The wheel was packed well and there was no damage to the wheel when I opened it. It started up fine and has decent speed for a beginner wheel. I have yet to throw clay on it but will be trying it out hopefully this weekend. Price is right for a starter wheel. The cord for the foot pedal is a little short, but not super inconvenient. Tray is easy to put on and remove. The power cord is really short. Studios generally have electric halfway up the wall for obvious reasons so not sure why the cord is so short. I wound up purchasing an extension cord. I contacted service and they said any 3 core cord is fine (not true.) I found one that won't hamper the speed of the wheel while in use. The switch on the side of my wheel is yellow so it doesn't match the image exactly, but it functions as it should. Forward and reverse work just fine. There's no wobble in the wheel head and the pedal operates as expected. I did not receive tools with my wheel even though they're advertised as coming with. The power cord length and lack of tools earned it 4 stars. I'll update once I use the wheel for the first time.

Update:
I just attached a Speedball bat to the top using the clay method as there are no spots for pins. I didn't want to drill so I just took a small ball of clay and smoothed it onto the wheel head. After that, I took a tool and put a few intersecting lines to help the bat get a grip. Center the bat as best you can without putting too much pressure on. This might take a few tries. Once the bat is centered, give a couple of firm taps with the edge of your fist. This will lock the bat in place. :) There are YouTube tutorials as well.

Using an extension cord worked just fine to combat the short power cord issue. I got one that is rated for larger appliances and is 3 core. I just unplug when it's not in use. Will update again when I throw my first pot.

Okay so I bought this item thinking because it was so cheap it would probably be garbage and id just end up returning. But boy was I wrong. I got this wheel and started throwing on it and it works perfectly. Even when you put weight on the wheel it will still stay a steady speed and spin. I do wish it sat up a little bit taller because i do have to bend over a bit or prop it up to use it but otherwise I am super impressed. YOU CANT BEAT THIS PRODUCT FOR THE PRICE. compared to most other ceramic wheels this one is more basic however its perfect for an at home studio or a beginner.

This is my first pottery wheel and I was super nervous about purchasing because at the time there wasnt any reviews but I couldn't beat the price for all the great aspects of this pottery wheel so I went ahead and bought it and I couldnt be anymore pleased as I am with this wheel!!!
I love the size and the fact that it comes with and on and off switch and then also the option to change the direction the wheel spins!!! Also the fact that the basin is removable for easier cleaning is awesome!!! And it also has a foot pedal!!! I researched alot before choosing a wheel and from what I found during my research...having a removable basin and pedal were 2 huge aspects for alot of people that throw pottery! And I myself am so happy I chose this wheel instead of the other that had more reviews because it didnt have neither the pedal or the removable basin and it was also over $100 more than this wheel!!! I feel like I got a huge steal on this wheel because of the price and all the extras it has compared to many others on Amazon. I would recommend this wheel to anyone and would repurchase myself as well!!! It has by far been the best purchase I've made here on Amazon and definitely the best bang for your buck as well!!! They could easily sell this wheel for atleast $100 more and it would still be a great deal for the product your getting and the quality of the wheel!!! Only thing I regret is taking so long to decide to purchase this wheel, because I could have had it sooner and been throwing my pottery sooner!!! It has been an amazing hobby for me!!!! I just throw on some music and throw some clay on my wheel and begin to throw and my stress and anxiety levels just ease away! So for me buying this wheel has been great for me in many ways!

So if your thinking of purchasing a new pottery wheel or your on the fence on which wheel to purchase, then look no further and put this one in your cart now and purchase it!!! You will not he disappointed what so ever!!!!

I got this wheel after taking two terms of a wheel throwing ceramics and looking for a way to throw at home. I haven't tried more than 3 pounds yet, but I've had this for a few weeks and it's been working really well for me. I was happy to have found something that was actually affordable and of decent quality. Would recommend buying for throwing smaller items:)

I have always wanted to try my hand at throwing pottery. Although the standard advice is to take a class, I couldn't find one that worked with my schedule. So I purchased this wheel and some clay and found some great YouTube videos.

I have only tried throwing 3 or 4 times thus far, but I am enjoying the adventure.

Things I like about this wheel:
The price was right. It has a pedal to adjust the speed which is nice when your hands are covered in clay. I like the removable basin, makes clean up easier.

Things I don't like:
The wheel doesn't fully stop, even when you move the pedal to the lowest position. You have to flip the power switch if you want it to stop rotating completely.
There aren't any bat pins. I have learned very quickly how nice those would have been!
The pedal doesn't have any resistance to it, so it can be difficult to dial in your perfect speed. Lastly, the legs are very short. I needed to set the whole machine on a stand to raise it up.

Overall, I am happy with my purchase.