These benches are so nice! Easy to convert, looks really sharp, and they’re several steps above the cheap plastic tables. It’s true, they don’t lay flat when stored, so they aren’t for you if that’s what you need. We’ve already gotten a lot of use out of them as both benches and tables. If I had one gripe, I’d say that I wish there was a bit more of a stain resistance on the slatted table material. We frequently eat dinner outside, and while they’re easy to wipe off, there’s spots leftover, like a grease spot. Not a huge deal, but my tidy soul wishes you could return it to pristine. The benches have been out in the sun for several  weeks, as well as in pounding rain without issue. They really are an awesome, innovative design.