It is functional and was relatively easy to put together. Very sturdy and great for our rainy season -- so easy to wipe down quickly, and no wood to eventually rot.  The benches aren't very deep, and the sitting pads we had for it are too big (hang over the edge, though they fit the last picnic bench we had), but functional. There were several markings on the plastic where it got "dinged" during shipping -- nothing worth sending it back, but it was disappointing to say the least.