This bench arrived as scheduled and was packaged very securely so it arrived in good condition. It took about 2 hours to put together; be sure to follow instructions and do steps in order. The wood is pretty so a clear sealer is perfect on it. I started with a clear, then tried a red, which turned out to be too dark and covered up the grain of the wood. I wish I had stayed with the clear. Overall, all the pieces matched up well and the bench is sturdy.