I anticipated that packaging and shipping might be a problem for such a large and heavy item, and I was right. A damaged box arrived at my residence after having suffered at least one or two mishaps along the way. The good thing was that the packing was sufficient to protect the contents. Everything arrived in satisfactory condition, and I was able to move the pit and its accessories from my front porch to my back yard, by myself, with the help of a large, convertible platform cart. Assembly was no problem, and now it sits, covered, awaiting fair weather and wood to burn.