Noj set arrived/review

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Bamboo58

Do you think the NOJ price is still around USD 800 plus shipping and taxes for a set made today? Or does the price now being achieved on Ebay push up the NOJ prices? 

magictwanger

I doubt they're in the area of $800 today,but don't know for sure....That was the prices of 2 years ago,if I remember correctly.

lighthouse
MCH818 wrote:

@Bamboo58 I don’t think the secondhand market impacts the pricing Noj gives its customers. I think the eBay price impacts what others might try to sell their sets for on eBay and other auction sites.

 

I am sure prices would have gone up / in the EU you have 22% vat on top so let take the price hike in food & day to day bill or house hold bills then yes must have .

Now if you buy outside the EU you have minus VAT 22% on price but then you have import tax + shipping tax etc ,

My point was just As NOJ are nice set/ still its a repro chess set wink.png

jsto
Bamboo58 wrote:

Do you think the NOJ price is still around USD 800 plus shipping and taxes for a set made today? Or does the price now being achieved on Ebay push up the NOJ prices? 

 

If I recall correctly, their prices had been raised at least once after I paid for my order, but then the prices got removed from the website so I can't confirm anymore. But I would go in with the expectation that prices are higher now.

magictwanger

They're great sets and incredibly well made and beyond spectacularly finished,but there should be a ceiling on how far they can push their prices without going overboard.

I wanted "one Noj set". That was it for me and I only bought mine because I sold off my acoustic guitars.....I figured I deserved it as the hand pain from age and playing was becoming too much. I was bummed out. Icing became a hassle......so.....

It felt good to add an Noj set to my collection knowing their reputation(Eyechess had much to do with my admiration of Noj at the time) and I was thrilled to get the set, but "one set was it"!

I've bought a few more sets after that am pretty much done now.......However, that guy "Oldset" on Etsy comes soooo close to Noj.......A fraction of the price.

Imo,he should get plenty of business from his stunning sets.

lighthouse

         magictwanger  

They're great sets and incredibly well made and beyond spectacularly finished,but there should be a ceiling on how far they can push their prices without going overboard.

Wonder what the communist would think of this / Oldset looks very nice would like to see more close up photos of the knights wink.png still you have import tax on top ?

magictwanger

Who knows? Even with any additional add ons,pricewise,they are far less expensive than one would think if you saw them up close.

The Noj sets are still the sets to beat,but they are not alone in the quality arena,imo.

GrandPatzerDave-taken
magictwanger wrote:

...

I've bought a few more sets after that am pretty much done now.......

"...am pretty much done now".  There it is!  The sliver of hope against all hope that there's just one more set in the future.  Ah, the mirage!  So lovely!  tongue.png tongue.png tongue.png

madmacsback
I plead guilty to the siren call of NOJ. I’ve bought six now, three directly and three from *bay over the years. But @magictwanger is right… they are not alone in quality. Oldset and EraRetro (ERWoodLeathershop) both make superbly made and finished reproductions. Jorge Hirsch and Alejandro Peon Avanza in Argentina are also superb craftsmen. Jorge Hirsch, in particular, finishes his pieces to NOJ standard. They are silky smooth. At this point, I’m only collecting sets made by independent craftsmen and old miniature travel sets. My wife is on me to start deaccessioning, so expect things to be showing up on that auction site sooner rather than later.
facecards


Hi everyone! When I started this thread to share my 4” Minceta I had no idea it would turn out to be a little bit “Energizer Bunny” and keep on going! I’m glad it did however. There have been many interesting things discussed here. Thanks to all for the input.

I have some time behind me now with my NOJ set and the custom board that was made by a local woodworker. I can say I like it even more and I’m very glad I ordered these items. Especially since I got in before the long wait times. No regrets at all.

This is setup in my home library and every time I walk by I can’t help to stop and admire it. I live in a small town with basically zero chess activities. However, I have a couple fellows I play occasional games with and using this set has brought us all much joy. 

The memories of doing business with Gregor, who is extremely professional and kind, and having a handmade one of a kind item from a tiny operation from a far away place are all part of the value. Lastly, I’m not wealthy. Knowing I worked very hard, saved a little every month, and stayed disciplined, to meet my goal is something I will always be proud of.

Like several things I own, this isn’t “just a chess set and board” but a life experience as well. It’s an incredibly high quality and great looking setup that adds a lot fun to my home which to me is priceless.

All that said, I’m on the wait list for another NOJ which should be ready sometime in late summer or early fall. Given the wait times and price increases, maybe I won’t even open it but rather lock it away as part of my retirement plan!

Just joking. Whenever my next set is in my hands I’ll share some photos here and then have my buddies and grandkids over to play some games with it.

Powderdigit
@facecards - thank you for that update and reflection. It puts your pieces and board into wonderful context! I am sure you and your friends will get much enjoyment from the second set too. Great stuff.👍
magictwanger

Ha! You're wife must know mine Madmac....Btw,the free pen I got with my Noj set never worked....Had to chuck it.

Wonder if there are any back orders on his pens.-happy.png

Good luck on the new Noj set,btw....Gregor came across as a totally cool guy.

GrandPatzerDave-taken
madmacsback wrote:
.... My wife is on me to start deaccessioning, so expect things to be showing up on that auction site sooner rather than later.

Time to deploy the Bling Gambit!

Pawnerai

@facecards  If you have the time, can you post a pic of your 4" NOJ Minceta on the 2.25" sq board from a seated angle and distance similar to @zbieraj's photo below?

Maybe, one photo with the pieces set up initially. And another photo 4-5 moves into an opening.

If you hold the phone/camera in horizontal (landscape) mode, I believe it will stop the forum from rotating the photos. 

 

magictwanger

The rotating of photos was my problem a few weeks ago,when I tried to show some of my collection.....Now I know. Hopefully, down the road I'll get to do it right.

P.S.     The "Bling Gambit" pretty much works every time!

madmacsback
@GrandPatzerDave and @magictwanger, the Bling Gambit ceases to work when your collection has grown to the size of mine… especially when your wife says she has enough “bling.” I know it sounds unlikely, but that’s my wife. She’s pretty low key that way. At last count, 50+chess clocks, 2000+ books, 250+ tournament and club size sets, and 70+ travel sets. Even I have begun to think its too much… and that’s saying something!
magictwanger

A woman who claims to have enough Bling is as rare as hen's teethe. I've never encountered one in my neck of the woods.-happy.png

 

Powderdigit
@madmacsback…. Wow! Surely, that makes your house a museum and you a curator! 😆
GrandPatzerDave-taken

@madmacsback, that is utterly astounding!  As the kids say, "O.M.G!" wink.png

madmacsback
@GrandPAtzerDAve,@powderdigit, and @magictwanger, the sad thing is that I don’t have room to display them all, unlike Dr. Langer and some others on this forum. The books are *about half* in bookcases, but even the clocks aren’t all in one contiguous location, and the sets are mostly boxed away. I rotate them out every couple of weeks, but that means I see maybe 26 a year. I would need a large dedicated room to display everything… like @cgrau ‘s shachskeller.