Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Here is a guide to fixing the assembly problem so many reviews mention, and at the same time, make your shelving unit much stronger…all it takes is $7 and a trip to Home Depot. Start by going to Home Depot and buying a sheet of 1/8” x 4’ x 8’ hardboard, currently selling for under $7. They will even cut it to size for you, ask them to make it 40” x 71”. Next, assemble your shelving unit so it is face down, working from top to bottom, leaving off the base board that is deeper than the other boards. Make sure to flip the order of the vertical boards as shown in the instructions and have the unfinished edges facing up. As other reviewers have said, don’t overtighten the screws, and use wood glue to help secure the dowels. Use the holes in the unattached base board as a guide to ensure the bottom boards are properly aligned before nailing down the hardboard backing. Then place your hardboard, shiny side down, on the partially assembled frame…it should line up flush on the sides, and be about ¼” from the top. Draw nailing guide lines on the hardboard 13-3/8” from each side, and one centered on the middle horizontal board. Nail down the top half first, checking to make sure the backing stays aligned with the frame as you do so. Then recheck the alignment of the bottom half using the base board holes, before nailing down the bottom half. Your almost finished shelving unit will now be very sturdy, and you can raise it so it is resting on one side without fear of the top and bottom sections breaking apart. You can now attach the base board to the frame and nail the hard board to the base board as it sits on its side. The finished unit is now much more sturdy and can be safely carried upright or sideways to its desired location. With this modification, I really like this unit, as it doesn't take up much space, while providing a bunch of media storage - all at a relatively low price. And don't let the brown-looking photos fool you, espresso is basically black...