Are you purchasing a 'Like New' Aeron chair?

Firstly you are making a great choice and with Herman Miller you will be dealing with an outstanding company.

To protect yourself during this transaction you should only purchase your Aeron from an authorized dealer.
Why? Only an authorized dealer can actually sell you a warrantied Aeron.
These dealers can be found locally, on the internet, and on eBay as well, see the section entitled Finding a good seller, below.
You can find and search the listings of all of these Herman Miller dealers at their website.

I mention protecting yourself because there are several entities selling Aeron chairs as Like New and or Refurbished, these chairs are actually deceptively re-conditioned. This re-conditioning involves painting frames and fabrics, the placement of faux plastic booties on the chair legs.
All of measures are taken to disguise chairs that have actually lived out most of their lifespan already.
The merchants perpetrating this fraud can be found on eBay and various dot.coms
Please see the eBay auction buying tips section below for safe buying tips.

Why all of this caution? An Aeron chair has a 12 year warranty when purchased new, and that warranty does not transfer from the original purchaser. So if you were to purchase an Aeron from one of these sketchy sellers, your  $600+ purchase is not covered by warranty and your chair is very well used and of an unknown age.

eBay auction buying tips

Avoiding bad Sellers

There are Sellers refurbishing Aerons and selling them as  Like New and or Refurbished.

These Aerons chairs are indeed no where within the realm of honest merchants definition of Like New. 
Only a Herman Miller authorized dealer can sell you a new chair.
Worse yet, they are not covered by the 12 year warranty from Herman Miller, as the warranty does not transfer from the original purchaser.

These Sellers are very creative at altering the used appearance of an Aeron to simulate a Like New condition.
How do I identify a bad seller?
Typically not disclose their location in their eBay listings
They will also use photos in auctions that are not representative of what they are selling in their attempt to defraud you, examples:

    * a picture of an unopened Herman Miller box, your chair will not arrive in that box

    * a picture of an Aeron with a forged plastic booties to simulate a new chair

    * etc... remember they are very crafty

These Sellers are good enough to fool most folks, most of the time.
Because they are able to pass off this deception they will have much higher positive feedback percentages than you would expect ( ie the 99.3% range ).

If your seller is not an authorized dealer you will not be getting a Like New Aeron. And remember only an authorized dealer can sell you a new chair that is warrantied by Herman Miller.

Finding a good seller:

How do I avoid this scam?

Purchase your chair from a Herman Miller authorized dealer:

You can find and search the listings of all of these Herman Miller dealers at their website.
Some of these dealers are eBay sellers as well, and they do identify themselves as authorized dealers within their listings. Their association can easily be checked at Herman Miler directly 888-443-4357.

Do an eBay search on New+Aeron+Authorized:
eBay search link for authorized sellers

Or find an individual Aeron seller with stellar feedback on eBay. For some logical and truthful reason these individuals have an Aeron up for auction they do not need. You can ask them for the FO number on the chair and verify that number with Herman Miller.
Remember the caveat that this Aeron will not be under warranty, but at the least you will know it is actually new.

Or purchase you chair from a dealer local to you.

Its fairly simple to tell if your chair is Like New.

Have you purchased an Aeron sold to you as Like New, and you believe is not at all so? Your hunch is very likely correct that your chair is indeed not Like New. How can you identify this fraud if you already purchased an Aeron? See below:

1st
For it to be new there would a warranty label on the underside of the chair.
The date of manufacture would also be recent, within several months of your purchase.
If this warranty label is not in place your chair is not Like New.
If this warranty label is in place is it genuine? maybe... Herman Miller can authenticate it, phone them 888-443-4357

2
Did it arrive in a Herman Miller box from an authorized dealer?

3
Was it purchased from a Herman Miller Dealer?

4
Look closely for running paint and or drips / touched up scuffs on the chair perimeter / arms with odd color or wear. An Aeron that was Like New and not refurbished would not have these or any other defects.

5
Look closely for dust under the chair seating surface, that is actually fiber from someones clothing that had been sitting there prior to you.

6
You can actually stop at the first item of no, and or an older warranty label.