Review on 🎍 Bamboo Kitchen Trolley by Oceanstar Design Group: Enhance Efficiency & Style in Your Kitchen by Mark Scoggins

I'm a bit disappointed in this purchase. It does the job I needed but this item has some quality issues which I will address later. I needed an inexpensive side table in my kitchen to accommodate a new toaster. The Oceanstar kitchen trolley was just the right size to fit into the relatively limited space. It also looked good on the website. I was a bit apprehensive looking at some of the other reviews but considering the price I thought it was worth a try. I'll preface my comments by saying that like any high-blooded man who identifies as a member of America's middle class, I have extensive experience assembling furniture from a variety of sources, including Ikea (although almost a mandatory first) and Revine. The first signs of trouble when the package arrived. Revain did not use an outer box and several holes were punched in the box, presumably due to rough handling during USPS shipping. Then, to my dismay, as I opened the box, the bolts began falling out of the box onto my garage floor. Of course, considering the holes in the box, I wondered if all the hardware would be there. Luckily, I finally confirmed everyone was there, but it caused some consternation. As it turned out, all the equipment had to be there. in a zipped bag that opens during transport. My guess is that it never really closed at the factory. All other bamboo elements were fairly well protected. Before proceeding with the assembly, I looked for instructions. To be honest, there were quite a few of them. I've uploaded a picture of the instructions so you can see for yourself. It was enough for me, but I'm not sure if it will be for everyone. The fine print in the instructions recommends two people to assemble. That's ridiculous. A person with minimal skills is enough. A well-lit workbench or table is a good idea. As with many of the items I've built, this uses screws that require a hex wrench instead of a screwdriver. Oceanstar included a hex wrench to add to my tool collection. However, since this wasn't my first rodeo, I used a hex bit with an electric screwdriver. Which speeds up the assembly enormously. The only caveat: don't over-tighten the screws at first. It is best to leave them a little loose, and then fully tighten them after assembly is complete. Another reviewer noted that not all holes match. I can confirm that. In my case there were holes when attaching part of the table top that didn't line up, although I gave myself some "wiggle room" by leaving the other screws slightly loose. I ended up throwing out the four shorter screws that came in the box and replacing them with slightly narrower screws that give a little more clearance. It worked. However, this indicates a lack of quality assurance and attention to detail on the part of the manufacturer, who should bow his head in shame. (Note: I tend to air out and feel better now). After the assembly was complete, I put the drawer in place and noticed that the right side doesn't line up flush like the left. Sticks out about 1/16 inch. I have uploaded an image depicting this. I attribute this to the misalignment of the holes mentioned. However, it just didn't seem big enough to partially take it apart and try to fix it. Maybe later. While it annoys me because I know it's there, the discrepancy isn't very noticeable from any distance. I chose not to install wheels because I don't plan on moving the cart around the kitchen. In fact, considering the lightness of this cart, I would say the wheels feel heavier than they should be and too superfluous for this application. But they are there when you need them. Negative comments aside, the kitchen trolley looks great in my kitchen. The quality of the bamboo and finishes is pretty decent. I definitely don't want to put anything heavy on it, but it's good enough for toasters or other light appliances, and pretty stiff once assembled. All in all I wouldn't consider this great value for money given the quality issues. On the other hand, I don't feel completely left out. Hence a three star rating. If you're good at housekeeping, can handle minimal instructions, and are willing to handle little surprises, this kitchen trolley might work for you. But I can't, in good conscience, give him a higher recommendation.