Cheap Baby Furniture

John P. West:

I can’t believe it, but this is another product I would give zero stars or negative stars if possible. My wife normally researches these things before purchase, but can’t explain why she bought this. I’ve assembled my share of shoddy furniture from components, but putting the Graco Sarah Classic Crib together was a particularly bad experience. Anyone rating this assembly experience as easy must work for Graco or its apparent subcontractor, LaJobi.

My first clue to the challenges I would face was an entire page in the instruction manual in large uppercase letters. “STOP (underlined) IF YOU EXPERIENCE ANY ISSUES WITH THIS PRODUCT BEFORE YOU RETURN THIS TO THE RETAILER PLEASE FOLLOW PROCEDURES ON THE REVERSE SIDE OF THIS FORM”. Those instructions told me to call during business hours, or to send an email or fax, which I assumed would be a waste of time until I actually began assembly. At one point I really did want to return the product, but had already discarded the box, and wasn’t even sure if a return would be possible. I stumbled through the process without writing or calling.

I felt like the instructions and warning labels had been translated from a foreign language by someone who didn’t have English as a first language (Graco’s “international team”). For example, I still don’t know the meaning of the following “IMPORTANT” message affixed to the bottom stretcher bar: “Remove the fixed side closest to the bottom stretcher bar.” Is that important to assembly, or to disassembly? If it’s important to assembly, why isn’t it in the instruction manual? Some instructions were specific to drop-side cribs, so maybe that part is used in other models and the warning applies to those. The bolt lengths did not exactly match the diagrams provided, maybe due to the fact that “Model shown is example only. Styles may vary”. I was never able to identify the “metal spring (F) with tabs”, but from the diagram I think they must have actually meant one of the connectors attached to the metal spring support platform (based on the singular terminology, I was looking for one different from the others).

While caring for an infant, it’s not easy to find enough time to assemble such a contraption, so the fact that I took the time to write this review should provide an indication of my level of dissatisfaction. I couldn’t imagine approaching 28 bolts (eight of three inches in length) with the hex wrench provided, so I went with a power drill. My ongoing lack of sleep, caring for an infant concurrently with constructing the crib, and the mismatch between the diagrams and the actual parts led me to discover only after partial assembly that the manufacturer had drilled some holes deep enough to affix the wrong bolts. Even pieces that I’m sure I put together correctly did not seem to fit perfectly – some of the barrel nuts were flush with the wood, some were recessed, and some protruded from the holes. My next discovery was that the cheap bolts easily strip, leaving shards of metal around the crib in the child’s room, and likely making proper future disassembly impossible. I estimate that assembly, partial disassembly, and reassembly took four hours with a power drill – I can’t imagine how long it would have taken with the manual hex wrench.

I would not recommend purchasing this (or any self-assembly crib from Graco, for that matter) to anyone not willing to return it after some frustration. If you do buy one, I suggest first checking the return policy, keeping the box, allocating sufficient time, and assembling it before your child arrives. It is a rather large piece of furniture (I think we might be able to get it out of the child’s room without a sledgehammer if we first take the door off the doorframe), so you probably want to start with this device instead of a cradle, and assemble it in the room where you intend for it to remain for the duration of its use.

The instructions indicate that one might need a “flat head” screwdriver (probably to manipulate the barrel nuts, which due to the various angles of approach, is probably best achieved with two people), but I’m not sure why they also list a Philips screwdriver. I do have two guess uses for the recommended hammer, one of which would require something more like a rubber mallet, and the other of which would be more like a sledge.

I am still not entirely sure that I assembled this correctly, which doesn’t give me a great sense of confidence in the bed in which my child will sleep for more than a year. I feel like the manufacturer spent more resources on product appearance and marketing than on overall quality. Anyone reviewing the assembly process highly likely works for the vendor or has assembled other cribs of even less quality. After doing a little research, it appears that Graco just slapped their branding over a LaJobi product, which doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in Graco (see [...]). I did appreciate the repeated message, “Adult assembly required” (I was age thirty-seven during the assembly).

In summary, this product typifies how the rush to market and relentless drive to cut manufacturing and documentation costs has eliminated much of the quality from today’s consumer products. Much of my frustration could have been avoided if anyone within the company had actually read and tried to apply and consequently updated the assembly instructions. Even before reading the 1-star review, I was considering disposing of this thing, but now I have to give it serious thought (even though I don’t remember any plastic pieces). For now my child sleeps in a portable crib.
Rating: 1 / 5

D. R. Kane:

Love this crib

Awsome price for a great product. The color is beautiful and it’s super sturdy.

Very easy to assemble.
Rating: 5 / 5