Hey guys! This is the latest series coming to you, which we’re calling 121 (one to one). It’s gonna tackle two—or more—massage chairs, and give a verdict on which chair is better, worse, or about the same? By putting two similar chairs together, it can show how one chair might be favored above the other—whether it’s price, features, brand, or aesthetics, we’ll cover it all.
Let’s talk about…
Our first two chairs: The Infinity IT-8500 X3 and the Kahuna SM-7300S.
Right off the gate, I want to start out with their prices. The IT-8500 is priced at $6800. The SM-7300S is priced at $3300.
So.
There is a HUGE gap in price, but why? Let’s head on over to the features both chairs have.
Infinity IT-8500 X3
- Zero-Gravity Functionality
- S-Track
- Auto Programs & Manual Customization
- 5 Intensity Levels
- 3D Design
- Lumbar Heating
- Full Body Air Massage System
- Foot Rollers
- Bluetooth Connectivity
- Decompression Massage
Kahuna SM-7300S
- Zero-Gravity Functionality
- SL-Track
- Auto Programs & Manual Customization
- 5 Intensity Levels
- 3D Design
- Lumbar and Calf Heating
- Full Body Air Massage System
- Foot Rollers
- Bluetooth Connectivity
- Space-Saving Design
If we take a look at the list of features both chairs have, there seems to be a big problem. There is nothing drastically different between the two. In fact, you could argue that the SM-7300S is the better of the two in terms of features, as it has the superior SL-track, and a staple QoL feature in the space-saving design. The IT-8500 has a decompression massage, which is a great feature that not many massage chairs actually have. But does this one key difference account for a doubling in price?
Obviously not.
But we believe that the price is at a staggering $6800 for two reasons: the permitted retailers of Infinity have to make a profit, and it’s a luxury product of the past. When it comes to selling products, we have to factor in costs and the eventual distribution of profit. If a retailer for Infinity sells the IT-8500, they will get a split of the profit—the middleman. So we believe that that may partially be the reason why the chair is so expensive—the other reason we believe is luxury. Massage chairs are mostly still considered a luxurious product. In order to maintain their status, prices are marked higher to give a sense of uniqueness and grandeur. Back then, when not many people could afford a massage chair, it was viewed with an air of opulence. However, with how fast technology is developing and improving, older and expensive models are getting pushed out of the way for more affordable massage chairs because it is now much more accessible for an average person in the world to buy one.
This comparison was to show that older versions are quickly getting replaced with better, affordable versions of chairs without cutting back on quality—it only becomes a problem when quality is cut back on without cutting cost. The IT-8500 seems like the product of a bygone era of massage chairs that is quickly being replaced by massage chairs like the SM-7300S. I hope this has shown that doing your research is important. And this is just the first of many 121 posts that I will be making for you. So let us know what you thought about it, and we’ll see you next time!