While we're happy with the bar stools we ordered for the most part, we are disappointed that the information we got from a chat was entirely incorrect. I asked: is the swivel spring-loaded, so that the seat will swivel freely and not automatically return to the forward-facing position? Birch Lane chat response: "this will not be spring loaded. The seat will not automatically swivel back to the front facing position and must be manually turned!" 

We were quite disappointed to learn - once we had assembled one of the chairs - that they are spring loaded and do return to the front facing position. They are so stiff in fact, that our 10-year old daughter doesn't have the strength needed to rotate the chairs at all. Disappointing, but too much hassle to disassemble the chair, package it up and try to get Birch Lane to pay to mail all three chairs back. So we will keep them.