Customer Reviews

Marcy Utility Bench

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Seems like a bad design to me. I am mechanically adept and have worked in manufacturing and design for many years. I have assembled it properly and as far as I can see there is no way to adjust it to fix the problems I have with it (#1 & #2).

1) It can NOT be adjusted to be a perfectly flat surface. There is always some angle between the backrest and the seat. If the adjustment holes were in a slightly (1/2"?) different location, it could be made perfectly flat. There isn't enough play in the assembly to make that so. This could have been a manufacturing defect with the one I received.

2) There is always a slight wobble to bench/backrest (rocks side to side). This should be obvious that this would happen with the design of a single foot-long post attached to backrest. Even if you tighten everything down completely, there will be some wobble, and then you couldn't adjust the thing. Otherwise it is a very well built and sturdy unit.

3) The backrest angle adjustment screw must be COMPLETELY removed to adjust the angle.

4) The seat is attached to the leg bars, which means you can't get the leg bars out of the way or adjust them above the seat for on-belly exercises. Adjusting the leg bars is actually adjusting the seat angle.

Overall, from the pictures it looked like a very versatile unit, but in reality it is very limited in it's use. I wish I would have studied the pictures longer or just spent more money on something else. I really wish I would have taken the time to disassemble it and return it!

Pros:
It's very versatile for workouts
Sturdy
Well balanced
Price!
Relatively small

Cons:
Is pretty stiff when trying to adjust
When you are putting on the backrest make sure you dont tighten the screws too hard, the metal threading inside isnt too strong and now I only got 3/4 screws holding it in.

Overall:
Well worth the price and great for at home.

Easy to assemble. I was concerned that it might not be long enough for us. I'm 5'8" and my husband is 6'. The length allows us to rest the head with room left over. The seat is just wide enough for good support. We don't do serious weight lifting--just wanted a bench for ab and hand weight exercises. Good bench for our purposes. The slider bar is chrome but the bottom supports are not, so it's not as slick looking as it would have been with all chrome, but the price is right.

I am basically happy with the bench. I am over 6 ft and my wife is about 5'2" and we both fit. The things I don't like are: the screw must be completely removed to adjust it. Also the seat is attached to the leg part, so when you raise the leg part you sloe the seat back. But maybe this is better, I just didn't get it. Overall it is very sturdy and we are using it a lot.

First, I'm surprised to read some of the other reviews that complain about the difficulty in constructing this bench. Although there were many pieces to be assembled, I found the product packaging, the instructions, and the material quality to be better and more clearly labeled than any other piece of furniture or equipment that I've assembled at home. It took me about 45 minutes, and I was taking my time.

Overall, I'm very satisfied with this product. Obviously looking at the bench image, its clearly a simple bench, but the value is well worth the price compared to any other similar bench. I've had it for almost a month now and used it almost every day. Its stable, solid, takes up relatively little space, and easy to adjust.

I almost bought a different bench before I found this one, but after looking more closely at the other pictures I was worried that the back supports on them were too short. I'm about 6 feet tall and I'm very happy I went with this bench because the fit is just right and would probably fit anyone up to about 6'3". If you're close to 6' or larger, you will regret buying one of the cheaper, shorter benches.

And on a final note, some people complained that the back support cannot be adjusted completely upright. Well, of course not! No chair is comfortable when the back is pointed completely straight up! The highest position of this backrest is about 25 degrees from straight up, which I think is perfect for straight-up shoulder presses, or for dumbbell curls.

Overall, I give this 4 stars because of course there are better benches out there, but unless you're willing to pay double or triple the price of this one, this seems to be the best deal around.

This product was delivered on time and complete except for a washer and nut that must of fallen out of its package. The directions where poorly written and imcomplete. We had to do trial and error to finish the last 25%. It is a good piece of equiptment for the money. They need to improve the directions as it is it took 2 hours because of that and the different size bolts,washers and nuts. If I had not had some help, tools and patence I would have sent this back.

It works fine for what it is just a basic workout bench and with the above in mind you will know what you are getting into.

Solid bench, fits me pretty well at 6'1 200 lbs. Very sturdy, not too difficult to put together. Might need a few tools of your own to tighten up all the bolts. I recommend it.

I ordered this because I work from home (along with Bowflex 1090 dumbbells). I have it all together now, but it took me a total of 10 hours (over two days) to put together.

If you are someone who is great with tools and building things, you probably will not have an issue. One major problem with the instructions, however, is that the actual parts are not numbered, so you have to figure it out by sight and looking at the pictures (the pictures are numbered).

I put this together myself with no help, but ideally, two people should do it because certain things need to be held in place as you are screwing things in, so this was extra challenging for me.

Overall, the outcome was great, but ASSEMBLY REQUIRED is an understatement!

This product shipped quickly and showed up to my door with the box looking a tad beat up. As I built it, I became familiar with the very cheap construction. I didnt pay top dollar, but I expected a little more for $99. One of the flanges of one of the pieces was badly bent and I had to bend it back in. Shipping? Probably. Once constructed, it does not sit exactly flat, even with the pins in the appropriate holes. It also does not allow for the back portion to sit completely straight up. I dont think I'd buy anything made by Marcy in the future, but not bad overall for $99.

Assembly was easy and instructions were good. All holes lined up and the product went together very easy. Doesn't weigh much and easy to move around. Adjustments are fairly easy. It is stable. The bench has three negatives in my opinion. First, the padding is slightly hard and narrow. Second, it does not adjust to a full upright position, just incline, decline and a few between. Third, when you pick up heavy dumbbells and try to get your legs between the pads and the bench legs it is very difficult. The legs should be further back and out of your way. You kind of need to tip-toe in. Overall, not bad for the money, but I wish I would have spent more.