South Shore Axess Collection 5-Shelf Bookcase is overpriced at its list price ($60-$70) but an OK bookcase if you can get it for less. I was surprised that the back is cardboard, and it can rip easily - it didn't say that anywhere in the item's description. However the possible good points are that it's easy to cut a hole in it if you have to place this shelf in front of an electrical or cable outlet, and it also makes it easy to paint the cardboard before you assemble the shelf if you want a contrasting color for the background. The four middle shelves are adjustable, but unable to hold much weight; for example, I have 4 magazines, two 8x10 framed pictures, a mug with pens, and 6 paperback books on one shelf, and it's sagging in the middle. I think this is largely due to the fact that the side pins, that hold the shelf to side board, are very small and therefore can't support too much weight. I did replace them with larger pins, which helped. The material is "laminated" fiberboard, but is not waterproof, and the fiberboard will swell if you spill something and don't clean it up right away. It's also pretty thin and will chip off easily, especially on the edges. The shelf isn't too stable even on a low pile carpet, like a Berber, so I had to have it attached to the wall. This shelf weighs about 60 pounds, so even though the shelves can be assembled fairly quickly and easily with a screwdriver, consider the weight and assemble it as near as you can to whatever spot you want to put it. it took me about 20 minutes to put together, and I don't have any experience in assembling furniture. So if you need a relatively cheap shelf that doesn't need to hold anything heavy or breakable, this might work for you.

MaggiesViewpoints

Chesapeake, VA