Karen, I am terribly sorry about the seed shelf issue. I can talk you through it if you want to try yourself. With respect to the contractor. If I remember right he was very rushed and did do what we told him to do - which is to take the time to study the instructions all the way - so as to know what step will be happening. He told me that this is "crazy" and he had never worked with instructions like that. Had he taken the time to listen to me (instead of being upset) he would have easily done all of it in less than 2-days. I am sorry that it took longer. As too the instructions being wrong - we would love to know what he is referring because I am not aware of them being wrong. I have assembled at least 5 or 6 of this model myself and I am very familiar with these instructions. I think he just didn't appreciate the European style instructions. Please contact us with any thing else you encounter: Exaco: 877-760-8500 ext 701.