This is the first bed frame I've ever had, so I decided to go with something a little more aesthetically pleasing than a $40 metal frame. I'm happy to report that it's lovely--no rips in the leatherette, no marks, no broken pieces. Assembly was easy and pretty quick (I had help). The only complaints I have are that a) the frame is pine, a very soft wood, so you do have to be a bit careful putting it together (put too much pressure on a joint art the wrong angle, and the frame could easily splinter or crack away from screws and other fasteners) and b) The boxes it comes in are quite heavy; if you live alone like me and don't have a UPS guy as awesome as mine (we carried everything up two flights of stairs to my apartment together), you will either need a lot of elbow grease or a friend or two. That isn't a complaint about the product so much as a warning, I suppose! Regardless, I love this bed. It is holding up well, and it's gorgeous.