Habitat OLI bench for children - help, it's falling to bits!

[Watoose]

I got one of these today whichw as ex display, looked really nice, etc.

They told meI could dismantle it as it wouldn't go in my car as it was - it's a picnic bench with table in the middle, only smaller scale for children.

So, I started to undo the bolts with the allen key they lent me. One was already off - the fixing had come out of the wood - no biggie I thought.
I'm really good with flatpack furniture as a rule, so I was really surprised when it started to come apart by itself as I was dismantling it - i mean bits would separate without my having undone the bolt. It was a bit embarrassing and I told myself I was just nervous as I was in a shop.

Anyway - got it home. Have been trying to put it back together, but not only have most of the bolt fixings removed themselves from the wood, so that the bolt is attached to the fixing but the fixing isn't in its hole iyswim - but me thinking 'oh I will just hammer the fixings back into their holes and they should stay there' has not worked, I have hammered them back into original holes, and also when that didn;'t work, twisted them a quarter turn so the little sharp teeth go into a different place, and still they just pull out once the bolts are done up

It's a design fault but how the heck can I prove it - and is there anything else I could do to make the darn thing stay together, and also make it safe for use? It's crap atm - no way it will even be put together, because you attach two bolts and then try and attach that bit to a seat part or something and it leans slightly as you are doing it up, and the fixings come out of the first bit.

It's stupid but now I have had a go at it, how on earth will they take it back? It was £50 even half price, which I would be happy with if it was any use but it's shit.

I have thought of supergluing it but TBH with two rough children it isn't something I'd feel secure about.

Or getting new bolts that go all the way through the wood, which is going to look hideous really. and will have ends sticking out to scratch their legs on.

Oh, that sounds terrible. I would def take it back. I don't know what your rights are but it sounds like a safety hazard and that must count for something especially if it's designed for children.

Thanks...I'm just afraid they'll say 'you must have damaged it when you took it to bits' or something.

I would challenge anybody to put it together. Honestly I'm not rubbish at flat pack - I was paid to put together a whole bedroom once for a neighbour, it took me one morning. I have a collection of approx. 52 allen keys! I am no lightweight. But they don't know that! lol

Well, I think they should have dismantled it for you in the first place regardless of whether it was ex-display or not. Then they might have noticed it was falling apart! Mind you, don't mention the fact that you took a hammer to the bolts (unless it's in the instructions) or that you twisted them round a bit cos then they're bound to blame you. Good luck. If you can build a flatpack bedroom in a morning you can def stand your ground against a member of staff in Habitat

Oh dear I have fgured it out

In my defence it was their fault as they had bunged it together exactly like I tried to rebuild it

However

it was wrong

The fittings needed to be on the opposite side of the wood than the bolts. So turned the wood round and it works

I am breating many sighs of relief at lack of imminent confrontation. Only downside is this was figured out in the hall and it is now rather in the way

I do appreciate your sympathy earlier. I might have given up without it!

Honestly they are so, so dim. I am amazed it did not collapse entirely in the shop.

Hooray! Glad you figured it out.