No protective packaging, just fabric headboard in a box full of holes, spiders and dust all over fabric, not hygenic. The heavily splintered legs for the headboard is made from cheap pine wood that is flexible and no rigidity. Not to mention the lack of any screws or instructions to find any hidden bolt holes. The box is just randomly selataped. I paid full price and not an openbox item, I would dread to think what that would look like. I ordered brown but more cosmic shine. Middle pad is heavily creased maybe due to poor packaging.

Nice headboard, good quality. Looks lovely in my bedroom.