Transformation of my Home Office

[darkamulets]

When I was out looking to purchase a desk I couldn't find to much info on exactly how much weight they can hold. So I just ended up with one that had a CPU tower down in the center to help spread out the weight. Pretty sure it won't break on me *knocks on wood*

 

[TangoJuliet]

*Update*

Well, so far so good. I am working with the manufacturer to get most of the replacement parts shipped to me. At first I had requested too many parts and it was declined so I only requested the pieces that are severly damaged.

I also got this email from OM

All O'Sullivan products are no longer available for ordering. O'Sullivan
is unable to ship due to financial difficulties.

We can offer you a $100.00 gift card for the malfunction of the desk.
Please reply with your mailing address so we may request the gift card
be mailed to you.

So thats way above what I would have expected from OM
I am going to attempt to rebuild the thing with the replacement parts and if it collapses again then I'll get a real desk. I am also going to mount the monitor on the wall with an arm hopefully releaving any stress caused by the monitor.

 

[manlymatt83]

I want my 3 minutes back

 

[TangoJuliet]

*Update 2*

I finally got all the replacement pieces shipped to me. I have to say O'Sullivan did a nice job sending 8 pieces weighing about 80lbs for free; which was nice considering they just went out of business. I unpacked the pieces and began taking the desk apart and re-building it with the new parts. However about halfway through I noticed a piece underneath that was cracked - I applied a little pressure and it snapped in half. I emailed O'Sullivan again and they sent out a replacement part for that as well - for free.

I have to say there is a considerable difference in quality in the replacement parts compared to the originals. The replacement's wood is a darked color underneath while the original is like a lighter wood color. (The finish on the top is the same - but under the finish you can see a difference) I am about 75% done with rebuilding it as I am waiting on the last piece to come in so I can finish. I will update with pics either tonight or tomorrow.

 

[chuckywang]

Thank god you were at your desk when the desk snapped!!

 

[dquan97]

OP, training to be a pilot? Noticed the diploma....

 

[Shadowknight]

Where'd you get the window shade? I like it a lot.

 

[us3rnotfound]

k

 

[TangoJuliet]

Originally posted by: dquan97
OP, training to be a pilot? Noticed the diploma....

I already am a pilot but had to change career paths due to the 9/11 attacks....

 

[TangoJuliet]

Originally posted by: Shadowknight
Where'd you get the window shade? I like it a lot.

Are you serious?? I hate it. It came with the house and will be replaced once we get the new windows put in....in a couple weeks

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: alkohoLiK
*Update 2*

I finally got all the replacement pieces shipped to me. I have to say O'Sullivan did a nice job sending 8 pieces weighing about 80lbs for free; which was nice considering they just went out of business. I unpacked the pieces and began taking the desk apart and re-building it with the new parts. However about halfway through I noticed a piece underneath that was cracked - I applied a little pressure and it snapped in half. I emailed O'Sullivan again and they sent out a replacement part for that as well - for free.

I have to say there is a considerable difference in quality in the replacement parts compared to the originals. The replacement's wood is a darked color underneath while the original is like a lighter wood color. (The finish on the top is the same - but under the finish you can see a difference) I am about 75% done with rebuilding it as I am waiting on the last piece to come in so I can finish. I will update with pics either tonight or tomorrow.

So the first desk breaks, and you get a replacement. The replacement parts break, you get replacement for that, then you're actually going to use it?

How does that saying go? Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice, shame on you. Fool me three times, I'm a fcking idiot.

 

[lyssword]

Nice pic of the last episode of the season of LOST, and in HD too

 

[TangoJuliet]

Originally posted by: tfinch2
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: alkohoLiK
*Update 2*

I finally got all the replacement pieces shipped to me. I have to say O'Sullivan did a nice job sending 8 pieces weighing about 80lbs for free; which was nice considering they just went out of business. I unpacked the pieces and began taking the desk apart and re-building it with the new parts. However about halfway through I noticed a piece underneath that was cracked - I applied a little pressure and it snapped in half. I emailed O'Sullivan again and they sent out a replacement part for that as well - for free.

I have to say there is a considerable difference in quality in the replacement parts compared to the originals. The replacement's wood is a darked color underneath while the original is like a lighter wood color. (The finish on the top is the same - but under the finish you can see a difference) I am about 75% done with rebuilding it as I am waiting on the last piece to come in so I can finish. I will update with pics either tonight or tomorrow.
</end quote></div>

So the first desk breaks, and you get a replacement. The replacement parts break, you get replacement for that, then you're actually going to use it?

How does that saying go? Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice, shame on you. Fool me three times, I'm a fcking idiot.

no, the replacement pieces didnt break....an original piece that was underneath the desk was stressed and broke when i was putting it back together. I didnt notice it was broken when I requested the replacement parts because it was hidden.

in fact, the replacement pieces seems to be built a lot better.

 

[TangoJuliet]

Originally posted by: lyssword
Nice pic of the last episode of the season of LOST, and in HD too

thanks, that was taken using Cablevision's HD DVR.

 

[Shadowknight]

Originally posted by: alkohoLiK
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Shadowknight
Where'd you get the window shade? I like it a lot.</end></div>

Are you serious?? I hate it. It came with the house and will be replaced once we get the new windows put in....in a couple weeks

It's nice a decorative, so sure. It's sort of like wooden blinds where it just ads a little more style and atmosphere to a room. It almost looks like a weathered, paper shade, which is neat.

 

[TangoJuliet]

new pics added

 

[Spineshank]

Yea is that particle board?

 

[TangoJuliet]

Originally posted by: Gnrslash4life
Yea is that particle board?

yep, very crappy particle board

 

[yuppiejr]

All I can say is wow... $900 for that desk, did it include lube or did they just jam it right in there? Unless you're looking to spend less than $200 it's worth going to a real furniture store or find a commercial furniture dealer to purchase a desk that will last you more than a year. A desk made of cheap particle board with the photocopied wood foil pasted on top (Bush, OSullivan, any other unit that involves those metal pegs with the round joining locks that you buy in flat boxes and build at home) will last you maybe a year or two before the finish starts to wear through and/or catastrophic failure of long panels (particle board is horrible for this sort of application if not properly reinforced, thus sagging shelves in cheap entertainment centers, etc..). The foil applications LOOK nice at first but wear badly and have a very limited life, particularly in a desk application where the surfaces are being constantly rubbed/worn or required to hold significant weight.

I'd take the desk back and start over, for $900-$1200 you should be able to find something a whole lot more durable that is finished with a laminate or varnished wood veneer. Heck, take a picture of a desk you like to an experienced cabinet maker and see what they would charge you to custom make it out of proper materials - you might be surprised at how little it costs. Most of the cost involved in mass market consumer knock down furniture like this is in shipping and handling, the product itself is produced to look nice but cost as little as possible which leads to the sorts of failure you experienced.

 

[TangoJuliet]

Originally posted by: yuppiejr
All I can say is wow... $900 for that desk, did it include lube or did they just jam it right in there? Unless you're looking to spend less than $200 it's worth going to a real furniture store or find a commercial furniture dealer to purchase a desk that will last you more than a year. A desk made of cheap particle board with the photocopied wood foil pasted on top (Bush, OSullivan, any other unit that involves those metal pegs with the round joining locks that you buy in flat boxes and build at home) will last you maybe a year or two before the finish starts to wear through and/or catastrophic failure of long panels (particle board is horrible for this sort of application if not properly reinforced, thus sagging shelves in cheap entertainment centers, etc..). The foil applications LOOK nice at first but wear badly and have a very limited life, particularly in a desk application where the surfaces are being constantly rubbed/worn or required to hold significant weight.

I'd take the desk back and start over, for $900-$1200 you should be able to find something a whole lot more durable that is finished with a laminate or varnished wood veneer. Heck, take a picture of a desk you like to an experienced cabinet maker and see what they would charge you to custom make it out of proper materials - you might be surprised at how little it costs. Most of the cost involved in mass market consumer knock down furniture like this is in shipping and handling, the product itself is produced to look nice but cost as little as possible which leads to the sorts of failure you experienced.

yeah i know that now. Office Max will not take the desk back because its past the 30 day return date and O'Sullivan cannot give me a refund because they just went out of business. If the desk breaks again then I'll scrap it and just do what you recommended. Just to be clear though the $900 was for the desk, the cabinet, the bookshelf and the leather chair including shipping and tax. The actual desk was $329 I believe - which is still expensive for what it really is....crappy particle board.

 

[BHeemsoth]

I see you live in Middle Island. I used to live in Sound Beach until about 5 years ago, and I attended Rocky Point schools.

 

[TangoJuliet]

Originally posted by: rpbri2886
I see you live in Middle Island. I used to live in Sound Beach until about 5 years ago, and I attended Rocky Point schools.

Cool. I just moved here last year though so I'm not from this area.