Branch Daily Chair Vegan Leather: problems, parts and running costs

Checked: 2026-10-17

Summary

Owners most often report seat-base wobble, low-back discomfort and unpadded armrests on this $259 task chair. There are no consumables or scheduled parts, so yearly running cost is effectively nothing beyond an optional protection plan. It is a good buy at $259 or less from Branch for users in the 5'0" to 6'0" fit range; the vegan leather variant at reseller pricing (about $319) is harder to justify.

Common problems and fixes

Seat-base wobble — r/OfficeChairs owners report the seat base rocking back and forth when reaching across a desk; no owner-documented fix exists, and the mechanism falls under the 5-year parts-and-components warranty. [8]
Unpadded armrests — the armrests are hard polymer, and theSkimm’s editor reported elbow discomfort after three months of use; the only owner-level workaround is that the armrests are removable. [7]
Seat too long for shorter users — the seat depth is fixed at 19 in; a 5'5" owner of Branch’s Ergonomic Chair found even that seat ran inches too long at its shortest setting, which points to the same risk here. [3][9]
Vegan leather carries the shorter warranty — all fabrics, including the vegan leather upholstery, are covered for 3 years versus 5 for parts, and cleaning-chemical damage is excluded; no owner data on long-term cracking or peeling exists. [5]

Parts and consumables

No replaceable parts or consumables reported.

Yearly running cost

There are no consumables, filters or scheduled parts, so a typical owner spends $0 per year keeping the chair running; normal wear, including any aging of the vegan leather, is on the owner. The only optional extra is Branch’s Extend protection plan covering accidental rips, tears and stains; no price for it was published in the sources.

When it is a good buy

At $259 or less (Branch US, 2026-10): a reasonable budget pick for 6-8 hour workdays within Branch’s 5'0" to 6'0" fit range, with the wobble, low-back and seat-depth caveats above. Register the warranty within 7 days of delivery if you buy third-party; direct Branch purchases do not need registration. [1][4]
The vegan leather variant adds $60 over mesh at reseller OfficeChairsUSA, bringing it to about $319 (2026-10); that buys looks rather than ergonomic upgrades, and above $300 the value is poor for this model. [2][1]
Better picks at other prices: the Branch Softside Chair at $299 (2026-10) is Wirecutter’s style pick if you want more comfort and style; the Branch Ergonomic Chair at $369 (2026-10) is the better choice when lower-back support or more adjustability matters more than price. [11][1]