Based on the numerous 5-star reviews of this Carex bath & shower chair plus my own internet and in-store research, I decided to purchase this product, which arrived today. Now I can return to my nice neighbor the shower chair she has let me borrow after I came home from the hospital after major surgery. I am very pleased with this shower chair for the following reasons: 1. Stability & Comfort: This chair is stable and secure and has a textured surface, secure legs and no-slip rubber feet. The side-handle cut-outs are of a generous size, and the grooved construction provides additional safety and reassurance. The handles have a smooth, rounded finish that is comfortable to grip. The optional chair back does not have a smooth, rounded finish and instead has an unfinished, rough plastic edge that is not comfortable to the touch. Very minor, but mentionable in case someone plans to carry the fully-assembled chair from one bathroom to another. 2. Ease of Assembly: My chair arrived knocked down, and I put it together very quickly. The one-sheet instructional assembly diagram is self-explanatory and requires no text – just large, clear and direct illustrations. It is simple, direct, and easy to follow. Out of curiosity, I set a timer to see how long assembly required, and it took me two and half minutes to connect all 4 legs and the chair back to the bench. Each leg has a small white, round nub near the top, and it snaps into a corresponding circular opening in the bench. The optional back clicks right into the cut-out at the back of the bench. The chair back has two grooved slots that fit over two corresponding plastic slats at the back of the bench. Align the grooves and slats, and press gently to securely attach the back. The very end of the chair back has two sturdy, rectangular plastic tabs that fit into the central opening at the back of the bench. The tabs have built-in, horizontal 2-inch plastic lips that lock the chair back into place. If you attach the back, and then change your mind, you can easily remove it. Turn the chair over. To release the horizontal plastic lips that secure the back, press the ends of both plastic, rectangular tabs toward each other until they touch. I used both hands to do this, but someone with larger hands may be able to use only one. Simply pull the chair back away from the bench. Reattach if you wish. 3. Appearance and Maintenance: I like the crisp, white look and the fact that the chair includes all-plastic materials and no metal parts to rust. Notes: 1. The blue retail box featured on the site was not included, in case someone was expecting this box or depending on any of the information printed on it. I didn’t need the box but am mentioning it since Amazon includes it as one of the images representing this product. 2. The internal width of my bath tub is 24 inches, and the fully-assembled chair fits comfortably in that space with about one inch of wiggle room left on either side of the chair. 3. The packaging was sturdy and well-presented, with no signs of damage or package mishandling. They shipped it in a double carton, which I initially thought was for extra protection, and then I realized that the outer carton was used for shipment because I had ordered two CDs in addition to the shower chair. The inner carton measures approx. 18.5 x 21 x 7 inches and included ample packing materials to cushion the product. This carton was placed into a slightly larger carton, along with the CDs. The double carton was an unplanned benefit, and I was pleased. 4. The bench has 16 die-cut S-shaped perforations to allow water to drain away from the seat. 5. Even without the chair back installed, the shower chair just feels more like a chair than a bench. This is due to the ample front-to-back surface area in addition to the ample side-to-side width typical of a bench. Even though I am of an average female height and build, measuring 5’5” and weighing 130 lbs, I feel more secure having the extra room this seat provides. I believe that a person requiring more space would feel well-accommodated and comforted by the ample seating area. 6. I used the openings intended for a shower spray hose to hold a razor and a plastic shampoo comb that has a built-in hook. When the chair back is not installed, the openings at the back of the bench can be used for holding other shower supplies. 7. The price was $29.88, and shipping was free. I saw a shower chair at CVS for $59.99 + tax, and it includes metal parts, which will not wear well. It was an ordinary-looking typical shower chair and did not appear to warrant such a price. I knew that Amazon could do better. Amazon’s delivery was fast and efficient, and the price of the all-plastic chair was great.
