Would I Do It Again?

So, I try out things I find online that are super affordable. Sometimes I’m happy, (like with clothes from temu… if you adjust for American sized women. A large is a 3x on there) and sometimes I’m super disappointed, (like with sale sparkly shoes from Betsey Johnson, that kill my feet.) I look up certain sites for certain things. There’s great deals on tools at Harbor Freight, and then there’s things you can’t get anywhere else, like straw at Tractor Supply.

Last year I attempted my cinder block wicking beds. I gave up once it started heating up for summer, and so: I still have that project on my to-do list. I was so frustrated with the cinder blocks that I decided I was going to research something lighter weight. But: I don’t want to spend a lot more, and cinder blocks are super cheap.

So, I did what I always do when I know I’m not going to find something I’m willing to pay for, at the regular box stores: temu. Yes. I “shop like a billionaire”. Stupidest jingle ever and unfortunately, cemented in my mind forever, after hearing it a billion times. Anyway, I figure if I’m sourcing something from a retail store, and that item definitely comes from China, I might as well cut out the middle man and get it straight from the manufacturer. Sometimes I’m really happy with what I get, some things go straight into the garbage. I have both, this time.

I ordered two types of beds. One was super cheap for the size and the other one was way less than what it’s based off of (which is a stock tank.)

I didn’t have time to put these together in the fall, when they came. They sat in their boxes for a few months. Here it is February, and I finally sat down to put them together.

This is my advice: (if you are in the market for cheap raised beds and you are willing to wait on a slow boat from China… Literally… One of the two items I bought was a great deal!)

I bought a painted steel bed. It was really large for it’s price… but I was pretty leery about the quality, even before it arrived.

The other one is galvanized steel and shaped like a small animal, stock tank. It comes in pieces and there’s no bottom. I’ve seen Lowe’s carry stock tanks for a hundred and fifty dollars (or more) and I just think that’s ridiculous for something you are going to fill with dirt.

So, I ordered four of the animal trough shaped beds, as a set (four beds for less than $150), and one of the larger, metal panel shaped bed. I think that was $20. Once I dumped the metal panel one out, I separated all the pieces. I’m short about half of one size of nut and bolt. There’s a set of bolts that does not line up with any of the lengths in the instruction book. I also cannot make any sense of the instructions. The panels are super thin. I know this type of metal. It’s the metal they use in kid’s play swingsets and they only last a season here. I also have a shed mess out back. My husband tore the original shed down and then just left the new shed all over the backyard to rust. That is now a snake factory and I will have to hire someone to remove all of the mess he left. None of the panels from the shed are usable, that is what is going to happen with this planter.

I had planned on assembling it and coating it with a super thick paint. I was hoping to have more than one season out of it. Omg. Impossible to assemble. I do have to say, the instructions say this is a two person project. But I don’t have a second person interested in helping me with this. I attempted to lean the panels against the sofa, and pretend that was my helper. I got a single section put together. Because of the poor, wordless directions: I don’t know if I did it right. I may try to assemble it again, after I put the other beds together.

The second set of beds don’t require tools or a helper. You do have to pay attention to the directions. I didn’t “get” that the picture of the panels showed which ones went on the outside, and which were on the inside, until it was completely assembled. I was like: “Duh. I did not do this right! There’s actually a picture showing you what to do, you dummy!”

Anyway, after undoing the whole thing and reassembling it, I am super happy with the stock tank looking one. Even the nuts bolts and washers were high quality. I believe these beds will last for decades. But this other one…? I may just put it back in the box and put a “free” sign on it out front. I probably would have more patience with this if it was all I had and it was free. So, let’s see if someone else wants to mess with it.(Nope. Put it out for free. No takers. Went directly into the trash.)

This is a super common experience for me with temu. I love some products. I hate some. Luckily, I never spend much, and: now I know which one I’m going to order more of!

See you out in the garden with our experimental, Chinese sourced garden products!

Crazy Green Thumbs