Should I sell a damaged vintage set as a pair on Etsy or split it?

Hi! If one piece is noticeably damaged, the “best practice” on Etsy is whichever option makes the value crystal-clear to a buyer with the least chance of disappointment—so in most cases: list the set together only if the damaged piece still has use/display value, and split it if the damage meaningfully reduces what most buyers want from the set (or creates a mismatch people won’t expect).

A simple way to decide (and keep it feeling fair):

• Sell as a set (discounted) when:

  • The damaged piece is still usable or displayable (e.g., wall hanging damage is on the back/side and it still hangs well).
  • The set’s appeal is mostly “as a group” (matching vintage look, styling, collectors who can repair).
  • You can price it so the buyer feels they’re getting a deal even with the flaw.

• Split the set when:

  • The damage affects function/safety/usability (your cracked lid example usually falls here—many buyers want storage pieces to work as intended).
  • The damaged piece is likely to trigger “this wasn’t what I expected” reactions, even if disclosed.
  • The undamaged piece can stand alone and is what most buyers are really paying for.

If you do list as a set, the transparency pieces that prevent problems:

• Put the flaw in the first 1–2 lines of the Etsy listing description (not buried).
• Add a photo where the damage is impossible to miss, plus a close-up and one “normal distance” shot.
• Name it plainly in the title or first photo text overlay (optional), like “One lid cracked—see photos” or “One hanging has backside chip”.
• Price it as “set value minus the flaw,” and say it directly: “Priced accordingly due to crack/chip.”

If you split it, you can still be fair by:

• Listing the undamaged piece normally (still noting it’s originally from a set if that matters), and
• Either listing the damaged piece separately as “repair / display / parts” at a low price, or not listing it if it’s not worth the hassle.

For your two examples specifically:

• Cracked lid on food storage: I’d usually split (or list as a “set with one cracked lid for display/parts”) because buyers often expect full function.
• Wall hanging with a chunk missing on back/side: Often fine to sell as a set discounted, as long as it hangs securely and you show the chip clearly.

If you tell me roughly what brand/material the storage set is (glass, plastic, etc.) and whether the wall hanging damage affects hanging hardware, I can suggest which option is likely to produce fewer returns/messages for each listing.