DenbyImperial Blue Dinner Set For 4-16 Piece Ceramic Tableware Set Blue, White - Dishwasher Microwave Safe Crockery Set - 4 x Dinner Plate, 4 x Small Plate, 4 x Cereal Bowl, 4 x Coffee Mug

Straight away 5 stars for this Denby design and quality of china. Looks smart and I expect it to hold up for years.**** Massive note here: the packaging is severely "sub-optimal" so don't expect to receive it intact ****Just off the phone with Amazon UK - net net here is that the number of customer complaints of smashed china are so bad, they've yanked this product from Amazon. All the people you see selling this now are middle men vendors who often buy the lightning deals from Amazon and resell to Amazon customers. Expect the same issue whatever you pay for it or who you get it from.Background on shipping (& feedback for Amazon and Denby)So as I write this am off the phone with Amazon UK trying to resolve an issue where BOTH my shipments of this 4 place set have arrived smashed up. In my case, shipping it back is a real pain - I shipped it to a remote US location, and the outer boxes were both ripped - unusable, so finding a new shipping box, driving 15 miles to a drop off point then hoping I'll get a refund months later, plus Amazon having to pay for the return shipping just doesn't seem a reasonable (or environmentally friendly) solution. If it were in the UK I'd just ship it back. God I miss Royal Mail.On item 1, ordered from my account, I received a very low 25% credit on the product itself (I had four items smashed in that order) which I accepted because I just don't have time to deal with the return process, but bearing in mind that included a dinner plate, I think it should have been more and also have included a partial refund on my shipping. Not the Amazon response or solution I expected. Also remember, once you're outside of the EU footprint of Amazon UK, you're paying an international toll charge to speak to an Amazon Customer Service Representative.On the second item, this was a via a relative in the UK where the order was via their account but on my credit card - 3 items smashed in that case and Amazon won't even talk to me about it because it's not my account. ..... So I have that working for me. (sigh)So why did it get smashed up?It all starts with the manufacturer packaging - if you look inside the box, there's no internal material that can absorb shocks - just a little paper. The four main plates (high ticket item) run vertically at the back of the box, with zero cushioning at the bottom: ie. BEGGING to be broken, and surprise surprise some of those were. Nothing holds the plates or cups in place - just restricted pockets, so they rattle around in transit and this is why I have damage across all item types.Fundamentally, I suspect this packaging was designed for department stores not shipping. Whoever missed this when Amazon UK and Denby put their heads together for this lightning deal needs to earn back their Christmas bonus. Bit of a lack of due diligence.Next thing is Amazon packaging - just awfully insufficient. Don't care whether you're shipping next door or across the Atlantic, the packaging has to be better, especially so in face of the insufficient Denby box packaging.On the product:Firstly why am I buying Denby? For those in the UK, you probably already know this, but in regular use, not only does Denby look smart, it's also got a fantastic wear life. My sister had Denby as a wedding present 25 years ago or so, and its still going strong. By contrast, I was married in the US 10 years ago and we bought our place setting from Crate and Barrel at that time - almost immediately it started chipping and breaking. I stuck with it, but it was a salami situation - fast forward to today and I have about 3 out of that 12 place setting left - ALL the mugs have self destructed and when they were alive, they were liable to give you third degree burns when you heated your coffee in the microwave. In hindsight, I should have returned it for a refund. Being a bit more savvy now, I realised that Crate and Barrel is a "form over substance" chain in the US - in short they sell cr@p, so I won't buying from them again. Ever. Yep I'm like that - no time in my life to buy gear (or for that matter, deal with people), who let you down.One problem is that Denby is expensive in the US, hence the order from the UK.So overall, am out of pocket with an almost 6 place setting out of 8 total, so that's a "partial success" against the great price / exchange rate for the lightning deal. Not impressed by Amazon UK's response but at least I got something back on one of the orders.Back to the actual china though: If I had a chance of ordering this again at the same special price (96 UK Pounds) but with the surety that it would arrive intact, I'd do so in a heartbeat. This is a solid product.On my suggestion to Denby Product Management: Apart from the packaging, I would look to put together an alternate set. It seems that so many people I know buy the Denby mugs way before they buy the set. So perhaps a set with the large dinner plates, side plates, cereal bowls and the larger pasta bowl instead of the mugs would be even more successful?hthDingo (in the US)

I have brought this thinking it was a bit pricey, but its Denby.If you want something nice, dishwasher proof, and lasts... then get this.The blue is slightly darker than pictures is the only thing I will say, but totally happy at paying more for something that I know, looks and feels will last. Brilliant Quality

We had three broken mugs and one broken dinner plate. Not an easy site to workout how to get replacements as I don’t want to send the rest back.

Have looked & lusted after these for some time. Finally ordered and excitedly opened the package to find that while they wrapped each piece, that the packaging was insufficient! Two large plates & a cup broken in transport. Shipment had come from overseas.. so I am still waiting on my refund. Still love the dishes - had they been intact they would be on my table today. Have decided not to reorder & will pull out my Mikassa Arabella set instead. 30 yes old but still beautiful!

When I moved into a new flat, I wanted something that I could eat off daily in style for the next half century. I was also looking for something that Is sustainably produced, for which Denby fits the bill, as one of the few companies to keep its tableware made in England. Imperial Blue is a timeless design and built like a rock: safe for use in oven, freezer, microwave, and dishwasher. Reacting to previous reviewers, my set arrived with packaging to the gills, and nothing was broken. The lively yet dignified colours make it a delight to set the table and even wash the dishes. Great value, and highly recommended.