I looked at this for six months before making a decision to buy it. I wanted a sturdy bench with shoe storage for my entryway which would sustain the weight of an adult for putting shoes on, particularly senior adults. I hesitated, knowing the manufacture was of Chinese origin, and products originating in China have been known to be comprised of toxic materials. Having said that, this piece met all of my other criteria. It arrived quickly and in an undamaged condition. While heavy and somewhat awkward to manuever the components, I was able to assemble the unit easily by myself on an area rug. I noticed the top and side surfaces were slightly distressed, and the undersides were fully stained. The stain had a strong smell which dissipated over the next week. I was pleased to see nylon (or similar) caps had been affixed to the leg endings, top and bottom, to protect the wood and floors. I have 18" ceramic tile flooring, and the surfaces of the tiles are not flat or smooth, so several of my lighter-weight furniture pieces wobble. However, I found by sitting on the bench with my center of gravity more towards the outside edge and leaning over to put on a pair of shoes, the bench began tipping forward. I did a small experiment and learned you need to sit as far back on the bench as possible before leaning forward to do anything such as retrieving a pair of shoes from the shelf to avoid any chance of tipping the unit over (with you on it). I am able to fit four pairs of flip-flops/slides (women's size 8) side by side on the shelf between the legs without baskets for storage, and it gets them off the floor by the door! I am 5' 2.5" tall, so the height of the bench is perfect for me, and I weigh well under 200#, late middle age, with back issues, if this information helps anyone wondering how well this piece would meet your needs.