Customer Reviews
Great Purchase
I took a while to decide on this outdoor sectional because of some mixed reviews. A lot of people said it was tough to put together and had shipping issues. I'm glad I ordered it anyway, as I didn't face those problems. It shipped from Georgia and arrived earlier than expected. I got it in two boxes two days apart, but I was informed about that beforehand. The customer service from Colby was super quick, responding within 12 hours with tracking info for the second box. Putting it together was simpler than I thought. It needed an Allen wrench, which isn't ideal, but it worked out fine. I think some complaints about parts not lining up are due to tightening screws too early. You need to assemble it loosely first, then tighten everything at the end. As for the quality, I think it's solid for the price. It doesn't compare to a high-end set, but at about $400, it looks nice, and the cushions are decent. I do wish the seats were a bit higher; they sit low at about 12 inches before cushions, which I'm going to fix with risers. Also, it moves around a bit, but that's common with sectionals. I've seen clips to hold the pieces together, which I plan to buy. I’ve only had the set for a week, so I can't speak much about durability. We store the cushions when not in use. The resin wicker seems fine for now, but we'll keep it covered during bad weather. Overall, my wife and I are happy with it. Great value, and the shipping was fast.
Verified Purchase
Excellent Value
I hesitated for weeks over buying this outdoor sectional due to the mixed reviews. My main concerns were the reviews slamming the set for being so poorly made that it was extremely difficult to put together and those complaining about the shipping. I am glad I took the chance and ordered it, as neither critiques were valid on the set I received. First, a lot of people complained about how long shipping took and that when it was received, only part of the set was received. I don't know if Hawkins Woodshop changed the way they ship these, but in my case, the sectional shipped from a warehouse in Georgia via FedEx, and it was received earlier than promised. Yes, it was received in 2 separate deliveries 2 days apart, but the box clearly stated that it was being shipped in multiple shipments. Also, I contacted Hawkins Woodshop after receiving the 1st box, and was advised in less than 12 hours that the 2nd box had also shipped and was given the tracking info. A+ for customer service. Next, with regard to those complaining about how difficult it was to put together, that was not my experience. It was pretty straightforward with the pieces assembling with a bolts and an Allen wrench. Yes, such a wrench is annoying to use, but given the design of the furniture, there is no other way to design it so that it can be flat-packed for shipment and then assembled. For those complaining that the parts did not line up, I suspect that the problem for most of them was "user error." When you are assembling any furniture, you never tighten the screws until the entire piece is assembled. Then, you go back and tighten everything up. This allows you to have enough movement to start all of the fasteners in their holes. If you tighten each screw as you go, then there is not enough flex to get the screws in on other sides of the piece. As to the quality of the sectional itself, I have to agree with other reviews that for the price, it is absolutely a 5-star product. Does it compare to a $2,000 set that you would buy at a high-end store? Of course not. But this only costs about $400. For that price, the quality is great. The set looks beautiful. The cushions are a little thinner and not as firm as I would like, but excellent for the price. It is comfortable enough. The only cons are: (1) the height, and (2) the movement. Specifically, the seats are a little too low at about 12" before adding the cushions. I plan to address this issue by adding wooden (risers) feet to each piece to raise the seat up about 3". As for the movement, this is pretty common with all sectionals. I note that Hawkins Woodshop sells clips separately to clip the pieces together. The clips are not expensive, and I will buy a set. But, I think they should be included in these sets (although this is true for all of these sets). As for durability, I can't really say as I have only had the set for week or so. We do not leave the cushions out in the weather as a general rule. If we aren't using them, we put the cushions away in the house or in a deck box. The resin wicker seems okay. We will keep the set under a pop-up canopy and put it in the shed for the winter, so hopefully it will last a while. From past experience, these outdoor wicker sets generally last 3-6 years, as the resin tends to break down in the sun/weather. But, again, for the price, I can't complain, and I don't expect it to last forever. The frame is all metal, and seems sturdy. Overall, my wife and I are very happy with this purchase. It is a great value, and Hawkins Woodshop did a great job of shipping it quickly and responding to questions.
Verified Purchase