Honey-Can-Do 5-Tier Heavy Duty Storage Shelves

A bit of background first, I bought this shelving unit to go inside a 5 foot wide coat closet to turn it into a baking supply pantry. I was overrun with cookie sheets, cake pans, baking utensils, bowls, etc. in my cupboards and pantry, so this shelving rack would sequester all that stuff into one easy location. OK, so attaching the two ends of the 6 foot poles was easy, they just screwed together and were good and strong. Next, you need to determine where your shelves are going to be located/spaced out. working from the bottom shelf up, you put these plastic shelf couplers around the pole so that when you slide on the shelf, the coupler sits inside the shelf holes in each corner and keeps them from sliding down/holds them into the desired spot. Problem is, these couplers are pure crap. Two half circles that you clamp together around the pole, except that they don't fit the pole well, do not "snap" or click when connecting the two pieces. They slide around, come disconnected, fall off all while you're trying to get your shelves onto them and in position. Ugh. I solved this issue by getting one roll of black electrical tape. Count the notches on each of the four poles and mark with with a white pencil or crayon (my shelving unit is black). Otherwise, if you don't get these couplings in the exact same position before putting the shelf onto them, your shelves will be crooked. So first my bottom shelf, I wanted it about 8 inches off the floor, so I counted up 8 notches and marked each pole. Then, put your coupling around the pole with the bottom of the coupling lined up with your white mark. Then wrap electrical tape a few times around the top of the coupling first, then the bottom. This will prevent the coupling from moving or sliding down when you put the shelf on, or prevent the coupling from falling off all together while you're sliding the shelf down onto them. Repeat on the other 3 poles. Once I taped the couplings in the same position, for each of the four shelves, I had no issues. You also may need a rubber mallet or light hammer to tap the shelves down onto the couplings. They don't always slide over the couplings easily or evenly (level). The unit is fairly stable once assembled, but since it's in a closet with only about 6 inches from the front edge of the shelves to the door jamb/wall, it's not going anywhere in an earthquake. I just think for the price, the shelf couplings could've been better designed or think of a more user friendly way to hold each shelf into position without moving down or sliding around! If you're willing to try the electrical tape wrap to secure the couplings, then it'll be easier to assemble. I give this 3 of 5 stars due to the couplings and sturdiness of the rack shelves....they are a bit flimsy. I put a 10 lb box of supplies on the 2nd shelf and you can see where the wire gauge wasn't strong enough to hold it and it kind of bent down a little. I moved that box to the bottom and was able to push the dipped bars back up with my fingers (also not the greatest sign of shelf strength - ha ha). For plastic and light weight stuff, this rack will be fine. Heavier items, nope.