First, the assembly instructions were out of sequence.  But anyone with a little reasoning ability can figure that out.  However no matter how powerful one's reasoning ability, it will be no substitute for:
- the poor quality of the piece
- the poor workmanship of the piece
- the impossibility of getting the pieces to fit together properly--regardless of one's success in figuring out the instructions  (and I am no novice at this stuff)

This is absolutely the worst waste of money--and time--i have spent in a very long time.  Never again.