Are pine wood bunk beds a bad idea for kids?

my mom and I are thinking of going in halves on a set of pine wood bunkbeds with underbed drawers. Here is a pic of item. http://cgi.ebay.com/TWIN-TWIN-PINE-BUNK-... with shipping/tax/shipping insurance would be $442. When we were out shopping around locally to avoid shipping, one furniture place said he would price match if I brought in online info, but when I mentioned one online was pine he laughed and said pine was junk he only sold oak. His was $573( even with free delivery).. I know oak is better, but the cost of pine ones are already a huge stretch of our budget to get my grandkids these beds....is pine going to not be safe? The salesman made it sound like pine would just fall apart. So I didn't know if it was his way to try and sell his, or if pine was really shabby product.

Are pine wood bunk beds a bad idea for kids?
There is nothing WRONG with pine wood. It built a whole country from 1700 to now.





Properly designed, pine is a PERFECT wood for a kids room. True, it is a softwood, and it has a sometimes wild grain, but it is not going to be on display in the front living room.





Just make sure the particular product is well designed, and make sure it is SOLID wood, not a laminate, compressed board, partical board, future board, or anything else BUT SOLID wood.





. (I would be a bit concerned about "knockdown" furniture from China, the kind that comes as a kit and you have to put it together. This usually means partical board with applicae tape for grain imaging. Pure unaldulterated junk.
Reply:actualy the oak ones will fall apart faster, it is a hard wood and will crack, split, splinter faster, get some plans online or at a lumber store, build your own, it can be done for half of what your going to pay online or at a furniture store.
Reply:Pine is a softer wood, so will not be as durable.





Have you considered getting plans and building it yourself? It's not a complicated project.
Reply:pine is soft.. tho should be furniture grade, and fine if constructed well
Reply:My last single pine bed broke after I stepped onto it from the window ledge! When my boys are old enough to go in bunks I'm planning to buy a metal tubular set. - Another avenue to explore...
Reply:NO pine is not junk wood...It's softer than oak but my bed is pine and we even have a bunk bed made of pine and it's fine...Check the hardware and make sure you can tighten it is all....have a good Christmas!