Not as sturdy as past models, but light and therefore useful
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
Compared to virtually identical stools we've had for years (same wood, same design), these stools are a real disappointment. The wood is patched in obvious places (including the seat); the edge of the seat is sharper (apparently to mask that the seat itself is smaller), so that it's uncomfortable to sit on; the lateral bars are lower, so that you can't ease the discomfort by placing your feet on them; the finish is marred by stray patching compound; the screws are so weak, and the cuts just haphazard enough, so that it's way too easy to snap the screws while tightening them (with any one failed screw compromising the whole stool); and all the pieces are skimpier, such that I wouldn't trust heavy friends to sit on the stool without some care. To repeat, a real disappointment.
UPDATE:
Over the past year, I've come to prefer these stools to the older, heavier model, because I find myself moving them fairly often, and it's so much easier to move these than the heavy ones. Thus, I've upgraded my rating to 4 stairs, falling short of 5 only because the wood is patched, and to caution people to observe the weight limit. (I'm writing from the US, if that's a hint.)
Not as sturdy as past models, but light and therefore useful
ORIGINAL REVIEW: Compared to virtually identical stools we've had for years (same wood, same design), these stools are a real disappointment. The wood is patched in obvious places (including the seat); the edge of the seat is sharper (apparently to mask that the seat itself is smaller), so that it's uncomfortable to sit on; the lateral bars are lower, so that you can't ease the discomfort by placing your feet on them; the finish is marred by stray patching compound; the screws are so weak, and the cuts just haphazard enough, so that it's way too easy to snap the screws while tightening them (with any one failed screw compromising the whole stool); and all the pieces are skimpier, such that I wouldn't trust heavy friends to sit on the stool without some care. To repeat, a real disappointment. UPDATE: Over the past year, I've come to prefer these stools to the older, heavier model, because I find myself moving them fairly often, and it's so much easier to move these than the heavy ones. Thus, I've upgraded my rating to 4 stairs, falling short of 5 only because the wood is patched, and to caution people to observe the weight limit. (I'm writing from the US, if that's a hint.)