For Living Assemblease Mainstreet Desk
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Good deal at current sale price $134.99
I bought this a few days ago at $134.99. I would not pay $229.99 for it.
Assembly was fairly straightforward but the "assemblease" portion really only consists of putting the top and two bases on. Other than that, it's a series of camlocks and screws. Do not overtighten the camlocks or they will rip the particle board apart.
A cordless drill and #2 Phillips bit makes the assembly much faster. The little "tool" provided is almost but not quite completely useless.
The main components (sides, base and top) are fairly heavy thick pieces. Unfortunately, the covering could be better. The manufacturing process could also have been better. Clearly there were some particles sandwiched between the woodgrain covering and the particle board underneath, leaving small bumps in a few places. Also, it seems to me as if there isn't glue in a few spots so as to leave the woodgrain covering "soft" and crunchy when you push on it.
I am a little concerned the top may scratch too easily.
The unit, when put together is not completely sturdy. It wobbles very slightly side to side. There should be better bracing. I did try to make sure the camlocks were tight enough but apparently no matter what, this unit will wobble.
The drawer slides are well constructed. However, the two drawers on the sides don't slide very well. I should have lubricated those before they went in - I can't see how to take them out now.
Style wise I very much like the lines of this desk. The underneath of the top is bevelled nicely and I like the size of the four open slots. This unit should come with some form of basket for those though.
Overall not a bad unit, does the job we want and fits perfectly into the spot we had in mind. However, I would not pay full retail for this.
September 5, 2011
NOT EASY TO PUT TOGETHER!!!!
This sounds easy to put together, but I'll take the usual method of screws and plugs any day over this "new and improved" method.
The first step is joining pieces marked "A, B, C" together. The tool provided is very uncomfortable to use. I found it painful to turn, and we stripped the first part trying to screw it in. Guess what? it isn't like a screw where you can just use another one once its striped....this is a permanently mounted piece that is RUINED because it is GARBAGE!
I DO NOT recommend this desk. It isn't easy to assemble, and the mounting pieces are weak and easy to wreck.
August 4, 2011
beautiful
I just bought this desk today, and it looks great! It does mark easily however, as I found out when I dented a couple of pieces while assembling.
It took me a little under an hour to assemble by myself. It goes together really well and the instruction manual is very easy to follow. It is very sturdy, and I was please to know that the keyboard drawer doesn't "jiggle".
If you leave out one of the shelves it fits a computer tower quite well.
This is by far my nicest Canadian Tire furniture purchase yet. It looks like an expensive desk, but at a very affordable price.
February 28, 2011
Good desk for the price, but ugly
Our niece got her first place, so we bought some budget furniture for her, including this desk.
There's a video on the CT website that shows how easy it is to assemble AssembleEase furniture. And, honestly, it is a snap to assemble this stuff (especially if you are used to assembling the 3D jigsaw puzzles Ikea likes to call furniture.) You will need a few tools, though, because a lot of the dowels, hinges, etc. seem to get knocked out of position during transportation.
The drawers and keyboard tray were easy to assemble and run smoothly.
Looks are not the strong suit of this line of products. It simply looks too dark (but that is a matter of personal tastes). The veneer looks cheap, though, and like it won't stand up to someone dropping a pencil on it without leaving a dent.
If you can live with the looks (or are handy with a paint brush), this a decent piece of furniture for the price. It will never be a family heirloom.
February 18, 2011
