I had a very smooth experience. This manufactured marble urn is sturdy, and you can use it in the ground at a cemetery without an urn vault as it is weight bearing. The faux marble was pretty and we got it in my mom's favorite color - purple. I got the standard shipping and it arrived in three days. It was packed in at least two cardboard boxes, very secure. My mom was a bargain hunter and she would have appreciated us saving $500 by purchasing this.