Frequently-Asked Questions:
1. How much does the Uncle Alex desk weigh? Can my wife and I assemble it ourselves or would we need more than two people to set it up?
2. Are all the parts of the desk made of solid wood, or is it compo board or a pressed wood product?
3. On the stool: What color are the stool and cushion?
4. What is the next step if I decide to place an order?
5. What forms of payment do you accept?
6. Will there be any sales tax charged on this purchase?
7. How are returns handled?
8. What’s with the “tilt” feature of the desks? How does that work?
9. I know that the height of a stand-up desk is very important. Are your desks adjustable in height?
1 . How much does the Uncle Alex desk weigh? Can my wife and I assemble it ourselves or would we need more than two people to set it up?
The Uncle Alex desk will be shipped in three cartons. The largest carton weighs 93 lbs, dimensions 60x37x15. This carton can be handled by one person with a small hand truck, or by two people. Once unpacked the set up can be handled easily by just one person, although two would be a little better. The other two cartons are 27 lbs, and 28 lbs. respectively, each small enough to be handled easily by one person. All items come with simple set-up instructions and diagrams. Once the items have been unpacked from their shipping cartons (they are very well packaged) set-up takes about five to ten minutes max. Piece of cake.
2. Are all the parts of the desk made of solid wood, or is it compo board or a pressed wood product?
Even though it (MDF for example) is used by virtually every high end furniture manufacturer out there I dislike any form of composite or fiberboard (fake wood). The office furniture I once bought at Office Depot has long since pretty much fallen apart. However I will admit that the newer composites are much stronger than they used to be and provide a very smooth surface for veneers. They also eliminate the problem of warping and twisting of wood components with wider dimensions (like tabletops, etc.), particularly when shipped through various climates in hot containers, like China to America. However, customers don’t generally like them which is why most furniture companies hesitate to even tell them. However, despite the few positives, I don’t like them and won’t use them because they are VERY heavy and would make a piece of furniture the size of a desk very difficult to move around or otherwise deal with. Plus, I just like wood. We use only solid hardwood in probably 90% of our furniture. The wider pieces on our desks, like the desktop for example, or the back of the hutch, we use a double sided, hardwood veneered, high quality (smooth) plywood which is banded around the edges with solid hardwood. This provides the strength and beautiful look and finish of solid wood and the resistance to warping and twisting over time, yet with a much lighter weight than MDF or other composit materials. Our pieces are shipped to and directly handled (unpacked and set-up) by our customers, so this is very important.
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3. On the stool: What color are the stool and cushion?
The stool is the same color and finish as the desk which is a very attractive, high quality (Valspar) brown mahogany, hand rubbed, lacquer finish. The seat cushion includes a light (almond) colored upholstery, with a subtle woven pattern. We also have a black leatherette (vinyl) seat upholstery. Both are pictured throughout our web site. Check with us for current availability.
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4. What is the next step if I decide to place an order?
Simply go to the contact us/get pricing… link and click on the items you are interested in and fill out your contact information. This provides us with the necessary information in order to work up your estimate. When we receive your inquiry form we will determine the best way to ship the items and then send you an official “Estimate” to your email address, or call you directly if you prefer. The estimate will have all the information of your shipment, including prices, shipping and handling charges, taxes, etc. for your final approval before the order is placed. If everything is to your satisfaction just contact us to provide your approval and exact shipping address and payment information.
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5. What forms of payment do you accept?
If you would like to place your order just let us know by return email. We will then send you a Request for Payment email from our company PayPal account. Simply click on the link provided in the email and follow the simple instructions to make your payment. This is very easy and a totally free service to you and is a safe and secure way to transfer funds over the Internet. You are able to pay with any credit card, bank account or PayPal balance (if you also have a PayPal account). You only need our email address, which will be noted on the link we send you. When your payment is received we will send you a confirmation of your order and proceed to schedule your delivery.
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6. Will there be any sales tax charged on this purchase?
Only for shipments to addresses in North Carolina. All others would be considered out of state and no sales taxes would apply.
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If there are any problems or damages with the shipment returns are very easy. Just call or email us for return authorization. We will then contact the shipper and have a “call tag” issued and the shipper will pick up the item. We will then process a refund on your credit card or ship you a replacement whichever you choose. We also pay the shipping charges for any return shipment in the event of a return for any reason.
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8. What’s with the “tilt” feature of the desks? How does that work?
All of our desks offer the “tilt” feature for the desktop. This means that based on your preference you can instantly set the desktop to be level, or to have a slight tilt. Each desk has a wooden bar, called a “leveling bar”, that is mounted underneath the desktop that you can easily flip up or down at any time and locks into place. When it’s flipped up the surface of the desktop is level, when it’s flipped down it provides a tilted desktop, which is actually better for reading or studying than a flat surface.
9. I know that the height of a stand-up desk is very important. Are your desks adjustable in height?
Absolutely! The height of a stand-up desk is critical for comfort and efficiency so it’s important that you get one that fits you particularly. The height of the Uncle Alex desk is fully adjustable in 3/4″ increments from 41 5/8″ to 46 1/8″ (40″ to 46″ for the PayStation, Sr.) by way of the “conversion kit” base. The “conversion kit” is a patent pending design feature that only our desks have. The neat thing about this is that in the future if you ever sell the desk to someone else they could easily adjust it again to their height. Or, you could easily convert the desk to a “sit-down” desk at any time if preferred. Custom desks made to a specific height don’t offer this flexibility and are much more expensive to boot. Incidentally, FYI, the correct height of a stand-up desk should come to just a little below your elbows when standing. And don’t forget a foot rest. The foot rest is mandatory if you have lower back problems; it’s actually recommended by chiropractors.