Let's start by clarifying that I bought this bookcase for only $244. It's a nice dark cherry color. The shelves and general structure appear to be real wood. It's very sturdy, very heavy. My husband put it together himself in about 3 hours. No parts were missing. As you can see, there is a bit of a gap in the front and a few minor scuffs which I wasn't concerned with as it was going in a bedroom. If you need a simple, sturdy, no frills bookcase, go for it!