Paradise Cushions 55-Pound Heavy Duty Umbrella Base for Outdoor Patio, Garden, Poolside - Black - Perfect for Stabilizing Market Umbrellas in Windy Conditions

I ordered one and it arrived with a cracked edge. The packing was minimal and showed signed of damage. UPS picked it up and Amazon promptly replaced it. However, even though the second one was packed better, it was still broken. It does seem to be a very good unit otherwise (hence 4-stars). I would have given it 5-stars if the plastic edging was beefier or more solid.In the interim I found out that my local lumber yard has concrete umbrella bases for $20. I don't think they are as heavy and definitely not as fancy, but I can deal with the aesthetics for the price (I can easily paint it).It is difficult to ship large, heavy cement products properly. Don't buy unless you are willing to tolerate damage and/or don't mind examining and returning to Amazon if damaged (though your UPS guy may not be happy).Definitely the best option for an outdoor umbrella, and I can tell you after having already tried 2 others prior to this.I first tried a "coated" metal stand, but that ended up rusting (I should have known). I then tried the less expensive, hollow-plastic stand that you fill with play sand (50lb) thinking it wouldn't rust, but would be less expensive. That failed as well, since the hot sun softened the plastic enough that, even with 50lb of sand packed in tightly, it's support gave out and the umbrella ended up tipping over on a 45 degree angle.So here I am, 3 stands later (and kicking myself), but finally very happy. This concrete stand doesn't rust, won't soften up in the hot sun, and as it turns out is actually the most stylish of the ones I've tried.Worth every penny, so buy this one the first time and save yourself the headaches =)I live in a windy area so an umbrella base must have some weight to it. These are heavy and attractive. They were easy to assemble, but difficult to move. The plastic edging that protects the side of the base easily comes off if you are not careful moving it. On the other hand I bet the umbrella pole will snap before the base blows over! Overall I like it but I am not sure how it will hold up to the weather.I went with this because Watsons was sold out for 4 weeks. Good heavy duty base. Although it was chipped within the first day(concrete base). Not sure if it happened in shipping. Way to much trouble to send back. Just a bit of epoxy did the trick. I use this with a 9' freestanding umbrella. Has held up through out the midwest summer storms with out tipping. of course the umbrella's closed. As heavy as it is, it feels fragile because of the concrete. I would say if you drop it, it'll prob break in two. Good for the money though.This cement umbrella base is really nice! It is very heavy - 55 pounds!It holds our umbrella even in the wind. It has a strong screw to tighten to the pole and works great! The color is nice. It has rubber feet that protect the decking. Wouldrecommend to anyone wanting a heavy base...would have given it 5 stars - but I need help to move it!Arrived on time with 2 day shipping. I'm sure the UPS guy wasn't happy cause this thing is heavy. It arrived on a rainy day and the carton got damp and fell apart when I lifted it.However there's nothing to break so no harm done. Holds the umbrella well. Seems sturdy---no tipping with 10 to 15 mph winds today. Can't ask for much more.the only reason why i didnt give it 5 stars is because you really have to tighten it to make sure the umbrella doesnt move when you tilt the umbrella oh and the price besides that a nuclear bomb could move this umbrella baseThe base is very heavy, on purpose of course. The packaging was not nearly durable enough to withstand the weight. It was completely exposed and even the UPS guy said he would note the damage. It looked only cosmetic to me. Turned out the screw was broken, the rubber guard around the bottom gave up a week later, etc. It is chipped and damaged. The insert that holds the size umbrella that we have is broken. So the umbrella sits crooked in it and it is scary when it's windy. It wasn't worth the hassle to contact the company, although I wish had had. It's probably too late. It's really not their fault - I'm pretty sure that amazon prime is good for most things, maybe not outdoor umbrella stands.