Customer Rating: 
Summary: great producgt
Comment: I bought this for my wife and she loves it. It has lots of space and is a very attractive looking bench. Some of the color does run out on this item, but I washed it off good with the hose before putting it up in the back yard and there have been problems. This is a very attractive bench that would even look great in most houses to hold the plants.
Customer Rating:
Summary: At the clearance price, a great bargain
Comment: Surprising beautiful. Excellent fit and finish. I found it easy to assemble--albeit one needs experience with assemble-it-yourself furniture. The instructions are almost useless, and as Shop Employee points out, you have to assemble the frame first before screwing on the 2 main shelves---because their are no pre-drilled pilot holes drilled for the shelves. The good news is that you really do not need to screw down the shelves if you do not want to---they fit quite securely without the screws.
However, it is designed more as a pretty outdoor general purpose piece of furniture than as a potting bench. Ideally, a potting bench should have a basin for mixing soil or collecting refuse. A potting bench should have the facility for hanging hanging plants while you work on them. Finally, a potting bench should not be so beautiful.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Shop employee
Comment: Having some shop experience was helpful assembling this bench.
I found that assembling the frame first and then attaching the tops was the only way to assure the tops could be properly pilot drilled for the screws. Make sure you have the back splash in place before attaching the tops.
This bench is very sturdy and looks great.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Shoddy construction & running stain
Comment: I purchased this not expecting the sturdiest bench in the world, but there were numerous problems getting it to go together. For the money, it wasn't awful, but be careful where you leave it outdoors. I put mine outdoors on my new patio, and with every rain more of the color is staining the patio. I ordered the chaise as well -- it had the same issues. And I just looked up and I actually paid list price for the darned thing. Teach me to try to get ready for summer ahead-of-time!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Our problem bench----
Comment: Our experience with this bench was not good. First of all--it was made in Vietnam (I wish that had been disclosed in the description) because I would not knowingly support that country. Second of all---the page of assembly instructions did not include any written instructions, just poor pictures that you were supposed to look at and assemble. Hello----I can read! Also the bench was pre-bored incorrectly and it looked like they plugged up the holes and tried a second time. Guess what---they pre-bored those holes wrong as well---they are off atleast 3/8". My husband had to glue this bench together and use screws to get it to hold. He was not happy---I was not happy and I'll think twice before buying an item like this that is not made in America. Atleast we still have quality control standards in this country. In all fairness however, the wood seemed to be of a good quality-- we will see when it weathers in the North Carolina sun!
Summary: great producgt
Comment: I bought this for my wife and she loves it. It has lots of space and is a very attractive looking bench. Some of the color does run out on this item, but I washed it off good with the hose before putting it up in the back yard and there have been problems. This is a very attractive bench that would even look great in most houses to hold the plants.
Customer Rating:
Summary: At the clearance price, a great bargain
Comment: Surprising beautiful. Excellent fit and finish. I found it easy to assemble--albeit one needs experience with assemble-it-yourself furniture. The instructions are almost useless, and as Shop Employee points out, you have to assemble the frame first before screwing on the 2 main shelves---because their are no pre-drilled pilot holes drilled for the shelves. The good news is that you really do not need to screw down the shelves if you do not want to---they fit quite securely without the screws.
However, it is designed more as a pretty outdoor general purpose piece of furniture than as a potting bench. Ideally, a potting bench should have a basin for mixing soil or collecting refuse. A potting bench should have the facility for hanging hanging plants while you work on them. Finally, a potting bench should not be so beautiful.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Shop employee
Comment: Having some shop experience was helpful assembling this bench.
I found that assembling the frame first and then attaching the tops was the only way to assure the tops could be properly pilot drilled for the screws. Make sure you have the back splash in place before attaching the tops.
This bench is very sturdy and looks great.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Shoddy construction & running stain
Comment: I purchased this not expecting the sturdiest bench in the world, but there were numerous problems getting it to go together. For the money, it wasn't awful, but be careful where you leave it outdoors. I put mine outdoors on my new patio, and with every rain more of the color is staining the patio. I ordered the chaise as well -- it had the same issues. And I just looked up and I actually paid list price for the darned thing. Teach me to try to get ready for summer ahead-of-time!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Our problem bench----
Comment: Our experience with this bench was not good. First of all--it was made in Vietnam (I wish that had been disclosed in the description) because I would not knowingly support that country. Second of all---the page of assembly instructions did not include any written instructions, just poor pictures that you were supposed to look at and assemble. Hello----I can read! Also the bench was pre-bored incorrectly and it looked like they plugged up the holes and tried a second time. Guess what---they pre-bored those holes wrong as well---they are off atleast 3/8". My husband had to glue this bench together and use screws to get it to hold. He was not happy---I was not happy and I'll think twice before buying an item like this that is not made in America. Atleast we still have quality control standards in this country. In all fairness however, the wood seemed to be of a good quality-- we will see when it weathers in the North Carolina sun!