South Shore Smart Basics Small Desk with Keyboard Tray, Multiple Finishes

The desk arrived very promptly and was in good shape. One small ding on the top but hardly noticeable. The desk is sturdy and very easy to assemble. We opted to not install the pull out drawer since it wouldn't be needed. We used that piece of wood to create a hanging chalkboard. The top shelf of the desk is not secured to the desk. It sits on top and is held in place by wood dowels. Just as a precaution I used straight metal brackets to attach it to the main body of the desk. Just remember to watch the size screws you use. The desk is made of compressed MDF and can crack. We also used a couple of wall shelf supports that I attached to the top desk shelf to create bookends. All in all the desks look great and provided more than ample room for homework, crafts, etc. I am very happy with them both.

I bought this with the typical expectation that I usually have with this type of furnishing. The desk is quite heavy (81 pounds shipping weight). The pre-drilled holes all matched well. It utilizes a locking pin and cam system to join the pieces. This is an improved design over the previous version I have used in the past. The pin just pushes in and when the cam engages it, it flares out the bottom, locking it in. Very nice. Fit and finish were as expected. Some areas the gaps were larger than others and minor flaws in the paint were visible. No deal breakers there. The instructions were well laid out except for one diagram showing a piece larger than it actually was. This caused some confusion but logic prevailed. I would recommend this for student desk or basic workstation. Not attractive but not ugly. Utilitarian all the way. When describing this desk the key word is "value".