I rate everything on a "per dollar" basis, and when considering this, the chair is certainly 5-stars.
I brought this home early last night and set it up, and folks, I'm tickled pink! I spent the entire day going from place to place, {including another popular membership store), checking out powered theater recliners that cost up to $2,500, and I just couldn't see the point.
I have now used this $399 chair from Sam's Club for about 6 hours, and have thoroughly tried out all the features. I am typing this review from it now - rather comfortably mind you - and I have zero complaints that are worth anywhere near the extra cost of anything else I tried. Even if this thing breaks in five years, which I don't expect, I still would have no complaints.
It reclines and even has a motorized headrest, which I had decided was a 'must-have' feature. {You will also find it is usually a feature found only on more expensive chairs.) The bottom/footrest/backrest works as a unit with a single switch, pretty much like any other recliner. Then the headrest works independently, with it's own switch. Everything is on the switch panel inside the right arm, which I find is easiest to reach and operate with a thumb. The chair also has two nice, fabric-lined storage compartments - one on each armrest. I saw a reviewer complain that his compartment door kept breaking as he is entering/exiting the chair, but I have come to the conclusion that he must be doing something wrong. I barely even touch these parts during these transitions. I guess the moral here is to not use these doors for serious handholds if you are super-heavy or just clumsy.
There is also a cup holder on the left armrest, and a cordless phone charger on the right armrest. Inside the right storage compartment are two 120V AC power outlets, a USB A outlet, and a USB C outlet. The chair even has colored LED lights around the cup holder and in front of the base at floor level. These can be set to either, green, blue or red. This eye-popping feature is controlled by a small button on the switch panel. Boring people can turn them off, but I think I will leave mine on red.
Fair warning - It is rather heavy, {I think I remember seeing 160 lbs on the rather large box), so make arrangements to have someone help if you don't have any strong kids to impose such things upon. It will definitely take two able-bodied people to manage it. Two young men from Sam's Club graciously loaded mine in the truck, and my son and I had no problem bringing it inside on a two-wheeled dolly. The packaging is pretty tough, and required the careful use of a utility knife, which is always a bit precarious with upholstered things. I took my sweet time and had no issues however.
There are only two pieces to put together - the base and the backrest/headrest combination - and they just slide together - literally. Then there is a power cord in a small box. It just plugs into a socket on the back of the chair and goes to the nearest wall outlet in your home. There is also a small wiring harness between the base and backrest that will need to be plugged together. It's all pretty easy, routine stuff. There is a nice instruction booklet, but I never even opened it. We didn't even know we had it until the job was finished, and it turned up when we were cleaning up the packaging. I didn't look for it because I found everything to be self explanatory, and it all just sort of fell into place. Easy-peazy is the first term that comes to mind.
In short, I really like this chair. Everyone in the family is now green with envy and scheming to get one of their own. LOL! Thanks again, Sam's Club! This is why I renew my membership year after year.