I havet not ordered chess stuff from the US. But in Europe the following are all reliable in my experience:
The last two are not stores per se, but the products they make and sell are very interesting and top notch quality.
topschach.de have very low shipping fees, but they sent me partly the wrong merchandize and have so far not made it right and are not answering my messages, so buyers beware.
Hello,
from my personal experience and IMHO, I would recommend only these and in this order:
http://www.ajedrez-webstore.es/
I`ve had good luck ordering from Chess Bazaar, Chess Cafe and House of Staunton. Good products and quick service from them all.
My only quibble is that House of Staunton`s shipping prices to Canada are ridiculous. I ordered from them once years ago and haven`t since. If it weren`t for the shipping prices, I`d probably order from them more often because their sets are really nice.
Chess Bazaar sets aren`t quite so pretty but they seem sturdy enough and I like them a lot, especially for the price and the free shipping.
I ordered the Chess Cafe International Series set because there was a great sale ($16 a set) and I was very happy. Nice pieces at a price that made the shipping charges worthwhile.
I've ordered from all the major US-based retailers (except American Chess Equipment) and I think they're all fine. Wholesalechess, Chesshouse, TheChessstore, HouseofStaunton - makes no difference, pick the one that offers a set you really like. The smaller operations like chesscafe or Legendproducts are fine too.
W/ respect to overcharging - how do you define that? they're all reselling Indian-made wooden sets or Chinese-made plastic sets, and the high-end sets in particular are priced w/ significant markups. If price is a major consideration for you, then look at the sets offered by chesscafe, they seem to be the cheapest choice for no frills wooden sets in the US.
Some not all of the mentioned companies in this thread also sell on eBay. Just to let people know. The Chess Store, Chessbazaar, House of Staunton, and the House of Chess all are there on eBay to some extent.
I see that the poster that began this thread is in the USA so here is where I have purchased from also being in the USA. I also am sensitive to his concern of being under $200.
The Chess House - http://www.chesshouse.com/Default.asp
They have some very nice sets, clocks and boards. I have purchased my portable sets from there and pretty much all my clocks.
The Chess Store - http://www.thechessstore.com/
I just ordered a Lardy, Rosewood, 3.75" set from here for under $90 including shipping. I like Rosewood and I don't see another set like this at this good of a price. If you like that set or others they have like it, this would be a good buy for your budget.
The House of Staunton - http://houseofstaunton.com/
I have bought the most sets from this place. They can be high priced, but they have some nice sets under $150. One set that I just recently bought is the Players Series Set. That one originally was $180 which I gave away to a young master whose father had passed away. I bought another this past December and paid a bit over $130 for the Rosewood version.
They have a lot of sets in the price range you mention. I would suggest you look there for something you like. Their Liberty Series set is really nice and currently on clearance. In doing a comparison of the same style of other companies, I found them the be a best buy (not the cheapest but the most bang for the buck) in their Championship Series set that others call the German Knight set. Their Proline Series set is really nice also. I could go on, but suffice it to say they have a lot of sets for under $200 that are really nice.
They always have 10% off with a number of codes, including "Google10", and they do have sales, so watch.
Of course they are currently selling a lot of sets on clearance. The discounts are really big and at these clearance prices there is no way they are over priced.
The Rochester Chess Center - http://www.chessset.com/
They have some nice sets at very reasonable prices. I recently bought a board from them and they are good to work with. They have a 10% discount for USCF members as well.
Your Move Chess and Games - http://www.chessusa.com/
I have bought a number of sets and boards from here over the years. They sell a company product named The Mark of Westminster. They are nice sets. They too have the occasional sale to look out for.
The Chess Cafe Shop - http://shop.chesscafe.com/
I also have bought a number of things from here. As you have read, they offer some wood sets at a very inexpensive price.
Wholesale Chess - http://www.wholesalechess.com/
I have bought from them and they do have good products at low prices. I have not purchased a set or wood board from them. Looking at what they offer, it looks very inexpensive for decent sets. Their prices deiinitely compete with the India sellers.
The Chess Bazaar and The House of Chess are companies in India that sell reproductions at low prices. As another poster mentioned, their sets aren't "quite so pretty" but you get the price benefit of direct from India costs.
I would suggest that you look for a set design you like. Consider the wood you want, particularly for the dark pieces. Then look at the places suggested to compare quality and price. Then look at eBay as well. The only thing about going direct to the retailer is service if something comes damaged or turns up broken or missing later. Remember that more expensive does not always mean more quality, but usually does. In the price range you quoted, you are not in the luxury or high end. So understand that you most likely will get what you pay for.
Once you have decided on a set, then it's time to consider a board. Getting the right size square for the set is important. Most of these places do suggest the size board for the set. Then choose your woods or colors of the squares to match nicely with the set, giving good contrast with the pieces yet complimenting the pieces in color and texture as well.
Good hunting.
@EYE You typed the following. "The Chess Bazaar and The House of Chess are companies in India that sell reproductions at low prices. As another poster mentioned, their sets aren't "quite so pretty" but you get the price benefit of direct from India costs."
I don't want to get into a pissing match here but all the other compaies you mentioned get their sets 98% from India maybe 2% from China. There is nothing wrong with either House of CHess or Chessbazaar sets. There was only one fault for CB and that was the Crimson stained Dubrovnik set.
I do agree if you ever wanted a Liberty set go to HOS and buy one of their rosewood sets and pay an extra $10 now $59.95 + shipping for it. It is a beauty and their rosewood is dark, at least the set I received was a beauty.
Mike, I never said that any place, Chess Bazaar in this instance, had problems or were otherwise bad. I simply quoted an earlier poster saying that the sets were not so pretty. To my knowedge "not so pretty" does not mean lower quality or having problems. I didn't say there was anything wrong with either companies' sets.
I am also aware that most of the other companies mentioned get their sets from India. Once again, I never said they didn't.
What I did say was that those 2 companies are in India and offer sets at a very low price, direct from India. The original poster of this thread also said he has a set he bought from Chess Bazaar and was happy with it. I certainly did not disagree with him.
I also did say that The House of Staunton has a number of sets on clearance and that produces a very good buy for a chess set, at this time.
See, you actually agree that the Chess Bazaar Liberty Series set is "not as pretty" as the HOS Rosewood Liberty Series set, just what another poster said and I agreed with.
Maybe you should do as the original poster asked, and what I attempted to do and give him some suggestions for internet places to buy good quality chess sets and boards at a "not too high" price.
What's the problem?
I think the CB Liberty set is nice on its own. It's just the HOS Liberty is like 1/2 off. If the CB set was 1/2 off I would buy that too. HOS seems to have nice dark rosewood where CB seems to have really nice sheesham. Just something I noticed. I also had 3 base crack in my Collectors set from HOS just to let you know. It showed it was 5 years old. I had to send the pieces in for a match and they could not match the rosewood queen that close even thugh they said they had to get it from Frank's persnal stock. Cost me $5.25 and waied 8 more days after they received it to get the 3 pieces back. Just saying. They had bad weather which added to the schedule by a day or two. So far I haven't received one crack base from CB and have a few sets. Just facts I can attest to. Doesn't mean one is better than the other. They are both fine places to purchase chess sets.
I think the CB Liberty set is nice on its own. It's just the HOS Liberty is like 1/2 off. If the CB set was 1/2 off I would buy that too. HOS seems to have nice dark rosewood where CB seems to have really nice sheesham. Just something I noticed. I also had 3 base crack in my Collectors set from HOS just to let you know. It showed it was 5 years old. I had to send the pieces in for a match and they could not match the rosewood queen that close even thugh they said they had to get it from Frank's persnal stock. Cost me $5.25 and waied 8 more days after they received it to get the 3 pieces back. Just saying. They had bad weather which added to the schedule by a day or two. So far I haven't received one crack base from CB and have a few sets. Just facts I can attest to. Doesn't mean one is better than the other. They are both fine places to purchase chess sets.
Fine, I agree and actually never said anything disparaging about CB in this thread. However what can you suggest for this fellow looking for a great place on the internet to buy a set and board for under $200?
He can try on eBay to get one on the cheap if anyone has an auction. Remember the auctions HOS had last year. I picked up my NY 1924 for $210 and a couple people bought even less than I did, 4.4" Blood Rosewood even it was. Or he can pick up a set using any of the discount codes available, do not pay retail, from mostly any site at all. Half the fun in buying a set is shopping for it in my opinion. I really don't favor one site over another.
I`ve had good luck ordering from Chess Bazaar, Chess Cafe and House of Staunton. Good products and quick service from them all.
My only quibble is that House of Staunton`s shipping prices to Canada are ridiculous. I ordered from them once years ago and haven`t since. If it weren`t for the shipping prices, I`d probably order from them more often because their sets are really nice.
Chess Bazaar sets aren`t quite so pretty but they seem sturdy enough and I like them a lot, especially for the price and the free shipping.
I ordered the Chess Cafe International Series set because there was a great sale ($16 a set) and I was very happy. Nice pieces at a price that made the shipping charges worthwhile.
HOS's shipping prices to Australia is more ridiculous (Over $200)
Drawgood, I would suggest you make do with the cheap set you have and save up to buy a really good set when you have decided what you really want. $200 is not going to be enough for really nice pieces and a good board. If you buy a lot of cheap stuff you will be out a lot of money and still pining for a better set.
In your other thread you were saying you liked the Dubrovnik design. Why not save up for a Noj Dubrovnik II in walnut and maple? Then you have the best of the best (Fischer's personal set) instead of something close but not quite.
Also check out the Best Chessmen Ever, the Eastern Stage 1 version is a modern Dubrovnik. You might just fall in love with it, like I did. Also have look at the BCE magnetic boards, the best portable board ever.
Even if you are not interested in the sets mentioned above, take your time and buy a set you really like. In the end you will be happier and it will save you money in the long run. Even if you want to start collecting it is better to collect a few good sets than a bunch of mediocre ones.
Thanks very much for useful info. To answer Jolbac, for under $200 I was thinking just the chessmen but if I could find a combo deal that looks like it has the style, texture, and color I like, I'd like that as well.
At 149.99 € incl. shipping, this is probably the best bang for the buck:
http://bestchessmenever.com/special/
Check out SirBenjamin's blog for a review + more pics:
http://www.chess.com/blog/SirBenjamin/best-chessmen-ever
At 149.99 € incl. shipping, this is probably the best bang for the buck:
http://bestchessmenever.com/special/
Check out SirBenjamin's blog for a review + more pics:
Great! Thanks very much for this link. I'll consider this choice as well.
@Drawgood Since you are in the USa and are keeping to under $200 with shipping I thought of you when I received this email this morning from The Chess Store. I bowsed it and saw at least 3 Staunton sets with boards for under $200 shipped since shipping is free for all order over $100 this sale.
With your parameters for the set being under $200 with shipping I thought they had a good choice and are a reputable company. I saw three sets that meet your criteria in a 4" which would play very nicely.
Hi fellas, this is a question I am sort of embarrassed to ask but could you reccomebd online chess stores that are reliable and more importantly who do not overcharge. I mean not like under $10 over charge but I want to avoid buying something for a $100 which actually costs $50.
I have ordered a decent $40 set from Chessbazaar and they're very good and the delivery was perfect.
But of course I am aware of many chess sites who have nice sets and boards for sale(at least according to pictures) and I've no idea which sites are to be trusted to sell something that is worth the advertised price, or who do not overcharge shipping and handling.
I don't have any particular set in mind yet. I am just researching. But let's say I am looking for something preferably under $150, and if it looks like a great deal maybe up to $200. Looking for chessmen and a board basically.
I'd appreciate any online retailer recommendations. Thanks in advance!