Sparco 90206 3-Tier Steel Mesh Desk Tray, Black (11 5/8"W x 13 3/4"D x 10 5/8"H)

I hesitate to nerd out so hard on an office accessory, but this is what I've been searching for for years. I am a writer, and produce reams of paper, which I tend to spit out in a frenzy and can never get myself to file in a timely manner. They just pile up around me, and it's murder to find them again.The thing is, they do tend to cluster conveniently into under a dozen categories for any given month or season: eg, interview notes from each of sources a, b and c; copy about x, y and z; outlines and organization stuff; open questions.That's nine categories above, but there are not room for nine piles on my desk. So they tend to get mixed up.(Part of the problem with filing cabinets, though, is that the categories often reveal themselves gradually, and I don't know what file folders to make up. (I resist organizational moments like creating them, so that doesn't happen frequently, plus I hate wasting them by labeling them all and changing the categories a week later.)I've tried all sorts of organizing systems to get me to separate them: horizontal trays, vertical trays, those cubbyhole things--all with very limited success. (The cubbyholes came closest, with little post-it labels I could change.)The crucial problem with all of them was that I had to be able to reach them so easily I could slip them right in when I was in a hurry, and I needed to be able to SEE what was in a stack when I wanted to fetch something, not just see the label for it. (Especially while it was still in the nebulous stage before I had figured out what the category was.)With anything vertical, including the cubbyholes, there was about two inches of vertical space, so once you slipped a paper in, the surface of it was pretty well hidden from view. I tried some staggered models, but I didn't see enough of the page to help that much, and I was kind of annoyed that the staggering made the top ones further away.This item finally created the solution: sliding trays. That allows them to become staggered on the fly, when you pull one out. They are spaced enough so I can see a bit of each stack, and with one hand swipe, the tray is out and I can see the whole top of the first page. (They slide really easily--much less resistance than opening a drawer. And they don't waste valuable desk space with the staggering, because 99% of the time, they are stacked right on top of each other.It might sound like the height of laziness, but it's about acknowledging what stands in my way. When my brain is feverishly working on a problem, wrestling with copy, it does not want to cede control to the anal-retentive side to organize things. It only happens if it's instantaneous and easy.I've been using these for a few months, and it actually happens. I have six of them now, clustered around my two desks.The price is right, too. And they match the rest of my black metal mesh stuff like my garbage cans and pen holders. They feel pretty durable, and they are extremely light, so I can/do lift them up and move them around from time to time. And I assembled them in about a minute flat.I'm very happy. One less excuse for my next book to be late. Haha.

This is a great price and very functional! I love the handle on top so I can take it to different rooms. My 10 year old nephew assembled it for me -- it's that easy! -- and I got it to lay flat by just adjusting the screws and torquing it until it was level.I use it to get rid of the piles of paper all around by labeling them with the RAFT system:R = read (that's the top shelf so magazines fit),A = act (for bills that needs to be paid and such),F = file (after I'm done "acting", or for things like bank statements that will go into my filing cabinet),T = trash (and I don't need a tray for that -- it goes straight into trash or recycling!)The downsides are that there isn't a place to label the trays, and the trays can come fully out when you're moving it (thus dropping everything on the floor). However, I just taped labels on the trays with clear packing tape. It's also nice to have the trays come out fully when I just want to take one tray out, like when I take the File tray to the office filing cabinet. I just need to be careful when I move it from room to room!

Recently purchased this to use as a charging station for the various electronic devices (tablets, phones, mini-laptops) we have. I am using it on a bookshelf, which does push the sliding tray slightly forward but it is still secure and not in danger of tipping. (I would advise measuring the depth of your shelves before ordering if you plan to place it in shelves. I forgot to do that but it worked out, luckily). It was easy to assemble, and I am not terribly mechanical. It comes with the two brackets, three rods, three shelves, and screws. I found it easier to put in the screws partially on the first bracket (or whatever you call those triangular shaped things that are the side support/legs---told ya, not mechanical. Ha!) and then attached them to the rods, tightening them with the screw driver. Then I placed the bracket flat with the rods sticking up and attached the second bracket. It was a little wobbly at first but I sort of adjusted things and got it leveled out. The feet have rubber ends so they won't scratch surfaces. The drawers do slide in and out, so it will be easy to remove things without scratching their cases on the metal. Seems to be the answer to our clutter problem when charging or storing our tablets and phones.Will update my review if there are any problems.

Cut to the chase: Yes, it holds paper. It's the core purpose of the product, so there's reason to mention it, but that's not exactly difficult to achieve is it? Are you holding paper now? Set it down. Voila! Whatever you put it on becomes a paper holder. This product succeeds as a paper holder by simple virtue of existing. For the purpose of this review, that's worth a star.Accepting the premise that any tangible object is capable of having paper set upon it, the next thing to look for is asthetics, right? It doesn't look bad. Not fantastic, your friends won't be impressed, but how much do you really want from it? It's a black metal thing for holding paper. It looks exactly like a black metal thing that holds paper. One more star.That takes us to build quality. There's a curious failure here. I don't need a paper holder to be especially robust. Paper, generally, isn't a real burden in this context. Few sheets here and there, magazine, some mail, right? I'm not sure this thing is up to the job. The trays get the job done (again, to the nature of the thing, all they have to do is exist in some form). They feel cheap and flimsy in the process, but they work. The frame that stacks the trays does not work. It's metal, but it's thin and flexible to the point of absurdity. Think of the antenna on a portable radio - now bend it in half and add a few equally flimsy bits to tie it all together. It wobbles. The two sides don't match. The screw holes aren't quite right. The threading doesn't quite match the screws. You get the picture.It's a tawdry little piece of cheap acting as a constant reminder how sad the world can be.

It has made a world of difference in my office. I use each shelf for a different purpose (action items, file & shred). It is very sturdy and not cheaply made. It only took a few minutes to assemble. I think the price is reasonable, as it is something that will last a very long time and not require replacing.

The trays are a little loose and if I need to move or rearrange the whole thing on my desk, all the trays will slide forward or backward, nothing them holding them in position. Otherwise well made, material is sturdy.

Price is too high for the build quality you get. Stand is wobbly and trays do not fit 100% snug. Easy to assemble however!

As advertused, nnice unit, easy assembly.

Love it easy to assembly and now more organize would buy another for sure