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Buyer's remorse

July 10th, 2017 at 09:51 pm

I think I made a stupid mistake.

I was browsing Facebook Marketplace after posting something for sale there. I came across a twin platform bedframe for just $20. A few of the slats were broken but I figured it could be fixed.

I liked the frame because it had a low headboard type of railing around 3 sides, so it could look very much like a daybed, which is the look I was going for in my family room with a twin bed I have in there but it basically looks like a bed with a lot of pillows.

I wanted something comfortable for lounging on or taking a nap that would also double as a comfy bed for an overnight guest.

So I called dad to borrow his truck and drove over to look at the bed frame. The nice man helped me load it in the truck and I gave him the $20.

I drove it home and probably damaged it more getting it out of the truck by myself, cus now there are 5 damaged slats.



I managed to get it in my garage for now.

What was I thinking?

Not only will I have to wait who knows how long to get someone to help me carry it into the house (the family room is on the first floor but there are outdoor stairs...luckily, it's not heavy) but I'll have to do some kind of repair job with new slats.

And now that I've had time to think about it, I'm wondering if a bed made especially for kids has a weight limit on it.

In addition, I measured the width of the frame (only after I bought it, of course) and see that's it's a good 1.5 inches wider than my current mattress, which is not foam but a conventional box/mattress set. That could probably be camoflauged with cushions in the back.

I asked the guy how the slats got broke but don't remember his answer. I assumed his kid jumped up and down on the bed a few times, but I don't know.

I think I was seduced by the low price and also visions of that bed frame-turned-day bed. But honestly, I don't know ANYONE I could ask to help me move the frame into the house. Everyone I thought of has a bad back or it too old.

Now I'm stuck with this big thing in my garage. Please tell me you've done something like this yourself so I feel a little better.

PS I feel a little better now because I found you can buy a whole new set of slats. Amazon has some that would appear to fit this bed for $27, free shipping. I think that would be the simplest fix. There's no assembly, you just lay the slats, attached by rows of fabric, into the slot.

Upon closer exam of a little label, I see that this was actually the top end of a bunk bed!

Posted in Uncategorized | 19 Comments »

19 Responses to “Buyer's remorse”

  1. DW Says:
    July 10th, 2017 at 10:16 pm 1499724961
    1499724961

    A hardware store such as Lowe's or Home Depot will help with the slats. You just purchase the wood and they will cut it to size for you. Call and verify.

  2. LuckyRobin Says:
    July 10th, 2017 at 10:22 pm 1499725337
    1499725337

    It's easy enough to replace slats, but I would recommend getting stronger ones. 2" x 3" boards cut to length or even 2" x 4". Those look like 1" x 2" slats and they hold up to nothing over 100 pounds. With the larger boards you will have more support and you won't have to use as many. Six or 7 should do. We've had to replace crappy slats a lot.

    If worst comes to worst, you can take it apart and use it for fencing off small sections or trellises in the garden.

  3. patientsaver Says:
    July 10th, 2017 at 10:25 pm 1499725527
    1499725527

    DW: Oh, really? I had no idea big box stores would cut to size. Wow, that would be really great.

    LR: I WAS wondering how much weight these little slats would hold. The Amazon replacement slats are 2.5 inches wide and are made of spruce.

  4. Out of the Dark Says:
    July 10th, 2017 at 10:28 pm 1499725734
    1499725734

    Excellent advise DW and LuckyRobin. I couldn't type fast enough to echo your thoughts. Also, contact your local Church and ask the Priest/Pastor for a healthy young man who might be able to help you move it into place and set the mattresses. For a glass of lemonade and maybe a cookie or three, you might get by with "a little help from a friend".

  5. patientsaver Says:
    July 10th, 2017 at 10:30 pm 1499725850
    1499725850

    I think I will try to get wider, thicker boards cut at Lowes first. In the Amazon reviews, some people were complaining those slats either had to be cut to fit or were 2" too short. This bed is 39.5 inches wide and the Amazon slats are 39" wide. They would still sit on top of the wood shelf built into the bed, but they would not go right up to the edge, and I'm wondering if the slats flexing even slightly when you sat on it could make the slats pop out.

  6. Out of the Dark Says:
    July 10th, 2017 at 10:31 pm 1499725877
    1499725877

    PS - I have a family member who has a bed almost like the one you show in your blog. What she did as well was purchased four of those bed lifters (not sure of the real name) at Wal Mart for ~$10.00. They are very hard plastic, come in two heights and fit nicely under each leg. This raises the frame up giving storage space under the entire bed and give it more of a day bed look/feel.

  7. patientsaver Says:
    July 10th, 2017 at 10:34 pm 1499726090
    1499726090

    Excellent idea, Out of the Dark...I have seen those "bed lifters" before, and they might be needed since this frame sits very low to the ground, although I was counting on the fact that the boxspring and mattress would bring it up to about the usual couch seating level.

    I'll deal with that later and do some measurements for standard couch/day bed height. Who know there were so many questions to be answered?

  8. Butterscotch Says:
    July 10th, 2017 at 11:09 pm 1499728174
    1499728174

    Don't you have a nice manly neighbor who could help you move it? They guy with the sheep?

  9. patientsaver Says:
    July 10th, 2017 at 11:15 pm 1499728533
    1499728533

    Butterscotch, he is the only possibility I could think of. You have a good memory! My other neighbor has a bad back. I don't want to just call him tho and say can you help me do this. Although I did them a big favor last year writing that nonprofit mission statement. (Which never got off the ground, by the way.)

  10. ThriftoRama Says:
    July 11th, 2017 at 02:15 am 1499739331
    1499739331

    I don't think it was a mistake. replacing slats with something stronger or better is not a huge project. And for a $20 investment plus time? Good deal!

  11. ThriftoRama Says:
    July 11th, 2017 at 02:17 am 1499739440
    1499739440

    Oh, and I would have wood cut to size at a hardware store rather than buying slats. For sale slats are ALWAYS too short and pop off. I can't tell you how many times I Have to pop the ones on my boys'bunk beds back in place, just so the manufacturer could save a few cents by cutting 20 boards 1/4" too short.

  12. LuckyRobin Says:
    July 11th, 2017 at 06:41 am 1499755294
    1499755294

    PS--Maybe you'll luck out and get some visiting Mormon missionaries. They usually ask if there is anything they can do for you, especially if you have an obvious issue. They mowed my lawn when I was too pregnant and miserable to do it and DH was working overtime in Alaska. I've seen them help paint and clean out gutters, too. I don't listen to their spiel, though.

  13. CB in the City Says:
    July 11th, 2017 at 03:11 pm 1499785917
    1499785917

    I think it only temporarily feels like a mistake, and in the long run you'll be happy you snagged this deal! You just have a few steps to go through before you have your day bed.

  14. snafu Says:
    July 11th, 2017 at 03:36 pm 1499787384
    1499787384

    Terrific suggestions...bed 'risers'

    I enlarged the photo to try to ascertain if the ends were held with washer/screws or bolts, easy to take apart with a battery operated screw driver/drill. Most slat beds use a mattress rather than box spring & mattress combo. I was going to suggest using [free] folded flat cardboard boxes between slats and mattress to reduce noise.

  15. LuckyRobin Says:
    July 11th, 2017 at 05:23 pm 1499793788
    1499793788

    Another option to slats, is to do away with them altogether and use two box springs stacked on top of each other if you happen to have an extra box springs or know someone who does. Or you can get a metal frame like this one: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I67VV1G/ref=asc_df_B00I67VV1G5070528/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=395009&creativeASIN=B00I67VV1G&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167166621599&hvpos=1o5&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2422526676107429704&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9033356&hvtargid=pla-272727931806

    You can slip it inside the frame, though at 39 inches wide you might have to take off the slat support side pieces. We did something similar on our solid pine bed frame for a long time until we built our own platform to fit inside it.

  16. patientsaver Says:
    July 11th, 2017 at 05:35 pm 1499794526
    1499794526

    Another clever idea, Lucky Robin. A bit more expensive but on the whole easier to do. My frame measures 77 x 39.5 so it would appear that metal frame should fit inside.

  17. DW Says:
    July 12th, 2017 at 02:38 pm 1499870330
    1499870330

    Patient yes, if didn't know the major chains did it until my sister in another state told me about it. Tried it and she was right. That's why I say called first.

  18. Myfinancekits Says:
    July 19th, 2017 at 02:41 pm 1500475317
    1500475317

    I will suggest that you sell it on the same platform where you bought it and use the money to buy the one that actually meets your needs. However, you need to be careful of impulse buying so that you don't run into financial trouble. That is one of the secrets for living a debt free life

  19. patientsaver Says:
    July 19th, 2017 at 02:43 pm 1500475432
    1500475432

    Thanks, Myfinancekits....Since writing this post, I've already gotten replacement slats for it and set the whole thing up in my FR. Looks great!

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