Flippin' flatpack!!
By Humbug25
@Humbug25 (12540)
May 27, 2011 6:20am CST
Ok so yesterday I bought a kitchen trolley for my kitchen which came flatpacked. So I got it home and cmomenced the assembley of the pre-mentioned item. First I noticed a small scratch on one of the shelves but decided that it was fine and I could live with that. Then I found a screw had a problem with the head and I was unable to screw it in but I thought, it's ok, it is secure thanks to the other three screws holding the top into place, I can live with that. I finally put the wheels on the bottom of the trolley and began to wheel it into the kitchen to its appropriate place and part of one of the wheels came off and it couldn't clip it back into place but I couldn't live with that! I know it was on sale but I was disgusted at the poor quality of it and was glad I had not paid the full price for it. Today I have started to take it all apart in preperation to return it to the shop, which might have to be returned in a bag as it is hard to get back into its original box. I have bought flatpacked stuff before and had bits break or the odd screw missing and not bothered to take it back but this time I am going to because there is too much wrong with it. Luckily the shop isn't that far away!! It still hasn't put me off buying flatpacked items as it is still cheaper to buy haha
Have you had any bad experiences with flatpacked items? Would you never buy flatpacked stuff? Have you ever taken any of your flatpacked items back to a shop? What do you do if some of it has been glued already when you suddenly realise a bit is broken or missing?
2 people like this
4 responses
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
28 May 11
I once re-assembled my computer desk after moving and realised that I'd put a shelf on the wrong way, which meant that I couldn't finish it! I then had to take it apart and start again from scratch. I was sweating profusely that day, I can tell you!
Good luck with taking your trolley back and you're right to do so too!
1 person likes this
@Humbug25 (12540)
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28 May 11
Hi ya Janey1966
Yes that is the trouble sometimes the diagrams are not always clear and we end up with the wrong piece in the wrong place and have to go back to square one!! I did take the trolley back today and the woman on the cash desk thought I was buying another one! Oh no way I said and told her the problems and that I most certainly didn't want a replacement one just my money back which there was no dispute over - thankfully!
Thanks for your response 
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
29 May 11
I'm so glad you got your money back..good for you!
1 person likes this
@ellie333 (21016)
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27 May 11
Hi Humbug, Like yourself I have bought many a flatpack item myself in the past but the worse one was a garden shed that was made of metal and guaranteed for ten years. I used to do meccanno as a kid but this was ridiculous, I thought it was me but got a neighbours husband to take a look and the screws didn't even fit the holes they were supposed to. There was even a helpline which I rang but they were no help so I just asked for it to be collected again and I still haven't a shed. I will wait now until I have enough funds to have one delivered and assembled or me. Insist on a full refund when you do take back. It is so frtustrating isn't it. Huggles. Ellie :D
1 person likes this
@Humbug25 (12540)
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27 May 11
Hi Ellie
Have you tried those polyprop (the plastic ones) sheds? You can get them in wickes they are quite good and probably last longer than wooden ones, no wood treating to do! Trouble is that when you get things delivered and have to send them back you end being charged twice for delivery and still haven't got what you want! Yes I will demand a full refund, I don't want another one because it is poor quality and can't believe they were originally wanting twice what I had paid. I am not even sure it was worth what I paid for it! It is very frustrating Ellie yes especially it was the ideal size with just the right drawers and racks grrrr
Thanks for responding
Thanks for responding 1 person likes this
@bunnybon7 (50970)
• Holiday, Florida
27 May 11
a couple of yrs ago i bought some chester drawers. the screws were messed up on one, but son fixed it to work and got it together, even though i had to glue some of the drawers to stay together
then the other actually had a whole drawer missing. my friends son said hed take it as partial payment for some work he did for me. he really came out good on it. he took it back and they gave him 2 very well made ones to make up for it!
then the other actually had a whole drawer missing. my friends son said hed take it as partial payment for some work he did for me. he really came out good on it. he took it back and they gave him 2 very well made ones to make up for it!@Humbug25 (12540)
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27 May 11
Hi ya bunnybon7
See I am thinking that if you had a large item that needed gluing and stuff and you had done half of it but had problems with the rest what would you do? I wonder if they would come and pick it up in its condition or could you imagine getting it back to the shop/store from where you purchased it? Like if it was a wardrobe or bed? Oh I am just gonna stick to smaller items of flatpacked stuff haha
Thanks for your response
Thanks for your response 
@cynthiann (18612)
• Jamaica
27 May 11
How annoying and how brave if you to attempt to put something together! I could never do it neither my husband. No skills in that area but my kids are great at it. The directions are always in fine print and in German or Chinese or something. Take the sodding thing back immediately
1 person likes this
@Humbug25 (12540)
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27 May 11
Hi ya Cynth
Well I did finally manage to dismantle the darn thing though I have no way near managed to fit it back in it's original box, oh well. So it's back to the shop with it tomorrow and thankfully I kept hold of the reciept or they might make me exchange it for another one - NO THANKS!
Thank you though for your response
