Before you start complaining, yes I do know that my good friend Rothbart has already put up a review of a Sumo Lounge bean bag, and yes I am aware that his is a lot better than mine, but there is one crucial difference: he reviewed a different bean bag.
Oh yes, while Rothbart pottered about with the Sumo Lounge Sultan, I lounged onto the bean containing bag of prowess that is the Sumo Lounge Omni, a completely different experience to the Sultan.
Unlike Rothbart’s Sultan, my bean bag did not arrive in a handy cuboidal box, but instead in a massive blue bag sealed with a cable tie. I’m not sure whether Sumo Lounge cut down on packaging because my Omni was for review, or because boxes are SO last year, but it really doesn’t matter because now I have a massive bag I can fill with water and sling over my shoulder as I walk around pretending I’m Santa Claws (the Father Christmas for cats).
The first thing to note about the Omni is that it’s big. While this may not come across in pictures, I was really surprised at just how big it is. It’s really big. Like big big. Gigantic big. Yet this isn’t really a problem for me, but not because I live in a massive house where I’m served by a balding middle aged man dressed up as Cortana from Halo, but because a bean bag needs to be big. Let’s say that I hypothetically ordered an ultra small bean bag from NonSumoLivingRoom.com – it would be so small that I’d be sitting on the floor more than I was the bean bag, and that just won’t do.
The Omni’s come in a sexy range of hot funky colours, but instead of the vibrant grass-like greens, or the flame-like red, I chose black for one very good reason: it is much better for covert operations.
Picture this: It’s the middle of the night and you’re sneaking around in the undergrowth. Unfortunately you have to cross a wide open meadow that’s regularly patrolled by guards. They’d spot bright pink or orange insteantly, but black provides the maximum level of disguise, while maintaining the bullet absorbing ability of the bean bag.
I jest, I jest. Neither Sumo Lounge nor Sarcastic Gamer have any affiliation (and do not condone) undergrowth sneakings or wide open meadow crossings.
So what do we know so far? Well, it’s big, it comes in a wide variety of colours and it’s packaged in a massive blue bag. But what does all this mean? Well, it all lies in cognitive thought. The Sumo Lounge bean bag is all about communication, accessibility and productivity. When confronted with several options, you must always take the latter path, which allows for expansion and forwardness, while still conveying a sense of morality and just deserves. Yet, forlornness, does not come without it’s ties.
The Omni’s main, and most important, feature is that it is seriously comfy. You can twist and turn the bag into so many different positions, but I favoured the one which turned it into a sort of arm chair, complete with arm rests. Seriously, I’m not joking. No matter how you sit on it, you will be comfortable – and that’s a fact.
However, now we come to the Omni’s problem: it’s impractical. The size is fine, but it’s the inherent classic problem, that all bean bags suffer from, that brings it down: it’s not high enough. I have my laptop, 360, Wii, PS2, TV and all technology on my desk, so when sit on the Sumo Lounge Omni I can’t see the screen, simple as that. I’ve tried it in another room where the TV is much lower down, but even then I feel like I’m sitting on the floor when I see my friends and family sitting on chairs, that look more like thrones from my perspective. The top of my head is lower than the snack carrying side table. How is that convenient?
To find answers to this problem I walked out my office at Sarcastic Gamer HQ, past our PR department, past our Finance department (though strangely they didn’t look that busy), past Human Resources, past Legal, past our Research and Development Department, past our Future Operations and Interactive Media department, past our Logistical Infrastructure offices and arrived at the Sarcastic Gamer Bean Bag Review Editorial Offices. The guys down here don’t get much work considering we’ve only ever reviewed two bean bags (and neither of the reviews were written by them), so they were delighted to answer all my questions, of which there was one: can I still give this bean bag a good review, even if it’s so low down?
Their answer was this:
Yes of course you can. Many people will have their houses and rooms set up differently to yours: just because you like to sit at a desk, doesn’t mean everyone else does. It depends on your room layout.
Well you heard the man, if your room would suit a bean bag on the floor, then go for it. Otherwise you might like to consider putting it on top of another chair. If neither of those are a possibility, then I can’t see the Omni working for you (though another of the Sumo Lounge bean bags will, such as the Gigantor).
Our verdict?
*If your room layout is suited to a bean bag.
Note: Sumo should really change their slogan to ‘Sumo Owns’, becase if you turn the Sumo Lounge logo upside down, it spells out ‘Owns’. Thanks Doc I stole your idea!
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I like it. Oh, did I notice that “Future Operations” Is with the “Interactive Media” department? Do I sense a hint?
Other than that though, it was a good review. Answered some of my questions…made me laugh..made me cry….two thumbs up!
@ Tyler
No, sorry that was not a hint. Kudos for the close reading though!
Why not stuff pillows under the bean bag and raise it up, then in te crevases of the pillows, hide delicious num nums only you know about….
or you can buy the Sumo Gigantor instead
Heh, thanks…I always look for weird stuff like that…..
Huh, I never noticed the sumo/owns thing before but you’re right!
Beware, I bought the Omni and they go flat very quickly! The refills cost a whopping $50!!!
Update: I contacted Sumo and they have been nice enough to replace the defective beads for free. I’m very impressed with Mindy who handled the complaint and I will now stand by this company.
I’d like to add another buyer beware. I, too, ordered two Omni Plus bags at the beginning of December. I got the run around trying to get them for Christmas. Every day that I called, they would tell me that they were shipping the following day. They finally arrived in giant boxes that had fallen apart and only held together by two strips of packing tape. And to my surprise, it was a cover stuffed with filling… no liner. I’ve tried for a month, now, to get my order fixed. I always get the same answer, “Your liner is going out today.” Four weeks and several calls later, still no liner. And, I’m told that I have to assemble this gigantic mess myself (refer back to the warning about opening your bag). I’ve taken my complaints through Mindy at customer service all the way up to Andrew the company president. They simply ignore me. But, they did bill my credit card the day after I placed th order. I have filed consumer complaints against this company and contacted my state Attorney General’s office. It appears they’re good at marketing and poor at delivering a product to the customer. Beware!
I have had a major challenge trying to get my money back from SUMO lounge for an order that I never received. I had placed an order before Christmas but when it was apparent the order would not make it by Christmas (in spite of the company’s “shipping policy” offering ample time) I cancelled the order. This was over a month ago. I am still trying to get credit back to my Visa for the order. I have spoken with three customer service representatives and emailed Andrew Milligan. I was told by one customer service agent that I would receive a telephone call the following day about my refund… that was a week ago, still no call. I have a lot more to say about this company but until I get my money back I will keep it short and sweet.
I have had similar issue with these people. I ordered a Omni Plus from them, you know, the one with the straps (check my website for the link.) All went well (except for the 15 day shipping time) until after i assembled it. The damn bag was missing the straps that were advertised (the whole point of getting the omni plus.) Customer service says the “New Model” doesn’ come with straps… So, I’ve been calling them day after day to get this resolved with no luck. I’ll update people here on how far I get.
Great Post! Thank You stumble upon for bringing me here!
Wow, worst experience ever.
Ordered a sumosac couple, got the run around for over a month. Finally they sent me a generic beanbag, wrong size (smaller), and wrong color.
Continued to get the run around.
Andrew Milligan has now started calling me a schizophrenic and retarded for not being happy with his companies service.
Really unbeleivable.
Beware, the items they are shipping now, are not the same as pictured on their website.
Mindy is just a call center in toronto canada, and really has no ability to make any decisions.
Sumo has no factory or inventory.
i was finally able to get Mindy to send me a gamer. I was given a order number, which looks legit. Lets see where this goes, and if the gamer is actually the quality they have posted on their site and not a “generic” bag.
Well good luck. The beanbag i got was sent from OneUp innovations, which make the Liberator.
Here is some of Andrews Milligan (CEO of sumo) polite words to me
“look – you very difficult & unhappy person
we sold THOUSANDS & THOUSANDS of products from Dec / Jan & we got backed-up…
in life – shit happens
you got a product only slightly smaller…
when you start a multi million dollar International business & you get one customer who is just plain difficult maybe you could understand
it is almost comical & I tell you it is rather offending you claiming fraud & the likes
start your own business!!!! it is not so easy!!!! & when you get 2500 orders within 7 weeks & selling them 1 at a time & you have someone who just keeps complaining & complain hopefully you will laugh at it!!!
you still got a free product – if you don’t like it throw it out!!”
Nice eh!
Anyway, if your having problems with this company I highly suggest you open a Paypal dispute. Very effective…
My last post disappeared so I will give another update on my Sumo Lounger. They sent me replacement beads (because the beads in the loungers go flat very quickly) but they sent me the same lame beads. And adding the lame beads into the lounger is a JOKE. DO NOT open the beads in the house or outside. They will blow everywhere making a HUGE mess!! And they are the same original lame beads and they cost $50!!!!!! I talked Mindy into sending them for free but I can’t even fathom paying 50 bucks for these beads. Anyway since they’re the same beads the 2 loungers will go FLAT again in no time (and i weigh only 125 lbs) so I will just ditch the loungers when they do. Hopefully I can recycle them.
What is Andrew Milligan’s contact information. I would like to ask him a few questions myself.
Its pretty easy. Go to the sumo website, and go to ‘contact’ on the bottom. There will be an email address for customer care, and also andrews email address. It is also the paypal address fyi. Good luck.
I ended up getting a gamer for free, so now i have 2 huge pillows in my room. They still are not what they used to sell, like you said, they switched factories and are manufacturing them differently. Still very nice bags though, no complaints on the actual product so far.
Ya, they are definatley not selling what they are advertising on their website. I think anyone can get one free, because once you receive it there is no way to ship it back (it would cost twice the value of it!).. They really have no choice except to give your money back!