Storage rack - any one used it?

[val2525]

Found this online, has anyone ever used it? Dimensions indicate it will hold standard totes, so I'm more interested in the rack than the blue totes (totes, I have!).







www.fingerhut.com/product//The-Bin-Warehouse-12-Tote-Storage-System/PD485.uts?cat=9034

[kritter]

I don't use one but I probably should. All my totes are staked on top of each other.

That being said, I have cat bedding, cat towels, and the like in the totes so I only need to get in them once or twice a year. To take stuff out for cat beds and put it back in after it is cleaned.

[val2525]

I have a storage unit I'd like to cancel, and I'm tired of looking at all the crap in my eBay room (even though it is fairly organized as it is). I'd like the stuff toted up, out of sight. Toting will also help with the dust here.

[zoesam]

Never used it, I don't do bins, but I will say that Fingerhut in general, is not known for their high quality items.

[val2525]

It depends on what you buy. I got my Honeywell air purifier from there, it's awesome. One of my heavy duty folding rolling racks came from there too, also excellent. It just depends on the supplier, and they usually give you the name. This one is sold at Walmart, ULINE, Amazon and several other places too. The system is rated for 1200 lbs when anchored to the wall.

[somany]

Yep, I have 3 of them. They have moved with me 3 times now and are still going strong. I like them cause I can get right to the tote I need. They are plenty sturdy. I got mine through Amazon, not Fingerhut. First time I moved we took them apart, last two times just put ithem on the truck as is--much easier! I have a 2 step ladder that I use to get into the top totes so I don't have to lift them down. The totes are getting heavier as I get older but I could still manage except I have very little room between them to maneuver so the ladder makes it easier.

[somany]

$119.95 with free shipping on Amazon. Search on bin storage pvc; I'm on my phone and don't know how to do a link on it.

[somany]

You will lose a bit of room to the rack as your totes won't be as close together as they might be on the floor. Also if you currently stack more than 4 high, you would lose vertical space. Just something to consider. Also need to allow space for the piece that attaches them to the wall (although we sawed that part off and I haven't had any problem with stability without it.).

[val2525]

Thanks somany! I have an account at Fingerhut, that's why I looked there first. I measured my room and I think if I use these and my existing totes, I can organize better AND get rid of the storage unit. I need to go thru the stuff in the unit anyway and donate the "WTH was I thinking?" stuff.

[val2525]

Mar 21, 2015 23:31:28 GMT somany said:

You will lose a bit of room to the rack as your totes won't be as close together as they might be on the floor. Also if you currently stack more than 4 high, you would lose vertical space. Just something to consider. Also need to allow space for the piece that attaches them to the wall (although we sawed that part off and I haven't had any problem with stability without it.).

I don't mind losing a little space due to the unit itself, if it means I can grab the tote I need without moving all of them in a stack!

[val2525]

Do yours back up to the wall, or are they more in rows like the long file cabinets at doctor offices?

[somany]

Currently one is against a wall and the other two are back to back (tied together at the back to increase stability). I left just enough clearance between the one on the wall and the one facing it to get a tote off. I will take a picture tomorrow during the day and post it. By doing it with two of them facing each other, I saved the amount of room needed in front of one of them in order to get the totes off.

[val2525]

Oooo, can't wait! I may have to put them along the walls, though, in my space. I also use it for picture taking, so I need enough clearance to set up lights and step back to use the camera.

Even allowing for that, though, if I switch the direction of the bifold closet door, I can fit maybe 3 8-unit ones and 1 12-unit one just along the walls, not even using the open space.

[Deleted]

I have bought metal ones and then a plastic one at Target. The plastic one was cheap, like $40/$45. It holds 8 full size bins.

[somany]

Here are pics of my room.  It was hard to get good ones because it is very tight quarters in there.  My other bedroom is 3" smaller on one side and the exact same size on the other side, and when I was moving in and calculated the amount of room I needed, that 3" made a big difference in the way I could arrange my stuff.  First pic is just to give you some perspective.  The small totes hold my pre-owned stuff, and the bigger totes on the PVC system hold my somanystores stuff.  On the last wall, there are 4 five shelf bookcases to hold my shoes.  On my somanystores site, at one time I had 11 of those bookshelves, but I have cut way back on the shoes since they were not selling as well (apparelsave cut into the market, I think).  Behind where I am taking the pictures from is a double wide closet, not walk-in, but good size.  I also have a 5 foot closet in the hallway that gets used for ebay stuff, and currently am using my second bathroom to hold my unlisted stuff.  Still have a couple of totes in my living room and some under the bed in my room, but that's way better than it used to be. 

[Shirley U Geste]

WOW You are super organized.

I am very impressed.

[val2525]

Wow, NICE! I'm headed to take some totes to the storage unit, so I'll do a tote count while I'm there and see what I have. I'm going to flip my living room and move the office to the other end, so I may move the shipping area into the office area too. I use the same table to measure, if I move it in the LR I can listen to my music on my computer (iTunes). That would free up more space for another rack unit in the 'ebay room'. Hmnn.

[val2525]

Right now, listed stuff is hanging for the most part but I could number the totes and put items in whatever "listed" tote number has space, then record the tote on my listing info sheet. That way, I wouldn't have to redo totes as stuff sold, just add newly listed as totes emptied. And I could avoid the dust issue I have here (desert and unfiltered swamp cooler).

[somany]

Mar 22, 2015 21:16:55 GMT val2525 said:

Right now, listed stuff is hanging for the most part but I could number the totes and put items in whatever "listed" tote number has space, then record the tote on my listing info sheet. That way, I wouldn't have to redo totes as stuff sold, just add newly listed as totes emptied. And I could avoid the dust issue I have here (desert and unfiltered swamp cooler).

That's how I do mine.  My PVC totes are A1 through A12, B1 through B12, and C1 through C12.  That reference number goes both in the custom label field and at the beginning of the Notes field (because sometimes when something sell, the custom field comes through blank).  For the smaller totes for pre-owned stuff, they are just A through Z, but coats and dresses are hanging for the most part (course, those are mostly the unlisted items ).  My pre-owned items are detailed in a spreadsheet with a reference # which also goes in the custom field. 

[somany]

Mar 22, 2015 21:09:08 GMT Shirley U Geste said:

WOW You are super organized.

I am very impressed.

Thanks!  Up above I mentioned the PVC racks have been moved 3 times.  I've had lots of opportunity to get it organized!

[val2525]

I have inventory tags on my listed hanging stuff so it's easy to find when I go to ship. I'd prefer to put them in totes mainly due to the dust factor here. Well, that and totes seem less cluttered. Clutter seems to zap energy. Seems like it would make it easier to move inventory if I move, too.

[somany]

Definitely to both statements--clutter zaps energy (and motivation), and totes are way easier to move.

[val2525]

The bad part is if I go to a system like this, I'll also want color coordinated totes.

*sigh*

[Deleted]

Somany - I read this this morning and have been thinking about whether it would work for me to free up space in the basement where I have stuff. I have a couple of questions: what size are those bins? I  think you mentioned having a step stool to get to the top bin. Do you take the bins down when you need something or just try to reach inside? If the bins are full size like what I have on the floor now, I would not be able to lift them and take them down so I was wondering about the process. Thanks.

[somany]

Mar 23, 2015 3:54:37 GMT val2525 said:

The bad part is if I go to a system like this, I'll also want color coordinated totes.

*sigh*

LOL I get it. Mine are not all the same but I do group the similar ones together for the most part.

[val2525]

I can't really use clear totes, things fade out here.

[somany]

Mar 23, 2015 16:53:21 GMT @highendbuys said:

Somany - I read this this morning and have been thinking about whether it would work for me to free up space in the basement where I have stuff. I have a couple of questions: what size are those bins? I  think you mentioned having a step stool to get to the top bin. Do you take the bins down when you need something or just try to reach inside? If the bins are full size like what I have on the floor now, I would not be able to lift them and take them down so I was wondering about the process. Thanks.

The company that sells the bin holder recommends a particular size--don't remember what size that is but I use the 70 quart size on the bottom of each section and the 66 quart size in all the other spots. The top ones were the only ones I lifted off until I started using the two step ladder. All the others I can pull out and sort of brace with my body while I am going through it. I don't put my stuff in any kind of order inside the tote and once in a while I have to pull the tote and put it on the floor if I am having trouble finding something, but for the most part, I just pull it out a bit and go through it. I put all my stuff in a gallon size plastic bag (the kind with twist ties although I just tape them shut and don't use the twist tie) and then I sort of "stand up" the packages so I can generally find the item without having to paw through the tote too much.