Shipping was fast and free.  Setting up the bed requires two people at the beginning, and then one person can finish it. It took about 2-3 hours from beginning to end to put the bed together.  The bed is for the most part sturdy, but we attached it to the wall to keep it from moving and shaking.  The stairs are very hard to walk on so I covered them with pipe insulation and that makes a world of difference.  Love the bed so far! Perfect for a small bedroom.