Storage Solutions 15-Pair Shoe Cubby, White Frost
by Storage Solutions
|
List Price: Category: Home See more product details |
|---|
(Click here)
Tools and Hardware Reviews of Storage Solutions 15-Pair Shoe Cubby, White Frost
Customer Review: Good idea...not great execution
Summary: 3 Stars
I loved that this was modular. I had an odd space and wanted to have a shoe cubby there, so this seemed to fit the bill. What it consists of is:
1. rectangular wire frames with frosted plastic folded over and heat pressed
2. same plastic/wire frames in squares (these form the backs of the cubbies)
3. plastic discs that attach the frames together
So it is really a sort of building set! The metal frames were nice, the plastic on them was just okay. I really did not like the discs, especially using them for the back. The discs have slots on the sides of to hold the square pieces AND a plus sign shape to hold the cross pieces. The plastic was too thin, brittle, and too fragile to snap the frames in. I cracked the second one I used (there were no extra discs included for breakage...plus certain configurations would need a few more.) The discs also didn't seem to have a channel inside so there was no real way to know if they were pushed in far enough or straight enough or not. I ended up using a small hammer to tap them on (CAREFULLY...you can break them with your fingers!) or the item was out of square and wobbly. It did gain overall strength as you added more cubbies, but still...not strong. Plus a few of the frames where the stiff plastic was heat pressed around the frame was not sealed correctly and it was just held by the fold.(It is kind of like the material used for those flexible cutting boards.)
It was a long and tedious job to get all those pieces together in any satisfactory, sturdy way. I do like putting things together and it almost looked fun when I started, but they didn't "snap" or really fit together very well. I do use it, and it is wonderful to have a lightweight item that can be modified or to fit in unusual spots, but I don't want to do it again. If the discs were better, I would buy another set in a minute.
Customer Review: Frustrating and not what they advertise.
Summary: 1 Stars
After looking around and reading reviews I decided on this shoe cubby for my closet but I've been disappointed in almost every way.
First of all, though I am quite good at putting things together, this cubby took over three and a half frustrating hours to get only 12 of the 15 squares together. The circular joints that hold the sides together were not made to fit the sides at all, so they are hard to push in, don't fit in all the way, and pop out really easily. But I finally got it together and was relieved I could finally put it in my closet when...
it didn't fit! I had carefully measured the space I had for a shoe cubby before ordering one. This unit says each square is 6", so I multiplied that by 4 and thought "great, I have 25" as the width where I need to put this so I can put four across and have an inch to spare" but that 6" square does not take into account the extra quarter inch around each side of each square that is just open space, nor does it take into account the almost half inch the joint hangs out the side. So, I had to turn it over and only do three by three which isn't enough to hold what I wanted it to hold. Each three square side is 20 and 3/4 inches, as opposed to the 18 I expected from their claim that each cubby hole was a six inch square.
I haven't had problems with my shoes not fitting like other people. I actually find the cubbies to be more than large enough- it even fits my big pair of snow shoes (squished down) in one cubby, and I wear a women's size 9. I haven't had any further problems with it since I've been using it and it seems sturdy enough.. I just know that I will eventually have to buy a new shoe cubby since this doesn't fit everything, but I am determined to try to make it work since I don't want to have totally wasted my $30.
Customer Review: Lube really helps assembly! I Like that it's configurable.
Summary: 4 Stars
I'm glad I read reviews before ordering, because I was pretty well prepared for assembly. The review that suggests using a lubricant was very helpful. I started without it, but then had some pieces go flying while I was trying to push another part on. My husband couldn't find his powder silicone lubricant, so I sprayed some of the liquid onto an old sock and rubbed it over the corners. The pieces really did snap together more easily after that, and I'm sure I would have been much more frustrated without that helpful advice.
I also believe the cubbies are adequately large. I assembled this in three parts. Six cubbies together store 6 pair of my husband's size 10 shoes with 2 pair of boots sitting on top of the unit. If you put the shoes together the way they are in a shoe box (narrow end of one stacked against the wide end of the other), even his bulkier shoes fit two in a cubby.
I made another cube of 4 cubbies for my two boys to help organize their shoes. With toddler shoes, you can fit two pair in each cubby-one behind the other. I put the more frequently used shoes in the front, so they are easier to access. Again, the top can be used for another 2 to 4 pairs of shoes. Less freqently worn shoes or off season are tucked away in the closet, but this makes it easier for them to get their own shoes quickly.
For the versatility, this was a great choice for me. You don't have to assemble the pieces all together in one unit if that doesn't fit your needs. Of course, you run out of connecters faster if you aren't connecting them all together. I assembled some remaining pieces without connectors on the ends to fit into a shelf space in my closet. We'll see how it works. It feels fairly solid, but I'm sure it is less sturdy than with conventional assembly.
Customer Review: Take an aspirin, and then assemble this useful cubby
Summary: 4 Stars
As other reviewers have mentioned, this unit is very difficult to assemble. The force required to push the clips onto the panels was too much for my hands after a few minutes. I turned the task over to my husband, who is very good at all kinds of projects, and it took him almost an hour. And it hurt. His hands were sore for the next ten minutes or so.
Still, now that the thing is assembled and in our closet, we're very happy with it. I guess if it came pre-assembled it would cost more, and the low price was the reason I chose it in the first place.
It is sturdy, and attractive enough. It's inside our hall closet, so it doesn't need to be pretty, just prettier than the heap of shoes that it replaced. We put it together in two sections to make the most of the space we had. We also left two cubbies open--without a top panel--for my tall boots.
I was worried about some of the reviews saying that shoes don't fit, but this was not a problem for me. I wear an 8.5 and my husband wears a 9.5. We had no problem fitting two shoes in each cubby. We slide them in on their sides, facing each other, like in a shoebox. (Some fit side by side, flat on their soles.) My tall boots--size 8.5--also fit fine in the cubby with no top panel. They stand on their soles, one facing out, and one facing in. My short boots, that hit about 4 inches above my ankle, fit fine in the regular, closed cubbies. The compartments are tall.
I recommend this product--as long as you know that you, or someone else, will be able to assemble it. If you're on the fence, take another look at that price, and then go for it.
Customer Review: An excellent choice
Summary: 5 Stars
I typically don't write product reviews, however in this case I have to make an exception, mostly to respond to all of the negative reviews this item unduly received. I nearly did not purchase the organizer after reading the reviews, then figured, at $30 who cares if I hate it, so granted, my expectations weren't high and I was pleasantly surprised. The main reason I purchased the item is that it is really the only choice out there if you want something resistant to outdoor elements. Obviously the similar models made of particle board would not have worked.
I was mindful of what others had said about actual size of the cubbies, and I'm not quite sure what people are talking about as I had a very easy time fitting two mens U.S. size 10 tennis shoes in one box with absolutely no problem. I also loved the ability to configure for a variety of space constraints- I have an odd outdoor nook and was able to maximize its space perfectly by constructing the organizer into a sort of U-shape. Overall, I would say it definitely has one of the largest cubby capacities of any organizer out there, and it's ability to withstand elements make it the obvious choice for outdoor storage of shoes, garden tools, seeds, and what have you.
It wasn't difficult from a structural perspective to assemble, however it did take a bit of time, which I would say was more than worth it in the long run. With that I'll end my tirade- imagine, getting so passionate about something as simple as an organizer! Hope this helps those of you teetering on the brink of indecision...