Beginnings 5-Shelf Bookcase, Bookshelf with Adjustable Storage Shelves, in Brook Cherry

Love it very very useful love it

In reading several reviews about this bookcase. I find some have jumped to conclusions on this product without thinking through the assembly procedure and application use. When I received this bookcase last week; I was too; a little unsure about the strength and stability. I found out that in order to have this bookcase fully stable with items on it; the back panels MUST be attached. Also while assembling the bookcase; I made doubly sure that the supplied screws were fully tightened. In addition to that; I used thicker and longer nails, along with some of the supplied nails to ensure the back was fully attached and secure. Nothing or no one says you can't make some modifications to make the product better. The nails I used were about 2" long in comparison to the 1" supplied nails, plus maybe about 2x thicker. I did try putting record albums on the bottom shelf but it did feel like it was starting to "bow" or curve slightly because of all the weight in the middle. Instead I stacked video tapes on the bottom three shelves and then used the upper shelves to hold some 9" and 7" records, reel to reel tapes and CDs with small holders. Even before putting the media on the shelves, I tested the stability and it did not move. Once the media was put on shelves; the entire bookcase didn't even budge and inch and still holding strong. For those that had trouble building this bookcase before; I would definitely give it another try but be sure to use it for applications that its intended. Do not put anything heavy without an equal weight distribution from end to end inside the bookcase; and also I recommend using longer and thicker nails to mount the back panels for a stronger hold. Just make sure the nails are driven in straight so that you don't nail through the panel causing damage to the finish on the inside. I gave it 5 stars because it truly is a great looking bookcase and have similar cabinets of this wood style that have held up for many years.

First, this is not fine furniture. It is not meant to be. It is particle board with veneer, not hardwood. If you want fine furniture: look elsewhere and spend a lot more money. Plain fact of life. This bookshelf is VERY inexpensive, I couldn't find the raw materials to build a book shelf this size from scratch for less, and I mean any material, certainly not hardwood. Second, it is not assembled, it comes as pieces well packed in a box. You need to have some rudimentary carpentry skills and be able to read carefully and follow correctly moderately complex directions to put it together properly. This is critical. If it is properly assembled it is quite sturdy. If it is not properly assembled it will fall in a heap under it's own weight. It is not difficult relative to other self assemble furniture, it is actually on the easy side, but some people just don't have the skills. If you don't, be aware of it and don't buy self assemble furniture. It doesn't make you an evil or deficient person. :) A few notes on assembly: 1) When you tighten the hidden cam as directed make sure the two pieces you are joining are firmly pressed together when you turn it, if they are not the cam will not hold as securely. 2) It says to use a manual screw driver for assembly, not a drill/electric driver. This is because if you over tighten the screws all the king's horses and all the king's men will not be able to fix it so the bookshelf works properly again. I am good with a driver, I still didn't risk it. There aren't that many screws. 3) The back is not purely cosmetic. It may be veneer over extra tough cardboard but it is critical to the overall strength and stability of the shelf. It also is how you make sure the whole thing is square. Put a nail in at one corner, go to the opposite corner, make sure the edges of the backing align with the sides of the shelf before you put a nail in that corner. Work around trying to keep the back flat as you nail, and use all the nails they provide. As mentioned elsewhere, it could use at least one more shelf. I will probably cut a piece of pine 1x12 and stain it a close enough color. Assemble in the room you are going to place it in. If you are working alone the best way to move it is to put your hands in front of you palm up and lift by the permanent shelf, that is the strongest lift point. Even if you have help that is the lift point. Do not try to move it by grabbing the upper half, it is not meant to be moved that way and the upper half may come off. I would not recommend moving it often and never with anything in it. I have kept the directions because if I change residences again I will certainly take the time to dismantle it, it will transport much better that way.

First, bear in mind: I've had to build a LOT of particle board furniture over the years. When it's a decent product, particle board is an acceptable medium for long term use. This isn't it. The particle board is poor quality, large chunks, not dense, and the matrix the wood "particles" are bonded in was loose. The cams and bolts are also poor quality, with 1 mis-molded bolt in the package (they sent a spare). But that makes me worried about the metal that's used. And finally, the nails for the cardboard back had very small heads...which is a major design flaw because they expect the cardboard back to be the item that provides rigidity for thus product. See below. The top and bottom of this is held in place by a single small screw and 4 cams. Worryingly, they have you build the top as a full box, and then mount the bottom 3 panels to the top. For stability, this should be the other way around. The bottom should have been the full box. When fully assembled, this leans to and fro without the cardboard backing. LET ME BE CLEAR: THEY EXPECT THE EIGHTH INCH CARDBOARD BACKING to be the part that gives this product stability. No, sir. Just...no. After all that, here's the unsurprising bit. I built it exactly per its instructions. Used all the nails for the backing because, unlike the other shelves from another vendor I was building that day, I felt like this one needed them. Went to (carefully) move the unit into the office space it was to be used in. The cardboard immediately ripped free, and the cam bolts holding the top to the bottom pulled out of the already-mentioned poor quality particle matrix. It folded like a house of cards. I had moved the unit a total of 30 feet with a dolly. In short: if you're gonna buy this thing, build it in the room you will use it. Don't expect to ever move it. But even then? Honestly, I wouldn't even trust it to support the weight of your average FEATHER COLLECTION.

Good shelving bookcase. I've have different shelving systems over my life and this one's good like the rest. I can more likely own this thing forever as long as I don't break it myself. It works for what I intended. The backer part (if used) is flimsy'ish material (like most or if not all shelving systems out there), so whatever you put on the shelves should not be pushed too terribly hard towards the back, or whatever you put on the shelves shouldn't rely much on the backer part to "stay propped up". I accidentally pushed something back kind of hard once and the backer sorta stayed "popped out" in shape and wasn't "laying flat" anymore because of the weight was pushing on it. The backer material is held in place with little nails that you basically hammer into the main wood on the edges. (I simply pushed the backer back in place and all is good now). Not sure if they sell a replacement backer part or not. Hopefully will never need one.

I ordered three of these and I was satisfied with the quality of this product. It is pretty much as advertised and looked good. Installation, like all other Sauder products, was easy. Others have stated that the shelf tends to be wobbly after installation, but mine were pretty sturdy, though they were not completely rigid. Time will tell how long they will last, but based on other Sauder products I have purchased, it should last for years. Update: we repainted our living room and had to move the furniture around which included the shelf. When I moved it, I grabbed it by the top, and it nearly fell apart. So, keep this in mind if you order it. If you grab it from the bottom, it should be fine. I ordered three of these shelves and had to move two of them for the painter. When I moved the other one, I had no problem. It held up fine. So, it was just the way I grabbed it. Be aware--the top is flimsier that the bottom. I did not change the rating, however. If you are careful when you have to move the shelf, it should hold up fine and last for years. Update: Last year (2024) we painted several rooms in my house including the living room where two of the bookcases were. In the process of moving them, they became flimsy and nearly broke in to. The top that I had warned about in my original review, didn't hold up. I was able to nail them back together, but they are still flimsy. I don't think I'll be able to move them again without them completely falling apart. Now, I'm not a carpenter so others may be able to fix it better if they have to move them. I removed a star from my original review because of this.

It completely fits my needs. Nothing more, nothing less. 👏👏👏

Really happy with how they turned out. After reading reviews of them not being very sturdy, I added some extra nails to the center shelf while building it. I put peel and stick contact paper to the back of the shelves before nailing it to the shelves. My space is in our basement and the floor is slightly slanted away from the walls, to make it level I stuck some felt tabs (that you put on the chair legs to stop them from scraping the floor) and it worked really well. Very satisfied with the quality for the price. I was able to put them together by myself. The first few steps are just a pain in the butt. The directions say to assemble in carpet or to fold out the box if assembling on hard floor. I would recommend folding out the box on a flat hard surface, get a large piece of plywood if you only have carpet. I started assembling on carpet at first and it was near impossible to keep it level when putting the first screws in because it would on part would sink into the carpet and the other wouldn’t. I used the right angled cardboard pieces that came with it for shipping to help keep the middle shelf squared while starting off. For the second shelf I did use power tools, it was hard screwing in those dang screws and my arm was sore. I was extra careful because I was worried about splitting the wood. I would recommend but it’s not the easiest shelf to put together but not the hardest either. Just have a drink ready for after.