The condition of the dishes when they arrived was fine -- evidently the packing issue has been improved.  However to call these "red" is a stretch.  In the picture they appeared to be a dark red with grey interior on the bowls and cups.   They are brown and charcoal/black.  They are the same color as the cherry wood cabinets in the kitchen.   This is a red-ish brown.  But it's brown.  I got them because in the picture they appeared to be a good contrast to black and stainless hard surfaces and wine colored soft surfaces in a loft apartment.  If you don't expect to see red, and set your mind to brown, they are fine.  They are quite heavy.    And plates are ok in the microwave but too big to turn - so if you have a turntable, you need to be able to turn it off.