It took about five minutes to assemble the pieces and immediately it was clear that everything was made out of quality materials: it all fitted nicely, it felt solid and it wasn't necessary to force the locking mechanisms to get them tight. In use, at least as far as I can tell after a few days, the stand seems to work perfectly: adjusting the height and angle poses no problems, the tripod is very stable, etc. A very good stand for a reasonable price, but maybe a little too heavy and large if you need it on the road.