I was a little nervous to purchase after reading some of the reviews, but this piece is actually really great for the price point. The packaging and amount of styrofoam is a little intense but ultimately it's no big deal. If you follow the instructions it is not terribly hare to assemble, but it does take a bit of time and is certainly a two person job. Overall, it turned out great, seems very sturdy and is literally a 1/3 of the cost of the one I wanted from West Elm and looks almost identical. Very pleased with this purchase!