The quality and ease of putting these together was fantastic.  Stacked, they are a little high to fit under clothing in the closet, but as a two-tier shelf, they are wonderful.  The first shelf is at a height that allows some shoes to fit below which is a bonus.  Although it's called a shoe rack, it could hold other items.  I am going to take one set and put it in the pantry where it can hold other things and look neat. It is rare these days to be surprised by the quality of something, but that is the case with this.  While it couldn't hold a hundred pounds, I could sustain more weight than what shoes would weigh.  It is lightly varnished--not as smoothly sanded as some might hope for, but keep in mind, it is made to hold shoes within a closet.  There is a lingering smell from the varnish, but I don't find it objectionable.  That being said, I haven't put it inside the closet yet; I'm letting it air out a bit first.