I've actually been shipped 3 of these anvils. The first one didn't make it because it got lost during shipping. I can see why! The boxes they are packed in are horrible. This recent anvil's box was the best so far and look at the image! All I did was cut the tape off the remainder of the box to make sure there wasn't any serious damage. The other box was so tattered I didn't need my knife to cut the tape because what remained of the box was just hanging on the horn and end like cardboard rings.
But this 3rd one survived, as did the second, with no serious injuries to surface or the finish. However, the second anvil was a hidden mess. I was trying to dress it when I noticed that there was serirous damag to waiste throat feet and base, and they were not caused by shipping but really bad casts. It turns out I didn't see it at first because someone filled those occluded parts and cracks with a butt load of bondo. (See images)
I bought this one on their ebay site and had to send it back. It cost me 26 bucks to have it professionally packaged to make sure it was returned without a damaged box.
The 3rd one was amazing! As I was cleaning off the packaging debris -- pieces of plastic and cardboard - it sang. I'm kidding, this thing sang like a magic katana from a cheesy samurai movie. The other one didn't make a peep no matter what I touched it with. As you can see in the last image, that is what the anvil should look like.
BTW, I marked this as a 3 on easy to use because, seriously, what anvil is easy to use?