cheaper furniture...is it worth it?

[mrspaha]

I recently bought some inexpensive bookshelves at Big Lots; they look nice, but since I haven't had them long, I can't comment on their durability.

I do have a four-shelf bookcase that I bought many years ago at Staples. Here again, it's the pressed wood. They have held up extremely well, we have lots of heavy books on it, and it still looks great, and actually doesn't look like "cheap" furniture. I can't remember what I paid, but it was comparable to prices at the Walmart, Target, Kmart type places, possibly even cheaper, as I always watch for sales when purchasing these type of items.

I would try checking the other office supply places as well. I think office supply places would probably try to carry durable furniture for their business clients.

 

[Sagginit]

oh i didn't think to check staples or office depot, good idea! i got a three shelf today at target, i will see the quality of it and how it goes building it. i may skip the five shelf there, upon inspecting the box today i noticed it is in two sections that you stack one on top of the other.

 

[mjhd]

All of our bookcases are the cheapies from staples. They have held up really well. The only problem in 5 years is the shelf that i have loaded down with hardcovers (not the middle stabilized shelf) is sagging slightly. I need to take it down and flip it over to bend it back lol! I think i paid $40ish each for the tall ones on sale.

 

[Sagginit]

i bought a three shelf and put it together no problem, not crooked like the one my roomate just bought from walmart. however, i can not see a 5 shelf version of the cheapie being that stable, i think i will need to invest more money in the larger one for all my books since i have so many.

 

[DisGirl819]

Ikea quality is great, sometimes on par with Target depending on what you get, sometimes better. We got some bookshelves tehre that are SOLID wood and would withstand multiple military moves. I would stay away from the REstyle or whatever they're called at Target. We've had that stuff fall apart so fast...same with walmart. If you're just going to put them together and never move them, it should be ok.

And to the other poster that had issues with replacing something from Ikea...we bought a shoe cabinet, moved wiht it still in the box unassembled, assembled it when we got to our new house and the drawer front was broken. I emailed Ikea and the store I bought it from mailed me a new one free of charge! No hassle or anything.