I just bought and assembled this, on the basis of numerous 4- and 5-star reviews. They are all truthful, and I was very pleasantly surprised that a low-priced item like this was so well designed and uncomplicated to assemble. Mind you, except for the top, this isn't real wood, so you get what you pay for, but the finished product looks very nice and serves its purpose well. The delivery time quoted to me was five days; I got the box in two, which ruined my weekend plans. The model I received is an updated version of what other here have purchased previously. Homestyles has apparently stopped using cam locks for their assembled furniture; what's used on this model are flip locks, which serve the same purpose as cam locks but are pre-embedded in the parts and simpler to use (see below for more on this). Also noteworthy is that previous complaints about how the drawers go together have been resolved; I found this bit foolproof and simple. It's pretty evident that Homestyles has paid attention to consumer comments here and elsewhere about design issues and have made modifications to the assembly of this product.
I'm handy and own lots of tools, so I didn't anticipate any problems; really, this is a simple build for anyone. Directions are very clear and easy to follow. Homestyles says you only need a Philips screwdriver, which is not quite true. If that's all you've got, OK. But a power drill, Philips head bits, a small hammer, a rubber mallet, and a drift punch set are very useful if you have access to them. Some buyers here have complained about the styrofoam packaging, and they're right. But, if you use the top half of the box for waste and use care in removing pieces, you shouldn't encounter styro-snow. If you do, a roll of packing tape will collect the nasty errant pieces quickly.
Several people have complained about off-gassing odor during and after completion, and they're completely right. If you're fragrance-sensitive or get migraines, the smell will bother you. The odor is sharp and pungent, so get ready for several days of discomfort. Before assembly I wiped all the parts off with Clorox wipes. That helped in the near-term, but after assembly an unpleasant odor returned and didn't dissipate for some time. Off-gassing is a fact of life these days, and we had to open a window and keep a fan running in the room where we assembled the piece for 36 hours before the odor dissipated. Even then, however, a week later there's still a discernable odor. Keep a window open as long as you can.
NOTES ON ASSEMBLY:
You'll want a power drill or electric screwdriver for driving screws, especially when you get to the drawers. The directions say you can't use 18V or over, which makes no sense to me. I've got a DeWalt 20V set and had no problems using it. Just set the torque fairly low and you'll be okay. However, don't try to tighten screws with the drill; do that by hand. A hammer and drift punch are needed to tighten the flip locks. Believe me, you'll want to use these to get the locks set properly and tightly. There are some narrow spaces to work in, and here the punch will come in very handy. You might need to use a rubber mallet when positioning the back panels to the side panels (step 4); they don't fit well and need a good smack to get them to fit. Just be careful; you're working with MDF.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that a straight hex key (not L-shaped) was included in the bag of hardware, which I could attach directly to my drill and use to quickly screw in several hex screws. This was really great.
There are no major issues in assembly, but I noted a few hiccups. The back uprights (step 4) don't attach to the length of the base; a couple of screws are needed to stabilize for future use. Pieces W and I in step 8 don't attach laterally; they'll need to be strengthened to resist twisting, even after the top is put in place. I'm not satisfied with the operation of the casters, and they don't lock very well. It would be nice if Homestyles offered an option to attach a 3 or 4-inch skirted base that could be attached in place of the casters. I could probably make this myself, but I'm just not in the mood.
Generally speaking, this was an uncomplicated, 4-hour build. All parts are identified, there's some extra hardware, and aside from the off-gassing odor there's nothing unpleasant about this. I'm looking forward to using it.
Excellent Product
I just bought and assembled this, on the basis of numerous 4- and 5-star reviews. They are all truthful, and I was very pleasantly surprised that a low-priced item like this was so well designed and uncomplicated to assemble. Mind you, except for the top, this isn't real wood, so you get what you pay for, but the finished product looks very nice and serves its purpose well. The delivery time quoted to me was five days; I got the box in two, which ruined my weekend plans. The model I received is an updated version of what other here have purchased previously. Homestyles has apparently stopped using cam locks for their assembled furniture; what's used on this model are flip locks, which serve the same purpose as cam locks but are pre-embedded in the parts and simpler to use (see below for more on this). Also noteworthy is that previous complaints about how the drawers go together have been resolved; I found this bit foolproof and simple. It's pretty evident that Homestyles has paid attention to consumer comments here and elsewhere about design issues and have made modifications to the assembly of this product. I'm handy and own lots of tools, so I didn't anticipate any problems; really, this is a simple build for anyone. Directions are very clear and easy to follow. Homestyles says you only need a Philips screwdriver, which is not quite true. If that's all you've got, OK. But a power drill, Philips head bits, a small hammer, a rubber mallet, and a drift punch set are very useful if you have access to them. Some buyers here have complained about the styrofoam packaging, and they're right. But, if you use the top half of the box for waste and use care in removing pieces, you shouldn't encounter styro-snow. If you do, a roll of packing tape will collect the nasty errant pieces quickly. Several people have complained about off-gassing odor during and after completion, and they're completely right. If you're fragrance-sensitive or get migraines, the smell will bother you. The odor is sharp and pungent, so get ready for several days of discomfort. Before assembly I wiped all the parts off with Clorox wipes. That helped in the near-term, but after assembly an unpleasant odor returned and didn't dissipate for some time. Off-gassing is a fact of life these days, and we had to open a window and keep a fan running in the room where we assembled the piece for 36 hours before the odor dissipated. Even then, however, a week later there's still a discernable odor. Keep a window open as long as you can. NOTES ON ASSEMBLY: You'll want a power drill or electric screwdriver for driving screws, especially when you get to the drawers. The directions say you can't use 18V or over, which makes no sense to me. I've got a DeWalt 20V set and had no problems using it. Just set the torque fairly low and you'll be okay. However, don't try to tighten screws with the drill; do that by hand. A hammer and drift punch are needed to tighten the flip locks. Believe me, you'll want to use these to get the locks set properly and tightly. There are some narrow spaces to work in, and here the punch will come in very handy. You might need to use a rubber mallet when positioning the back panels to the side panels (step 4); they don't fit well and need a good smack to get them to fit. Just be careful; you're working with MDF. I was pleasantly surprised to find that a straight hex key (not L-shaped) was included in the bag of hardware, which I could attach directly to my drill and use to quickly screw in several hex screws. This was really great. There are no major issues in assembly, but I noted a few hiccups. The back uprights (step 4) don't attach to the length of the base; a couple of screws are needed to stabilize for future use. Pieces W and I in step 8 don't attach laterally; they'll need to be strengthened to resist twisting, even after the top is put in place. I'm not satisfied with the operation of the casters, and they don't lock very well. It would be nice if Homestyles offered an option to attach a 3 or 4-inch skirted base that could be attached in place of the casters. I could probably make this myself, but I'm just not in the mood. Generally speaking, this was an uncomplicated, 4-hour build. All parts are identified, there's some extra hardware, and aside from the off-gassing odor there's nothing unpleasant about this. I'm looking forward to using it.