I read all the reviews before purchasing these and I'm glad I did. Out of the box they don't look that good. In fact, I considered returning them because I felt they looked cheap. I decided to give them a chance. I took them out of the box and left them alone for several days. Attached to each one is a card which tells you to wipe them with a shoe brush and cloth. I gave it a shot. It's a must! As you brush them, they become shiny and much more attractive. However, it required more brushing than I anticipated. It's not as simple as just wiping them down or swiping a brush over them. It was a lot of work! The price was right for the quality though. I'm glad  I decided to keep them because they look beautiful on the wall.