Arrives in two boxes. Packaging was adequate but the metal pieces will have some marring from bouncing around. Nothing horrible because all of the metal pieces were fully wrapped in bubble wrap. The seat was in a separate box and arrived in good condition. The seat is more comfortable than I thought it would be. Instructions are really just a parts diagram. They include tools, which could be used to assemble the unit, but I recommend you have some extra tools like a crescent wrench, phillips screwdriver, and metric L wrenches if you want to keep your sanity. The most difficult part was getting the seat mounted correctly. Once assembled and everything tight, there is little movement. Not heavy enough for a direct drive wheel or heavy pedal set in my opinion. Mounting screw holes for for Logitech G29 wheel, shifter, and pedals were in the right spots. You need to go to the hardware store to purchase the mounting crews for the Logitech set. I was a little worried about the foot pedal mount being spongy, but once all the screws are tight, it does not move. I am 6 foot even and 255 pounds and the unit is sturdy enough for me for long sessions of sim racing.