Depending on how you buy, the same product can vary wildly in price. It’s not exactly what you might think though, and you don’t necessarily need to spend days refreshing marketplaces to get a good deal.
So with that said: How much does an Eames lounge chair cost? Depends who you ask …
Note we are only talking about real Eames chairs here: that means made by Herman Miller (in the US) or Vitra (in Europe). If you see anything “in the style of”, it means it’s a replica, so be wary!
If you buy new from Herman Miller you’re looking at about $7k, including taxes and shipping.
Your neighbourhood mid-century dealer (or 1stDibs) might be willing to sell you one for $9k: it’s vintage, it’s worth more, they’ll say (it’s true).
On platforms like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist, you might snag one for $2000 - if you're lucky. But that kind of deal only comes around once a month to once a week in most cities, and you have to be quick to grab it. It could also have some flaws.
But there’s a third option: auction houses. Vintage and designer furniture often trade at auction for half the retail price. It’s not exactly a steal, but it’s significantly cheaper than buying from a dealer.
Of course, there is no free lunch: you either place a bid in advance and hope for the best, or you need to be logged in at the right moment—and there the spur-of-the-moment can make you go above budget.
Then there’s the logistics of getting your new purchase home. Sometimes you can arrange it directly with the seller, other times you need to go through a third party. You need to get on the phone to get quotes, usually in the US it will cost you anywhere between $300 and $800. If it’s from Europe, shipping can be significantly more expensive, and you might need to speak the local language.
Some sites to check out include Liveauctioneers and Invaluable in the US, the Saleroom in the UK, and Interenchères in France. Anyone can buy from any country, but the logistics are on you.
