The packaging was excellent. All pieces of the desk were present and undamaged. The parts were all there with some extras. The directions are better than most. I did the "L" shape and there are many, many steps. I have zero ability to put things together, but going slowly and reviewing the instructions as many times as needed (also looking at the next step to see what the step I was on should look like when finished), it went very well. The predrilled holes and the various fasteners were high quality. I had no problems with hole alignment. After a few times, you can just "feel" that the fastener is where it needs to be. Just make sure to use the correct fastener for the step you are in. The end product is pleasing to the eye, sturdy and stable. I especially like the open back so I could drop all the cords for my office equipment behind and plug them right in. No struggling with cord holes as in a typical office desk. The shelf below is very handy to hold extra office supplies I use regularly. A plastic container like you would use for shoes fits perfectly. The undershelf lighting is a help working on the desk in front of my monitors. I love the monitor shelf. I thought I would miss having a file cabinet, but I had an open plastic container that fits hanging file folders and used that to put on the open shelf on the short L side. It is working very well. I have one suggestion to the manufacturer. There is a bridge piece for the upper shelf that connects the smaller part of the L shape with the larger. This is intended to connect via wooden dolls inserted on each side to the predrilled holes. I had one side in and lost my grip, the piece fell and snapped the dolls down the middle. I could not auger out the part of the dolls already inside the holes. This happened on the other side as well (see below). It would be consistent with the overall quality to provide metal pins rather than wooden dolls. I used some small brackets I had on hand to connect the bridge piece to both sides. Some perhaps helpful hints: Build this in the room it will live in. I put it together in the kitchen (more space to work and to sort all the pieces). I had measured to make sure I could get the whole desk into my office and I was tremendously wrong in my measurements. I had to take apart the entire short side of the L, get everything into my office and put that short side all back together again. To manufacturer's credit, it went back together without any deterioration in the sturdiness and stability of the desk as a whole. If you have an electric screwdriver with a bit that matches the Allen wrench, use it. I suggest starting each fastener with the Allen wrench to get the feel that it is where it needs to be and then finish it with the screwdriver. Don't get too tight or you'll crack the shelf material. It only took one time of that and I learned my lesson. Using that Allen wrench on just so many fasteners hurt the skin on my fingers and took a toll on my hands. I am a female in my 60's with poor vision and arthritic hands yet I was able to put this together myself (even with my engineering disability). I needed help once from my husband to hold two really long pieces in place so I could get the fasteners in. If I could do it, just about anyone can. I would sum this up with the following adjectives: quality, functional, stable, handsome. I could not be more pleased than I am (well, maybe those metal pins would make me a little happier).