It came packaged really well, and seems to be perfectly fine. I was a little disappointed that the black casing around the bulb holder is plastic, not metal. Not a big deal, as once it's hung, I won't even think about it. I can't speak to ease of installation, since I haven't had it installed yet. I plan on using 40watt dimmable bulbs, because with a 12 light chandelier, as many have reviewed, it will be really bright. Be prepared to spend $$ for the 12 bulbs, too!