Here's a few helpful hints if you're considering this shower caddy pole.
For perspective, I'll start by saying that I'm a non-mechanically inclined 56 year old woman. It took me a long time to decide which pole caddy to buy after failing to figure out how to construct a caddy that I had purchased from Home Depot (and subsequently returned.) Most pole caddies I found online had less than glowing reviews and none (including this one) had consistently good reviews but I settled on this one because I liked the size and depth of the baskets. First, construction would have been so much easier with just a tad more verbiage. There is a top pole, bottom pole and three middle poles in the package. The middle poles are different lengths so you can combine them as needed to approximate the height of your ceiling. They should be assembled so they are slightly shorter than needed. Now I'll add what should be a "no-brainer" but isn't immediately apparent by looking at it. After your pole is a little shorter than the correct height, pull on the CAP of the top pole to extend the it to a length about 1 inch longer than the exact distance from bottom to ceiling. Then twist the pole until the extension is tight then the spring can engage inside the pole that creates the tension and secures it in place. Placing the baskets takes just a little planning. Find something with which you can temporarily mark the poles. (There's tape labels on the poles that I removed, tore in half and used for this). After the top pole length is locked, remove it, slide the baskets (with their plastic collars inserted) onto the pole, replace the top pole and install it in your shower. Once installed, decide where you want the baskets and mark the spots (this is where I used the tape). Then you'll need to remove the pole from the shower because the screws to secure the baskets are on the backside of the pole. Of course, as you remove the pole from the shower so you can secure the baskets, the baskets will all fall. Once out of the shower, re-position the baskets according to your marks and secure them with the set screws. Be sure to line them up before tightening. Then stand the whole thing up and install it. It really was easy, it just wasn't apparent by looking at it that the cap could pull out on the top pole. Securing the baskets could have been engineered better, the plastic top, bottom and collars should have been rubber but it's only a $30 pole. The jury is out whether the plastic collars will sufficiently hold the baskets in place once they start being used. Probably the biggest complaint I have is that the basket wedge isn't a full 90 degrees which means that the baskets aren't snug in the corner and the pole moves side to side. I'm going to have to find some sort of solution to stop the side to side play or the shower walls will eventually be marked by the outside of the basket. Regardless, I like it. Once I figured out how the spring mechanism engaged, it was easy to assemble, albeit cumbersome. The baskets are deep enough that my bottles are secure and not going anywhere and the oiled bronze color is very attractive. It's not great but its good enough. I'll update this if I ever change my mind. Update 11/21/2018 Three years later and my shower caddy is still standing strong. It still looks great, its washcloth bar and loofa hooks are incredibly useful and the basket sizes and depths have proven to be perfect. The baskets still dont sag and unlike my concerns from three years ago, the side-to-side basket movement is not an issue of concern. There havent been any signs of rust or corrosion but I did buy the oiled bronze finish which may not show it as much as a silver pole might. Similarly, my complaint about the plastics parts vs. rubber feet have also proven to be unwarranted. I highly recommend this pole and am changing my intial four star review to five. Oh and no, I didnt receive any compensation for this review. Read more
