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Re: MOM splurges on $575 designer chairs. Is the Manpower Minister being imprudent?
You mean together or separately?
You mean together or separately?
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MOM splurges $272k on $575 designer chairs. Is the Manpower Min being imprudent?
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Re: MOM splurges on $575 designer chairs. Is the Manpower Minister being imprudent?
Yes i agreed... boss.... but it can be done the other way round. This chair rested on prataman...
Yes i agreed... boss.... but it can be done the other way round. This chair rested on prataman...
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Re: MOM splurges $272k on $575 designer chairs. Is the Manpower Min being imprudent
Aiyah,u all know sinkees lah,tulan is one thing,but u give them a bit of goodies(GDP Growth Shares),abit of lift upgrading,abit of CPF top-up.etc ...sinkees will be bought over easily....really no backbone.In other countries,the people will die for freedom and democracy,here sinkees will die for free textbooks,upgrading,free meals,etc
police since last time also like that, thats why a lot good policeman like ramseth, golden dragon and myself left.a lot of those Div 2 and Div 3 people in the civil service kena all these multi tasking shit! a lot tulan with pap liao. pap thought civil servants all typical pap supporters, they are dead wrong.
ISD pls let your master know this!
Aiyah,u all know sinkees lah,tulan is one thing,but u give them a bit of goodies(GDP Growth Shares),abit of lift upgrading,abit of CPF top-up.etc ...sinkees will be bought over easily....really no backbone.In other countries,the people will die for freedom and democracy,here sinkees will die for free textbooks,upgrading,free meals,etc
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Re: MOM splurges on $575 designer chairs. Is the Manpower Minister being imprudent?
You mean PrataMan likes it from behind?
Yes i agreed... boss.... but it can be done the other way round. This chair rested on prataman...
You mean PrataMan likes it from behind?
Re: MoM really need to order Herman Miller chairs : here's why!
Didn't have the cheek to call myself MentorSage.
Didn't have the cheek to call myself MentorSage.
Is $575 chair too expensive for civil servants?
Judging from the Health minister , we got the answer that they are going to use the chairs for full 12 years before replacement.
http://health.asiaone.com/Health/News/Story/A1Story20110328-270471.html
Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan ordered these chairs as well as office systems when he was chief executive officer at the National University Hospital (NUH) some 25 years ago.
Replying to The New Paper's questions on the Ministry of Manpower's (MOM) decision to buy 472 Herman Miller Celle chairs for its staff, Mr Khaw said that one has to look at the lifetime cost of the chairs to see if they are worth it or not.
Quality
Each of the chairs cost MOM $575.
Mr Khaw said you can buy cheaper chairs, but if you have to replace the chairs every eight years or so, then the cheaper chair's lifetime cost would not be as cost-effective as the more expensive one.
Mr Khaw was speaking to The New Paper at a specially arranged lunchtime interview touching on broad-ranging subjects.
The subject of the chairs came up incidentally and he said: "I used to sit in a Herman Miller chair when I was at NUH."
He said he was impressed by the chairs as he was given a very old Herman Miller chair to judge its quality instead of a brand new one.
"They shipped in a chair that had been in use for more than 20 years to show us that after so long, it is still in very good condition," he said.
He added that, like MOM, he also managed to get a very good deal from the supplier.
"I believe Neptune Orient Lines was their first customer here and we were either their second or third customer," he said.
He said he ordered about 150 office sets and chairs back then.
"I think the chairs might still be there (NUH)," he said.
Meanwhile, Xtra Designs, which won the tender to supply the chairs to MOM, and is the sole authorised dealer for Herman Miller here, received several enquiries yesterday.
Its managing director, Mr Lim Choon Hong, said a number of people had called or e-mailed to ask if they could order one or two or even 10 chairs at the same price of $575 each.
The Celle chairs retail at $1,200 each.
"I am having difficulty trying to manage people's perception of the chair and their expectations," he told The New Paper.
He said that the price quoted for MOM is a special one as it is a bulk purchase.
"For bulk purchases, we are prepared to sell it at a lower margin. It's possible that for a project like this, the discount can be even higher because it is shipped here in bulk and we can save on shipping costs," said Mr Lim.
For those in the know, $575 for a Celle chair is a steal.
But it is not possible to retail these chairs for that price, said Mr Lim. However, some people feel the Herman Miller chairs are too extravagant for civil servants.
A Facebook page had been set up to discuss MOM's purchase of the chairs.
What about the user's health?
Said Dr Liew Yow Ming, an orthopaedic surgeon in Mount Alvernia Hospital: "There are many causes for back problems. You don't need an expensive chair to prevent back problems. You need a chair that is wide enough, and it is set for your eyes to be around the height of the computer."
But he added that an ergonomic chair that helps the user to have better posture can help those with back problems caused by poor sitting posture.
Judging from the Health minister , we got the answer that they are going to use the chairs for full 12 years before replacement.
http://health.asiaone.com/Health/News/Story/A1Story20110328-270471.html
Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan ordered these chairs as well as office systems when he was chief executive officer at the National University Hospital (NUH) some 25 years ago.
Replying to The New Paper's questions on the Ministry of Manpower's (MOM) decision to buy 472 Herman Miller Celle chairs for its staff, Mr Khaw said that one has to look at the lifetime cost of the chairs to see if they are worth it or not.
Quality
Each of the chairs cost MOM $575.
Mr Khaw said you can buy cheaper chairs, but if you have to replace the chairs every eight years or so, then the cheaper chair's lifetime cost would not be as cost-effective as the more expensive one.
Mr Khaw was speaking to The New Paper at a specially arranged lunchtime interview touching on broad-ranging subjects.
The subject of the chairs came up incidentally and he said: "I used to sit in a Herman Miller chair when I was at NUH."
He said he was impressed by the chairs as he was given a very old Herman Miller chair to judge its quality instead of a brand new one.
"They shipped in a chair that had been in use for more than 20 years to show us that after so long, it is still in very good condition," he said.
He added that, like MOM, he also managed to get a very good deal from the supplier.
"I believe Neptune Orient Lines was their first customer here and we were either their second or third customer," he said.
He said he ordered about 150 office sets and chairs back then.
"I think the chairs might still be there (NUH)," he said.
Meanwhile, Xtra Designs, which won the tender to supply the chairs to MOM, and is the sole authorised dealer for Herman Miller here, received several enquiries yesterday.
Its managing director, Mr Lim Choon Hong, said a number of people had called or e-mailed to ask if they could order one or two or even 10 chairs at the same price of $575 each.
The Celle chairs retail at $1,200 each.
"I am having difficulty trying to manage people's perception of the chair and their expectations," he told The New Paper.
He said that the price quoted for MOM is a special one as it is a bulk purchase.
"For bulk purchases, we are prepared to sell it at a lower margin. It's possible that for a project like this, the discount can be even higher because it is shipped here in bulk and we can save on shipping costs," said Mr Lim.
For those in the know, $575 for a Celle chair is a steal.
But it is not possible to retail these chairs for that price, said Mr Lim. However, some people feel the Herman Miller chairs are too extravagant for civil servants.
A Facebook page had been set up to discuss MOM's purchase of the chairs.
What about the user's health?
Said Dr Liew Yow Ming, an orthopaedic surgeon in Mount Alvernia Hospital: "There are many causes for back problems. You don't need an expensive chair to prevent back problems. You need a chair that is wide enough, and it is set for your eyes to be around the height of the computer."
But he added that an ergonomic chair that helps the user to have better posture can help those with back problems caused by poor sitting posture.
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Re: Is $575 chair too expensive for civil servants?
Khaw knows how to justify his ministry or the cuntry.
For example , pay $8 for an operation
Khaw knows how to justify his ministry or the cuntry.
For example , pay $8 for an operation
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Re: Is $575 chair too expensive for civil servants?
He must have included one of those medishield plan. I keep telling pple, go buy those enhance medishield plan. I pay something like $30 a month but hospitalization pay next to nothing. U dun buy U pay hospital bill pay until U bankrupt.
Khaw knows how to justify his ministry or the cuntry.
For example , pay $8 for an operation
He must have included one of those medishield plan. I keep telling pple, go buy those enhance medishield plan. I pay something like $30 a month but hospitalization pay next to nothing. U dun buy U pay hospital bill pay until U bankrupt.
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Re: Is $575 chair too expensive for civil servants?
hi there
1. bro, you jumped ahead leh!
2. now, ah horse has some golden arse too.
hi there
1. bro, you jumped ahead leh!
2. now, ah horse has some golden arse too.
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Khaw Boon Wan - Herman Miller chairs is a steal bec it can last twice as long
Is $575 chair too expensive for civil servants?
By Ng Wan Ching
A CHAIR is not as simple as it looks. Take the Herman Miller chairs, renowned for their ergonomic design.
Photos: A $1,200 ergonomic chair for $575
Click on thumbnails below to view more photos. Story continues after photos.
Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan ordered these chairs as well as office systems when he was chief executive officer at the National University Hospital (NUH) some 25 years ago.
Replying to The New Paper's questions on the Ministry of Manpower's (MOM) decision to buy 472 Herman Miller Celle chairs for its staff, Mr Khaw said that one has to look at the lifetime cost of the chairs to see if they are worth it or not.
Quality
Each of the chairs cost MOM $575.
Mr Khaw said you can buy cheaper chairs, but if you have to replace the chairs every eight years or so, then the cheaper chair's lifetime cost would not be as cost-effective as the more expensive one.
Mr Khaw was speaking to The New Paper at a specially arranged lunchtime interview touching on broad-ranging subjects.
The subject of the chairs came up incidentally and he said: "I used to sit in a Herman Miller chair when I was at NUH."
He said he was impressed by the chairs as he was given a very old Herman Miller chair to judge its quality instead of a brand new one.
"They shipped in a chair that had been in use for more than 20 years to show us that after so long, it is still in very good condition," he said.
He added that, like MOM, he also managed to get a very good deal from the supplier.
"I believe Neptune Orient Lines was their first customer here and we were either their second or third customer," he said.
He said he ordered about 150 office sets and chairs back then.
"I think the chairs might still be there (NUH)," he said.
Meanwhile, Xtra Designs, which won the tender to supply the chairs to MOM, and is the sole authorised dealer for Herman Miller here, received several enquiries yesterday.
Its managing director, Mr Lim Choon Hong, said a number of people had called or e-mailed to ask if they could order one or two or even 10 chairs at the same price of $575 each.
The Celle chairs retail at $1,200 each.
"I am having difficulty trying to manage people's perception of the chair and their expectations," he told The New Paper.
He said that the price quoted for MOM is a special one as it is a bulk purchase.
"For bulk purchases, we are prepared to sell it at a lower margin. It's possible that for a project like this, the discount can be even higher because it is shipped here in bulk and we can save on shipping costs," said Mr Lim.
For those in the know, $575 for a Celle chair is a steal.
But it is not possible to retail these chairs for that price, said Mr Lim. However, some people feel the Herman Miller chairs are too extravagant for civil servants.
A Facebook page had been set up to discuss MOM's purchase of the chairs.
Criticisms and cheer
Comments range from "signs of extravagance" to "Any vacancies? hahaha!" to "Not right lah this. How can they spend money this way?"
Another netizen, Mr Matthew Ler, commented: "Have they considered Made in China alternatives which are just as ergonomic?"
But there were also those who were not critical.
Ms Patricia Lau wrote: "Buy in bulk and you can negotiate a better price. I know because we just ordered these same chairs for our colleagues here when we moved to new offices.
"And while some of you may be unhappy because it is a government purchase and ask why the folks there should sit on 'fancy' chairs, there's another group who believe that investing in ergonomic chairs help with posture and reduce back pain which ultimately improve the work life quality of their staff."
In evaluating the tender submitted, an MOM spokesman said, various factors were considered, such as the ergonomic design, durability and value for money.
"Taking all these factors into account, the successful tenderer met our requirements and offered the best value for money over the lifespan of the chairs," the spokesman said.
Mr Lim said the price MOM is paying is "value for money". The chairs have a 12-year warranty which covers all parts, including on-site support and the option to repair or replace.
He said the chairs can be seen as an ergonomic product and also as a designer chair.
"When it becomes a designer icon, its worth goes beyond its function. It then has a parallel emotional value as well," he said.
At one listed company, the cost of a chair used for general staff, with mid-back and arm-rest, is about $200. For senior management, the chairs can cost up to $500.
What about the user's health?
Said Dr Liew Yow Ming, an orthopaedic surgeon in Mount Alvernia Hospital: "There are many causes for back problems. You don't need an expensive chair to prevent back problems. You need a chair that is wide enough, and it is set for your eyes to be around the height of the computer."
But he added that an ergonomic chair that helps the user to have better posture can help those with back problems caused by poor sitting posture.
This article was first published in The New Paper.
Is $575 chair too expensive for civil servants?
By Ng Wan Ching
A CHAIR is not as simple as it looks. Take the Herman Miller chairs, renowned for their ergonomic design.
Photos: A $1,200 ergonomic chair for $575
Click on thumbnails below to view more photos. Story continues after photos.
Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan ordered these chairs as well as office systems when he was chief executive officer at the National University Hospital (NUH) some 25 years ago.
Replying to The New Paper's questions on the Ministry of Manpower's (MOM) decision to buy 472 Herman Miller Celle chairs for its staff, Mr Khaw said that one has to look at the lifetime cost of the chairs to see if they are worth it or not.
Quality
Each of the chairs cost MOM $575.
Mr Khaw said you can buy cheaper chairs, but if you have to replace the chairs every eight years or so, then the cheaper chair's lifetime cost would not be as cost-effective as the more expensive one.
Mr Khaw was speaking to The New Paper at a specially arranged lunchtime interview touching on broad-ranging subjects.
The subject of the chairs came up incidentally and he said: "I used to sit in a Herman Miller chair when I was at NUH."
He said he was impressed by the chairs as he was given a very old Herman Miller chair to judge its quality instead of a brand new one.
"They shipped in a chair that had been in use for more than 20 years to show us that after so long, it is still in very good condition," he said.
He added that, like MOM, he also managed to get a very good deal from the supplier.
"I believe Neptune Orient Lines was their first customer here and we were either their second or third customer," he said.
He said he ordered about 150 office sets and chairs back then.
"I think the chairs might still be there (NUH)," he said.
Meanwhile, Xtra Designs, which won the tender to supply the chairs to MOM, and is the sole authorised dealer for Herman Miller here, received several enquiries yesterday.
Its managing director, Mr Lim Choon Hong, said a number of people had called or e-mailed to ask if they could order one or two or even 10 chairs at the same price of $575 each.
The Celle chairs retail at $1,200 each.
"I am having difficulty trying to manage people's perception of the chair and their expectations," he told The New Paper.
He said that the price quoted for MOM is a special one as it is a bulk purchase.
"For bulk purchases, we are prepared to sell it at a lower margin. It's possible that for a project like this, the discount can be even higher because it is shipped here in bulk and we can save on shipping costs," said Mr Lim.
For those in the know, $575 for a Celle chair is a steal.
But it is not possible to retail these chairs for that price, said Mr Lim. However, some people feel the Herman Miller chairs are too extravagant for civil servants.
A Facebook page had been set up to discuss MOM's purchase of the chairs.
Criticisms and cheer
Comments range from "signs of extravagance" to "Any vacancies? hahaha!" to "Not right lah this. How can they spend money this way?"
Another netizen, Mr Matthew Ler, commented: "Have they considered Made in China alternatives which are just as ergonomic?"
But there were also those who were not critical.
Ms Patricia Lau wrote: "Buy in bulk and you can negotiate a better price. I know because we just ordered these same chairs for our colleagues here when we moved to new offices.
"And while some of you may be unhappy because it is a government purchase and ask why the folks there should sit on 'fancy' chairs, there's another group who believe that investing in ergonomic chairs help with posture and reduce back pain which ultimately improve the work life quality of their staff."
In evaluating the tender submitted, an MOM spokesman said, various factors were considered, such as the ergonomic design, durability and value for money.
"Taking all these factors into account, the successful tenderer met our requirements and offered the best value for money over the lifespan of the chairs," the spokesman said.
Mr Lim said the price MOM is paying is "value for money". The chairs have a 12-year warranty which covers all parts, including on-site support and the option to repair or replace.
He said the chairs can be seen as an ergonomic product and also as a designer chair.
"When it becomes a designer icon, its worth goes beyond its function. It then has a parallel emotional value as well," he said.
At one listed company, the cost of a chair used for general staff, with mid-back and arm-rest, is about $200. For senior management, the chairs can cost up to $500.
What about the user's health?
Said Dr Liew Yow Ming, an orthopaedic surgeon in Mount Alvernia Hospital: "There are many causes for back problems. You don't need an expensive chair to prevent back problems. You need a chair that is wide enough, and it is set for your eyes to be around the height of the computer."
But he added that an ergonomic chair that helps the user to have better posture can help those with back problems caused by poor sitting posture.
This article was first published in The New Paper.
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Re: Khaw Boon Wan - Herman Miller chairs is a steal bec it can last twice as long
1) They have a budget and the tendency is to use it all up or give it back. Giving it back will mean alot more work when asking for it back.
2) The civil service has also been know to be very liberal with tax payers' $ when it comes to pampering themselves.
1) They have a budget and the tendency is to use it all up or give it back. Giving it back will mean alot more work when asking for it back.
2) The civil service has also been know to be very liberal with tax payers' $ when it comes to pampering themselves.
Re: MOM splurges $272k on $575 designer chairs. Is the Manpower Min being imprudent
black heart khaw said he ordered 150 chairs for NUH about 25 years ago. these chairs are supposed to last a lifetime. can NUH now verify how many of these lifetime chairs are still around? i bet most probably 0. either thrown away as condemn store or spolit already. must ask kojak to email NUH for verification.
black heart khaw said he ordered 150 chairs for NUH about 25 years ago. these chairs are supposed to last a lifetime. can NUH now verify how many of these lifetime chairs are still around? i bet most probably 0. either thrown away as condemn store or spolit already. must ask kojak to email NUH for verification.
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Re: MOM splurges $272k on $575 designer chairs. Is the Manpower Min being imprudent
Hah! Khaw is around for 25 years already? Time flies, man
better brace myself for another orchard road flood
Hah! Khaw is around for 25 years already? Time flies, manbetter brace myself for another orchard road flood
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Re: MOM splurges $272k on $575 designer chairs. Is the Manpower Min being imprudent
I was asking a few friends over the weekend and surprising drew little reaction from them. They said that a normal $200 chair usually doesn't even last 3 - 4 years. If a $500 chair can have a 12 year guarantee, it's quite a good deal
I was asking a few friends over the weekend and surprising drew little reaction from them. They said that a normal $200 chair usually doesn't even last 3 - 4 years. If a $500 chair can have a 12 year guarantee, it's quite a good deal
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Re: MOM splurges $272k on $575 designer chairs. Is the Manpower Min being imprudent
Enough of your PAP cocksucker bullshit. U fucking cheebye forgot to ask why even need to replace their existing chairs in the first place. How old are their current chairs. Were they in a really bad shape, so bad that the staff cannot sit on them? How much did they pay for their current chairs and how long did it last? 12 year warranty means nothing, if they replace the chairs every 5 years, just to spend leftover money in their annual budget. Go and check any big used furniture dealers, you will find many good condition used office chairs which were sold off before their original warranty expired. I can guarantee u come back in 12 years and you will not see these chairs around anymore. They would have been replaced by another newer Herman Miller model.
Go to Lizio on Jalan Besar, u can get a brand new office chair for $99 from their clearance centre. U can also pay $149 for a better model there. U telling me this fucking Herman Miller chair is better than 5 of these $99 chairs, and can last longer than 5 of these chairs? When u buy this brand of Herman Miller, u are paying for the brand name. Understand, u fucking moron? Your Seiko watch will work just as well as your Rolex watch, except, one is a luxury brand name and cost more money. Same principal here, moron.
Enough of your PAP cocksucker bullshit. U fucking cheebye forgot to ask why even need to replace their existing chairs in the first place. How old are their current chairs. Were they in a really bad shape, so bad that the staff cannot sit on them? How much did they pay for their current chairs and how long did it last? 12 year warranty means nothing, if they replace the chairs every 5 years, just to spend leftover money in their annual budget. Go and check any big used furniture dealers, you will find many good condition used office chairs which were sold off before their original warranty expired. I can guarantee u come back in 12 years and you will not see these chairs around anymore. They would have been replaced by another newer Herman Miller model.
Go to Lizio on Jalan Besar, u can get a brand new office chair for $99 from their clearance centre. U can also pay $149 for a better model there. U telling me this fucking Herman Miller chair is better than 5 of these $99 chairs, and can last longer than 5 of these chairs? When u buy this brand of Herman Miller, u are paying for the brand name. Understand, u fucking moron? Your Seiko watch will work just as well as your Rolex watch, except, one is a luxury brand name and cost more money. Same principal here, moron.
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Re: MOM splurges $272k on $575 designer chairs. Is the Manpower Min being imprudent
hi there
1. me too!
2. same goes to the justification for the million-dollar salary thing.
3. there is simply no redress to the matter.
4. such sheep having golden arse or betterer arse mah!
hi there
1. me too!
2. same goes to the justification for the million-dollar salary thing.
3. there is simply no redress to the matter.
4. such sheep having golden arse or betterer arse mah!
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