Warning: that $200 pergola kit turned into a 40 hour nightmare

I bought one of those do it yourself pergola kits back in May thinking it'd take a weekend. The brackets didn't line up with the posts I got, and the instructions contradicted themselves on 3 separate steps. I ended up having to drill new holes in the steel brackets, which voided the warranty, and I still had to rent a $45 post hole digger because the included hardware was useless. Three months later the thing wobbles in a mild breeze and I'm pretty sure the finish is already fading. Has anyone else had luck with those kits, or is building from scratch the only real way to go?

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patp791mo ago

Man, I used to swear by those kits but your story just flipped me, guess I'll stick to plans and lumber.