When I received this item, it arrived with a broken lid. I called the seller directly and with no questions asked, they sent me out a new one (at no extra cost)and it arrived in excellent condition. I love this tea pot - it's perfect for one person, either with loose tea (I use a 2" mesh tea ball) or with two tea bags. The ceramic material appears to be of very high quality and is smooth and lustrous - and it hasn't yet become discolored from brewing strong tea. This is a great product.