I think they were around $200 each if I recall correctly, so I'd try that route if I were you. I had to look a while, and I got the deal mostly because I was buying a lot of 4 instead of just one.

I also bought the rocker version of the chair for the head of the table (yes, a rocker as a dining chair....believe it or not, it looks & works great) and got it at a steal on ebay because it had a minor imperfection on the bottom of one of the rocker "legs" or whatever they are called. So you can find real Emeco's at better prices if you're willing to do a little ebay scoping, or at least I did.

I have to agree with Modfan's assessement of the Emeco vs. Bandit chair.

I saw the Bandit at the C2B store in SF a few weeks ago. I loved the look, then sat in the chair. The back is not flush with the top of chair and sitting in the chair for more than five minutes is uncomfortable.

You get what you pay for; invest in the Emeco. Given their value in the marketplace, you could always put them on CL and get most of your money back if you don't love them.