We ordered the shelf on October 2nd and recieved the item on the 7th. When it arrived it was in a box labeled "Fragile" and had two big Styrofoam pieces holding it in place inside a plastic bag. This was enough to keep it safe and secure by the looks of everything. Two screws and two drywall anchors were provided to hang 31" apart. Overall, the quality of the shelf is well worth what I paid. It seems well built and looks clean, simple, and elegant. Now I wish I wouldn't have stressed out about the reviews I had seen while waiting for it to arrive. All in all, a good experience.