So I just opened the box to put this together and to my great disappointment, there is a split in the wood!!!!! I have no idea how or if this will affect the piece itself, I’m sure in time it would, since it is a CRACK!!!!! Unfortunately I’m left with no other option but to keep it since the item weighs a ton, and have no idea how I would return it anyway. I guess all I can do now is HOPE it turns out ok, and that the stress from putting it together  using it doesn’t cause the crack to get any bigger. I don’t remember offhand what I paid for it, but it was definitely too much, especially since it came with this crack.