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Jun 26th, '10, 14:58
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Gongfu Travel Set

by karmaplace » Jun 26th, '10, 14:58

Anyone have an opinion on this travel set? Would it be a good starter set for a beginner?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 617wt_1141

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Jun 26th, '10, 15:35
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Re: Gongfu Travel Set

by Geekgirl » Jun 26th, '10, 15:35

Seems like a decent deal to me, I've seen similar sets for that price in tea stores. I wouldn't say it's a GREAT deal, unless you know for sure that the little tray doesn't leak. Also, I'm not sure why one needs quite so many cups...

Do you intend to use this set for traveling? If not, you can do much better for the money by choosing the pieces individually.

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Jun 26th, '10, 15:50
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Re: Gongfu Travel Set

by karmaplace » Jun 26th, '10, 15:50

I was looking at it since it came as a complete set, but I understand what you mean about all the cups! The travel feature is kind of nice, as I have been moving around a lot, but it's not like I plan on traveling back and forth with it once I get my own place. I must be shopping in the wrong places, since I keep feeling like getting all the pieces separately is more expensive! (Maybe 'cause I'm shopping online as there are no Chinese shops in my area.)

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Jun 26th, '10, 17:06
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Re: Gongfu Travel Set

by Geekgirl » Jun 26th, '10, 17:06

It really depends on what you're looking for as far as pieces. And most vendors will combine shipping if you request it.

On the surface it looks like quite the deal, since you get the tray with it, but these bamboo travel trays frequently leak, and if you don't live in a humid area and/or use the tray every day, it will crack. So the bargain tray becomes a liability instead. As well, in the travel sets you can find wide variance on the quality of the gaiwan. If it were my $47, I'd head over to yunnan sourcing and put a set together (minus tray perhaps) AND pick up some tea at the same time. If you can wait a week or 3 for shipping, I'll bet you come in under budget .

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