Customer Reviews

Bell'O BWS101 Two-Shelf Component Wall System with Multiple Color Panels

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Given the lackof reviews on this item, I was hesitant to buy-so glad I did. Installation was not too difficult, hardest part was installing the bracket on the wall due to the stud positions of my wall. There is lots of room to hide cables, about 2 to 2 1/2 inches behind each panel, and it looks really sharp. I bought two, so I stacked all four shelves atop one another under my wall-mounted TV. The shelves are well designed so that they easily bear the weight of my Denon receiver.

I purchased the BWS-101 for my new HTPC based on the positive reviews I read and the fact that each shelf holds 50 lbs, since the HTPC is heavy (at least 30 lbs).

The instructions were clear and easy to decipher for a beginner like myself, within about an hour I had 1 of the shelves up and it looks fantastic and feels sturdy. The cable management space behind the wood panel is great, my setup looks better than I thought it would. Since the wood accent panel comes in several finishes to compliment and decor or preference I can see my self using this shelf for many years to come.

On a side note, I stripped some of the screws during installation (I didn't drill deep enough into the stud) and called Bell'O about replacement hardware and a very polite woman picked up on the first ring and without question said she would UPS some new hardware immediately free of charge. Quite impresssive to say the least.

This is a solid product. You can choose to mount between two studs or on a single stud. I chose the single stud and put the shelf to the side of the TV (rather than the typical placement below) because I wanted the components out of reach of the kids. I put the subwoofer for my Sony HT-CT100 on the top shelf. That weighs about 30 lbs, but the shelf holds it no problem. On the other shelf I stacked the cable box and blu-ray player. There is room to hide a thin power strip behind the panels in the wire hiding area.

I love my Bell'O wall shelf. It's a beautiful accent item. I was looking for something to hold my DVD player and cable box. I looked high and low for something like a TV stand. I didn't want a TV stand because my 42" TV is mounted on the wall. The unit almost looks like it's a part of the TV. It looks awesome under my TV. Great purchase!

I'm really impressed with the quality of this shelf system. Every piece is extremely sturdy and machined perfectly. When I refer to machining I'm speaking of the quality of the screws and the taps. Everything fits together perfectly. The supplied hex wrenches and regular wrench work very well with the supplied hardware(screws, nuts and lag screws). You will need a ratchet or strong drill motor to drive the lag screws into the studs.
The glass shelves are thick, strong and nicely tinted a dark grey. I have no doubt they would support 50 lbs, I suspect they could hold a heavier load as long as it was sitting close to the mounting bracket.
Something that I didn't see mentioned here was that these selves do not have to be set up in a stacked configuration. They can also be set up individually or side by side. Installation is easy if you have a good knowledge of stud finding (make sure you put these into wood studs, cinder block or cement). Another point to make is that the mounting brackets are heavy (which is a good thing). You may need help holding them in place while mounting. In all it took about a half hour to install the brackets once I had the holes for the lag screws layed out. I highly recommend these shelves.
As for the "but" in the title of my review. Three complaints, all small. The first one is that the instructions are in several languages and following them is a little tedious. I missed a detail about mounting a support bracket when I installed the first shelf. Not a big deal, it took me about 5 minutes to fix it, but it was still frustrating reading the directions. Second complaint is the packaging. Everything is very well protected, but the Styrofoam that is used in the packaging is REALLY messy. I don't know where they found this stuff but it breaks up into tiny little pieces when you touch it. I'd strongly recommend unpacking it outside. Which brings me to my last complaint. It would be really easy to lose some pieces while unpacking if you aren't really careful. They used ever square millimeter of space available. Completely open the box and make sure none of the components are stuck to the box (that's what happened to me) There's a parts list included, double check that you have everything before you throw anything away. I hope my complaints don't discourage anyone from purchasing the Bell'O shelf system. I will go out of my way to purchase more of their products.

This product is of the highest quality, and the assembly is a breeze....It is a great looking shelf. The shelf is well made, with heavy glass.

Bell'O BWS101 Two-Shelf Component Wall System with Multiple Color PanelsThis is very well made. It has a strong metal frame that is well made. The installation installation instructions were very clear. A slightly hidden bonus is the unit can be installed as two side by side shelves if that is desired. I chose the stacked approach. The space behind the panel is sufficient to accommodate my Monster Surge Protector power strip. I use the Wiremold Flat Screen TV Cord Cover Kit from Home Depot to run the wires (Cable and Power). Without question, I would buy this unit again.

I used the standard delivery package from Amazon. The unit was shipped by UPS. I followed the movement of the package across the country to my city using UPS's tracking software. The UPS tracking software reported that the package was loaded for delivery in the morning, but it NEVER arrived. When I called UPS, they told me I had to work with the shipper (Amazon). When I called Amazon, I was told I had to wait the allotted 7 days for delivery before complaining. When I observed the UPS truck by-passing my house the next day, I called UPS again. They said I must work with Amazon, but the longer we wait to initiate tracking, the more difficult it would be to find the package. As far a UPS was concerned, the package was lost. I then called Amazon again, and a very helpful agent said he would initiate tracing the package but in the mean time would send a replacement unit by overnight FedEx shipment to me. The replacement unit arrived as promised. The original package has not arrived (it has been three weeks!). I am impressed how Amazon stepped up to make sure I had the Bell'O unit in a timely manner. I am very disappointment with UPS.

I have not finished hiding the wires and installing the color panels.
My components are resting on the shelves and everything seems ok.
Thanks

Overall this is a very well engineered product. It arrived with no issues and was installed in a snap. The unit looks nice on the wall, but I had to drill a hole in the back wood panel to fit all of my cables through.

Very good nice quick shipping I was lookig for something no to small not to big this item is perfect for me all I need it was for my surround sound system and my cable box