I was very weary about purchasing this after reading reviews. I will say you need 2 ppl to put this together, there are lots of parts, it took us about 4hrs. But it was worth it!!!! I truly love this piece of furniture, not the best quality but you get what you pay for. There are some minor scratches, barely noticeable. 
Suggestions 
1. Number the bags of parts to make it easier to figure out what belongs where (only picture of parts with quantity are included)
2. Have at least one experienced furniture builder to help you