My navy umbrella came packaged in a clear thick plastic bag with drawstring closure, which should work well to keep it clean during off-season storage. It was literally a snap to put together—the top easily snap-locks into the bottom half of the pole with a metal pushbutton. The crank works easily; I haven't had an opportunity to try the tilt yet. The umbrella seems to be a good weight—heavy enough to feel substantial, but not so heavy as to make it hard to lift up with one hand so it clears the top of my fence while I'm cranking it with the other. It's just the right size when open to shade my four-top café-style patio table.The canopy material is not matte like cotton duck but instead has a bit of shine to it, which is my least favorite feature as I think it cheapens the appearance. However, the fabric does seem sturdy and as far as I can tell it's well sewn. The navy is not at all see-through, as some reviewers have said the lighter colors are. Some have also said theirs was missing a tie closure, but mine has self-fabric ties to hold the canopy closed when cranked down, so maybe this varies according to the color ordered. A plastic stopper insert in the bottom end of the bottom pole helps prevent your deck or patio surface from being scratched, and a plastic cap tops off the canopy—the top is a minor detraction from the overall look in my opinion, but who's ever going to be close enough to the top of the umbrella, especially when it's open, to notice such a small detail?Some have called this umbrella a piece of junk because a rib broke when it blew over in a gust of wind, but issues relating to improper installation and care are on the buyer, not the manufacturer, and no matter how much you pay for an umbrella, its ribs are not going to be designed to take the full weight of a fall. ANY umbrella should be secured with a sufficiently heavy base, and should never be left standing open in windy weather regardless of how well you think it's secured. The solution is simple: in bad weather, crank your umbrella closed and tie it shut. As an added precaution, pop off the top half and store it in a sheltered spot; the entire process takes no more than 30 seconds. As for complaints that the fabric gets mildewed, again, this is an easy problem to avoid if you simply make sure the canopy is completely dry before closing it up, then store it in a dry place. (And if you live in a climate that's always damp, perhaps consider buying a beach-style umbrella with a quick-drying nylon canopy instead of one with heavier poly or canvas fabric.)I'll revise this review in future if ongoing use reveals issues with the construction or functionality, but for now I'm thoroughly delighted this purchase, which at this price point appears to have been an excellent buy. Even if it only holds up for a couple of seasons I think I'll have gotten my money's worth and then some, but with a little care I don't see why it shouldn't last much longer than that.UPDATE, with photos: I just got this out for its second season and it still looks and works great. As seen in the photos, there's a bit of striped fading where it was left in the stand exposed to the sun while closed, but for the most part I only pop the umbrella on the base when I'm actually using it and otherwise store it in the shade, so the fading is still minimal. In any case I'm not much bothered by it—any dark or bright color will fade in the sun over time, even with canvas that's considerably more expensive.