Last updated: March 25th, 2025
The rebranding on Zen Space Desks to Stando in 2024 caused significant confusion for customers of the standing desk manufacturer.
With online speculation that Zen Space Desks had gone out of business or pulled an exit scam — many people were worried about being able to claim against their warranty, source replacement parts or fix technical issues with their desks.
(Related: Steelcase Migration SE Pro Standing Desk Review).
What Happened To Zen Space Desks?
Zen Space Desks started in 2016 in Brisbane, founded by Lewis Back, who is the company’s Managing Director.
On the current Stando website ‘About us’ page, Lewis has penned an introductory message explaining his journey from QUT business student to standing desk business owner, selling direct to market.
He describes a growing business that was able to move into commercial sales and capitalise on the COVID-19 move to remote work by “supplying tens of thousands of staff working from home”.
(Related: 9am Robin Pro Standing Desk Review).
Going by customer reviews online, the second half of 2023 saw the company experience a number of supply issues that led to delays, poor communication, and cancelled orders.
One reviewer wrote in September ‘23:
Then, in early 2024, there was a mysterious period of non-communication — when the Zen Space Desks website went dark and emails weren’t being answered.
It seems many were left unable to get support, repairs or refunds.
One Reddit user posted in April that they were:
The user claims to have contacted NSW Fair Trading, who were also unable to reach anyone from the company.
It turns out, the business still lives, and has been operating again under the Stando name since June 2024.
Important!
Stando doesn’t rank in our list of the Top 15 Best Standing Desks In Australia, but there are a multitude of options on the market.
In his ‘About us’ message on the Stando site, founder Lewis Back doesn’t provide any explanation for the transition to Stando, or the months of radio silence customers experienced.
But the good news is that Stando has committed to providing warranty support for Zen Space Desks customers.
(Related: UpDown Standing Desk Review: Why It’s Still #1).
Are Zen Space Desks And Stando The Same Company?
Zen Space Desks and Stando are not the same entity, although it appears the same people may run the companies. According to Australian Government ABN details available online:
- Stando is a business name that was first registered in May 2024, associated with a private company called Zen Pro Pty Ltd which has been registered since 2022.
- Zen Space Desks Pty Ltd is a private company registered under a different ABN, active since 2016.
How Can Zen Space Desk Customers Make A Warranty Claim?
Zen Space Desks and Stando both offer a 10-year warranty on their desks, chairs and most accessories, which covers defects in materials, workmanship and function.
Important!
You can get help from Stando if you bought a Zen Space Desk and it now has a defect.
On Stando’s ‘Warranty’ page, in relation to Zen Space Desk warranties the company states:
Here’s the process to follow:
- Gather your order number, receipt number, or delivery receipt details and the name that your Zen Space Desks product was purchased under.
- Share these details via email to zensupport@stando.com.au with an explanation of your problem. Apparently, you won’t have luck over the phone or via live chat.
- You may have to pay a $40 fee for handing and freight even if you’re eligible to receive free replacement parts covered under warranty.
Stando suggests that many technical issues can be solved with a desk reset, and encourages people to try it before reaching out.
How Do Stando’s Desks Compare To Zen Space Desks?
While the Zen Space Desk name is no longer used, are Stando’s products the same, and how do they rate in terms of quality and value for money?
As you’d expect from what is essentially a re-brand, the available products haven’t significantly changed, but here are the main differences:
- New product labels. Stando retains the ‘professional’ and ‘executive’ series products that Zen Space Desks sold — but instead of Zen Pro, it’s now the Stando Pro, and instead of the Zen Executive L Shape Desk, its the Stando Exec L Shape.
- Same appealing desktop finishes are available including bamboo, natural rubberwood and walnut stain rubberwood. That’s in addition to the standard black and white.
- Streamlined range of desks, chairs, monitor arms and accessories available. Stando seems to have reduced its number of offerings and doesn’t market any of its desks as ‘gaming’ desks like the Zen Space Desks site did.
- A new offering in the form of the Stando ‘Ultra’ with slight differences to Pro such as a higher height (130cm compared to Pro’s 125cm) and larger lifting capacity (up to 150kg compared to 140kg for Pro), integrated 1Plug cable management accessory and a simpler set-up.
Comparable to Zen Space Desks, Stando’s desks and frames range in price from $750 to $1700.
Stando retains the option to buy the frame only, enabling you to add your own custom-sized desktop in your choice of material. You can also request a quote for a custom-sized desktop provided by Stando.
(Related: UpDown KLIK Standing Desk: Best Standing Desk In Australia?)
How Do Customers Rate Stando / Zen Space Standing Desks?
Zen/Stando has an average 4.5 rating on Google reviews, and a 2.8 rating on ProductReview.com.au with a string of low ratings in the past 6-10 months around delivery delays.
Positive Stando and Zen Space Desks reviews online describe the company’s standing desks as:
- High quality: Reviewers praise the desk’s quality, say it was better than expected and well-made.
- Sturdy: People tend to use terms like ‘sturdy’, ‘stable’, ’solid’, ‘heavy’, ‘strong’ and are happy with the lack of wobble.
- Easy to assemble: Generally, people say set-up is manageable, although there’s some manual dexterity required.
Stando No Longer Aimed At Consumer Market?
While Stando is primarily a marketing makeover for Zen Space Desks, it’s clear there was a glitch in how the transition was handled, leading to customer confusion.
What went on behind the scenes remains unclear, but this might offer a clue — the new website states the company’s “core emphasis” is supplying desks to business/enterprise clients, rather than individual consumers.
Could adapting its operating model and go-to-market to cater to larger clients have contributed to Stando’s poor communication with individual consumers and consolidated product range?
In any case, they continue to sell a decent standing desk via their website and have a process in place to honour warranty issues experienced by former Zen customers.
Steven
Cody says:
Hi,
Do you know 9am HOME standing desks?
I want to know how about their desk.
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Cody, I’ve never seen them before but I took a quick look for you and I’m 90% certain it’s another Jiecang desk. You can tell by the design of the feet and the lowest height (60cm). Desky, Omnidesk, Stand Desk are all pretty much the same.
Cody says:
Which one do you mean? Pesk or Robin series? I am interested in their Robin series, it looks unique and beautiful. I can’t find anyone like it in Desky.
Steven McConnell says:
I was talking about the Pesk Series. Robin series does look attractive and unusual, but I’m usually not a fan of tubular legs as they tend to be more prone to wobble. I can’t say whether this is the case in this instance, as I haven’t physically tested the desk myself. The 10 year warranty is reassuring, however. I wish they offered a risk-free trial to let you test out the legs!
Cody says:
Thank you very much, Steven; I will take your comments into consideration.
Erin says:
Do you know much about Kangadesks? There are Australian as well.
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Erin, its another Jiecang standing desk. Same as Desky, Omni, Stand Desk etc. The design of the feet and 60-125cm height range gives it away. The desk appears to currently be currently on sale for $299, which is an absolute steal and I’m wondering why they’re selling their stock at 1/3 of RRP. Regardless, even if they’re about to go bust, I’d still buy one at that price.
EDIT: Be careful. Fakespot showed these warnings while browsing their website: “Multiple eCommerce scam experiences detected, Poor customer service”
Suzy says:
Hi – given all the desks are so similar, is it possible to mix a desk from one brand with a drawer accessory from another? I don’t like the UpDown desk metal drawer (hangs very low so likely to impede leg space) but don’t mind the Desky one – can these be mixed and matched?
Thank you for the reviews! Super helpful.
Steven McConnell says:
Yes, it’s possible to play switcheroo. But you may want to consider that UpDown design is curved, so it will hurt less if you do jam your thighs into it. Desky’s meanwhile, is quite angular. Pro tip: you can also find a bunch of inexpensive slimline desk drawers on Amazon.
jason says:
I’ve spent far, far too much time agonising over which desk to get haha, definitely more than a week. Very happy that you’ve added the omni-desk to your catalogue. That was the one I was considering the most untill you came you with a review saying that it was more wobbly!
Anyways, do you have an opinion on the new updown desk KLIK Series? Its advertises to be significanlty ligher while having better (on paper) specs
Thanks!
Evelyn says:
Hi Steven, great blog post – thank you! I’m also wondering whether you have any opinion or insights on the new UpDown Desk KLIK series…they come at $100 more expensive (for the same size/table top) but seem to be ‘better’ according to the UpDown website.
Cheers!
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Evelyn, thanks! I will have a full review of the KLIK up around February 2025. It’s not necessarily a better standing desk – but it is lighter, less bulky and promises easier assembly.
Ben Clements says:
Hi. I’m interested to know more about whether I actually could fit the Desky cable management system in the Omnidesk? I’ve had a look at the omnidesks in person at the showroom and it looks like their cable management trays screw on (vs the clip in at the edges of the desk with the Desky tray). The desky system also has the power plugs that snap into place in the tray.
So I’m curious to know if you have you tried it, and if so how did you do it please? Or is your thinking that you’d just buy the power boards and plugs from Desky and rest them in the Omnidesk tray?
I’m stuck, because I prefer the Omnidesks but I really love the idea of a single power lead!
Thanks
Steven McConnell says:
I just had a new Omnidesk delivered to my house. Give me about two weeks to assemble it, test it out and report back.
Sunni says:
Thanks for your very helpful (and funny) review. I used the information to to buy a Desky standing desk in record time – no consumer agonising for weeks, as is my usual practice. It has a pneumatic up/down mechanism, so lets see how that goes.
Steven McConnell says:
Ha! You’re welcome, Sunni. Glad I helped you cut down on the agonising. The pneumatic mechanism is an interest choice – let me know what you think of it?
Amber says:
Hi Steven,
Really great and insightful review. It was refreshing to see something that wasn’t filled with ChatGPT affiliate link garbage!
I’m curious about your opinion on L-shaped standing desks? I know that Desky, UpDown and a few other retailers offer these types of desks and I would assume they are more strong and stable, but I’m not an expert and I can also imagine the opposite being true due to the irregular shape. I’ve been looking at these types of desks because I think their shape suits my space the best. Do you have any knowledge on this or do you only have experience with regular rectangular shaped desks?
Steven McConnell says:
Thanks, Amber. Did you know that I have a L-shaped standing desk review? Search for “arielle best corner standing desks” and you’ll find it.
Melissa says:
Hi Steven great article thank you!
I’ve spent way to much time on this, and I’m now leaning towards the Artiss thanks to your review.
I’m wondering if you have any insight into ergonomic chairs for the home office also?
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Melissa, thanks! The Artiss is a great budget pick. I’ve written numerous ergonomic chair reviews – Google “arielle best ergonomic office chairs” to find them 🙂
tania says:
hey are there any other manual desks apart from the ikea ones you don’t recommend, that you would recommend? I prefer the idea of not needing electricity to move between stand up and sit down but maybe that doesn’t really exist?
Steven McConnell says:
Hey Tania, all of the premium brands (UpDown, Desky, etc) offer a manual crank model. Definitely the way to go if you want to avoid electronics. But TBH I suggest you reconsider. Electronics are very reliable these days – and hand-cranking your standing desk is more annoying than you’d expect.
Adam says:
Hi, do you know much about the UpDown Klik vs Pro system?
Steven McConnell says:
The company has shipped their new Klik standing desk to me yesterday. Stay tuned!
Scott Long says:
You mention in your review of the Up Down Pro that you would get the cable holes and grommets done, but it looks like your (very pretty) Messmate desk doesn’t have them. Is your recommendation a hindsight reflection, or did you choose not to spoil the look of the desk with the grommets? Without the grommets can you can still run the cables behind the desk and into the cable management tray? Cheers!
Steven McConnell says:
Scott, I said in the review that grommets and holes are a great idea, not that I have them. They’re less important if your standing desk faces a wall. But if you have an open-plan style home office like mine, they’ll make your workspace look much cleaner. PS You can still run cables into the tray without the holes and grommets – the cables will simply run behind the desk.
Isaac Jenkinson says:
Hello,
Have you had a chance to try the new UpDown Lyft model? Curious about its stability vs the pro.
Steven McConnell says:
Isaac,
Not yet. On first glance, it looks like a budget alternative to the “big brothers”. It’s probably pretty good (UpDown has a reputation to maintain), but I’m of the opinion that buying cheap means you pay more in the long term. I’d save up another few hundred bucks and get the Pro. You can often get a melamine or bamboo-topped model on sale for around $900.
David says:
This is a great site and will help me decide on which desk to buy. Have you heard any good/bad reviews about the Blacklyte Atlas Lite or Ergo-Rise II from BDO furniture?
Steven McConnell says:
David, thanks for the kind words. Never heard of the Atlas Lite until you mentioned it. Looks like a decent gaming desk that borrows heavily from Secretlab Magnus – but why not just buy a real Magnus instead?
As for the Ergo-Rise – looks like a decent desk, but its height controller is outdated. The best standing desk brands have upgraded to OLED controllers.
Ben says:
Thank you for writing this review Steven; really helpful to break through the BS.
By any chance have you used or hold an opinion on Vertilift desks?
Steven McConnell says:
You’re welcome. God, I haven’t even heard of them – but thanks for the heads-up. There are too many standing desks on the Australian market. Obviously I haven’t used these in person, but I’m almost certain they’re yet another Jiecang variant (i.e., frames are identical to Desky). You can tell by the identical max and min heights, as well as the design of the foot.
Eloise says:
Hey Steven, I was recommended the Alwyn or Octavia (Living Fusion) 140cm sit and stand desks from Temple and Webster which don’t even get a mention in your review. Would you bother with any of their brands ? (I may have dodged a bullet by finding your review!)
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Louise, I haven’t had first-hand experience with the T&W standing desk (must add one to my list!).
However, I had a look through the specs for you.
It doesn’t look too bad, actually – considering the price. If you can’t stretch your budget to ~$950 for an entry-level UpDown or Desky, this could be a good option.
Jordan says:
Hi Steven, Thanks for the review! I am starting out with a home office set up and need a new chair and sit stand desk. I’m a student but I prefer to buy things I know will last, but I don’t have too much experience with sit stand desks. I initially thought to buy the Artiss but have considered buying the Acacia UpDown Pro+ so I know it lasts and I don’t have to buy another desk in a couple of years. Is it worth the price jump for me? Thanks!
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Jordan, the Artiss and the UpDown desks sell at two very different price points. If you have the budget, I suggest you stretch to the UpDown standing desk – you won’t regret it.
jason says:
I know you’ve disqualified the flexispot e7 pro so the e7 max plus would probably also be disqualified, but a quad motor 4 column desk frame at a prices competitive with UpDown desk is incredibly tempting. Plus 15 year warrenty (if the company lasts that long)
Have you had a chance to take a look? Its like half the price of the desky quad!
Steven McConnell says:
Hey Jason, great observation. I haven’t included quad standing desks here because they’ve traditionally attracted a niche consumer – someone who needs to place a tonne of gear on the desktop and doesn’t mind paying 2X the usual price. But Flexispot’s sharp pricing on their quad desk certainly changes things. I haven’t seen one in the wild yet – but the specs look promising.
Steven