I knew in advance that I would never use this as a nightstand because I wanted it as a pedestal for a sculpture.
You must really be pressed for space and have wall mounted lights or overhead cans for this to be practical.
As to the buyer who thought that by ordering two she would automatically get a “left” and “right” not the worst lesson to be learned, although she has a valid point if there is both a left and right facing one and you didn’t identify that.