I received the rug two days earlier than the date that I was anticipating. It was a nice surprise. It came in being rolled in a plastic bag with no box and no damage. The rug has a very clear woven pattern on it and you can feel it with your hands, which is good for wiping off the dirt on the shoes. The color is true to the picture. It didn't lay flat at first because of the folding during the shipment. But after one week of stepping on, it is flat now. Because I am using it on the brick surface in my lanai, I don't need a rug pad. However, I believe you don't need the pad even on the hard surface because of the feature of the back of the rug. Overall to me, it is a nice rug for outdoor use. 

Pros: Fast shipping, clear woven and no rug pad needed
Cons: ship without box