I bought this table on sale, and overall a great value for what i needed. it is not perfect, thus the reason for the four stars. if you want a perfect finish because this table is going to be highly visible in your living area/foyer, then this might not be the table for you. mine is behind a sofa against a wall, so we don't need to be too picky about it. didn't want to spend $500+ on the perfect table. this piece is advertised "distressed," and so you will see some purposeful markings. you may also encounter some minor raised bubbling of paint. in my room, we don't really notice it much unless you get up close. now, for this price, if you have the time and desire, you can sand and re-spray paint to make the finish non-distressed. it is very solid and sturdy, and it was easy to put together per my husband.