I read all of the 1, 2, & 3 star reviews before purchasing these chairs. I am very pleased with them. They were a challenge to put together, but I have arthritis in my hands. I would think anyone able bodied could do this job without too much difficulty. Tools I used were a drill, drill bit and Phillips head bit, pliers, Phillips head screwdriver and the tool that comes with the chair. There were no scratches or problems with the quality of the chairs. When I put them together they were square without having to tweak them. I did put wood glue in every joint. I love the style and color - fit my Mid Century decor well!