Shipping was super fast. The shipping box did have several tears and holes and there was a small tear in the back lining of the headboard. All of the pieces were stored and shipped inside the headboard. Assembly was very easy, especially with a power drill:) the instructions were clear and easy to follow. It took two of us about a half hour to unpack, assemble, and clean up the packaging. My only disappointment is the color...it’s lighter and has more of a gray undertone than I anticipated so it’s really not a good color for my walls..it blends right in:( I’ll probably end up recovering it. It’s sturdy and solid for the price.