Outstanding quality brush at a great price.Was terriffied when I opened the box to see this expensive brush wrapped and sealed in shrink plastic in such a way that the brush hairs were jammed into the corner of the bag all the way up to the ferrule (so that the hairs were at a complete 45 degree angle from the ferrule!) There was no sleeve on the ferrule.Fortunately the quality of the brush is such that the hairs have come back to shape for the most part, but I still cannot comprehend such wreckless packing of such an expensive item.There seems to be no rhyme or reason to packing methods. One dollar items are packed like gold, hundred dollar items are sometimes treated like rubbish.All in all I have been very fortunate with only the occaisonal residual damage,but who needs the drama?