The cardboard that people have talked about and that ignored bc I didn't think part of a piece furniture could be cardboard is LITERALLY cardboard not even as thick or sturdy as a shipping box. It really is hard to believe. As for the rest of it...I glued back a strip of the veneer that had partially come off the front off one of the shelves. The veneer at least in this spot and I have to assume the rest of it is a bit thicker than a sheet of paper. My husband didn't want me to get this site unseen but the size was perfect. (It was this thing or another from a local store) I chose this and had to eat crow. Also NOTE: the top is "non-load bearing" so if you thought you  may put something on top with any weight you can't. Lesson learned.