Customer Reviews

Oxford Garden Essex 4-Foot Shorea Bench

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

 

 

It was a real gamble to order sight unseen, worry about putting together any part of it, and wonder about the quality.

The shipping company was superb in following complex delivery instructions. The product top-of-the-line. What we had to put together was easy. The product exceeded are already high expectations.

We are perfectionists, and this bench is perfect for us. It is a long-delayed present from my husband, and it was worth the wait. We replaced our pool, created a shade garden near the deep end, and researched to find the perfect bench for that garden. We ran into a little glitch while assembling it and received a prompt call back from Oxford, so customer service was stellar in our experience. Now the bench nestles into its fern and hosta setting as though it has always been there. It is sturdy, well-milled and attractive enough to deserve its focal point status. I sat on it this morning, drinking my coffee and reading the paper. We believe that the dense shorea wood and sturdy construction will allow us to enjoy our bench for years to come.

It took me only 30 minutes to assemble. It went together with no problems although the instructions were incomplete. 2 wooden dowels are used on each corner brace as well. Also, I had to use a cordless drill/screwdriver for 4 of the 6 screws as I could not get them going by hand. There was a sticker on the seat to show you where the front was. The sticker was a pain to remove. On one of the pre-assembled ends, the arm does not sit flush onto the front post. You can also feel an edge on top of each arm from sloppy sanding. However, it is a very beautiful and sturdy bench. I love it in spite of the few flaws.