I don't know if I received a returned item or the box was just damaged somehow. It was pretty well torn up with a little dab of tape on the lid. Fortunately, the brush looks good, clean,no cracks or nick or missing bristles. This is a smaller version of my dad's Kiwi shoeshine brush. I got it for sprucing up a couple of purses. It is very soft and gives a nice sheen with a few sweeps of the brush.