Because ordering a $500 gaming chair online and hating it wasn't stressful enough

Secretlab, known for its premium gaming chairs and desks, is opening physical stores in the US for the first time. This includes a dedicated shop in Los Angeles and small retail spaces inside 15 Best Buy locations across nine states, launching November 18th. The move aims to let customers try before they buy—a novel concept for a company whose products have traditionally been a high-stakes online purchase.

The impact is minimal for most engineers, unless your job involves retail planning. For users, it means you can finally sit in that $700 Titan Evo gaming chair before committing, and maybe walk out with it same-day instead of waiting weeks for shipping. It's a classic 'brick-and-mortar for a digital-native brand' play, offering the same products with a side of in-store luck draws and Pokémon collabs. The takeaway: even in the age of everything-as-a-service, sometimes you just need to touch the expensive thing.