Orchard Hills Bookcase with Lower Doors

We got two of the open shelf and three of the library. These looked great when put together, but there are some things you should consider:

1.) This is press board furniture, and it is cheap. It will warp in time, and is heavier than wood furniture.

2.) The veneer is paper, and it is fragile it scrapes off easily.

3.) The pieces don't fit together well, and some had to be sanded to fit. The connectors are plastic and fragile.

4.) The stability is based on the paper backing holding the unit together. We put L brackets in the top and bottom to stabilize it.

5.) You can only put 25 pounds on each shelf. That's not many books.

6.) The shipping is expensive, because it is so heavy.

7.) It takes time to put them together, but is easy. You need two people to do it.

8.) Check each piece carefully for cracks prior to assembly. We found several in the long pieces, and it wasn't until they were being assembled. Go directly to Sauder for replacement.

If you are looking for something to look impressive but not be a sturdy, long-lasting item buy this. As for the economy right now I don't see why we should buy expensive furniture so this is perfect.

I own this bookshelf and have had it for over ten years, so it has stood the test of time. The bookshlef is sturdy with one fixed shelf and two adjustable shelves. The bookshelveis heavy over 100 pounds, so it helps to have two people assemble, although I did it myself in jsut over two hours. The entire process of assembly is fairly easy, but does require attention to detail. The only tools one needs is a a screwdriver and a hammer. It looks beautiful when finished. As mentioned, I have had this bookshelf for over 10 years and it is still in great shape with no warping or sagging of the sides or shelves. The bookshelf can be attached to a wall stud with accompaning hardware if small children are in the home. This is a very good idea, as kids may try to climb the shelves and perhaps pull the entire bookshelf down atop themselves. The shelves can be adjusted to variable heights. I like this feature. The only part that is really cheap is the backing, which is heavy-duty veneered cardboard. I went to the hardware store and bought a piece of oak veneered plywood and nailed this on rather than the provided cardboard backing. This really firms up the bookshelf and adds strength.

The oak veneeer is durable and pleasing to look at, but it does not tolerate standing water, so don't put a beverage on the shelf without a cup protector. Likewise, a vacuum cleaner can easily dent or chip the veneer, so use with TLC.

Remember, this is an economy bookshelf. A true wood bookshelf would run many hundreds of dollars more. I think it is a great buy for those who do not need the "best" money can buy. This one is plenty good for me. I also have these two side models by Sauder: Orchard Hills 5-Shelf Library Bookcase Carolina Oak Sandwitched together in a triplet, they accomodate all my library of books.

konedog

konedog

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I bought this from amazon and it took nearly 5 hours to put together which frustrated me. The instructions can fool you and you could easily put the parts together upside down or backwards if you don't pay real close attention. When I went to put the trim on the sides together I noteced a space between the shelves and trim. Pay close attention to the diagram and your unit will be fine. I called Sauder about this and they informed me that this was common with a lot of people and they walked me through the process of correcting it. Customer service was excellent and I had no problems at all. The bookcase came intact execpt for the backing which had a dent in it so I called Sauder and they easily replaced it for free. It's presswood and not real wood but it acttually holds up very well. I must admit that I really feel this is overpriced so if you have the time, wait for it to go on sale or surf the web for the best deal you can get, it's worth doing your homework when spending your hard earned dollars. Originally, it was 159. and dropped to 127. Now it's 114. Don't get me wrong, it's not a horrible peice of furniture but putting it together required plenty of patience and time. If you're not handy, have someone assist you with assembeling this bookcase. Also try to have a portable drill to fasten the screws together, it will make things easier for you rather than using a plain screwdriver. One last note, the shipping charge was high so I would reccomend buying this in a store if you can get it and save the extra cash for youself. That can be a deal-breaker when you buy online. The box it came in was very heavy so naturally shipping will be pricey. If you can get this at a real low price with minimal or free shipping, then I would reccomend buying it without hesitating. I don't regret purchasing this bookcase and if I had to do it over again, I'd purchase it in a heartbeat! It's been two years since I bought it and it looks very elegant in my home.

Good luck.

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We purchased this to match the desk, which complemented furniture we already had. My only complaint is that it's a tad darker than it appears in the pictureIt's more of a light brown than a blonde color. Regardless, we like it, and get lots of complements. It's tall, sturdy, and fairly easy to assemble. Worth the money.

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Arrived on time. Easy to assemble. Solid construction. Color a little darker than I expected but still looks good. I would reccommend itto a friend.

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