Just to add that I don't recall ever seeing the HoS website "time out". It was definitely painfully sloooowwww for years but responsiveness has improved significantly over the past year. It still isn't blazing fast but think of it as a classical experience, not blitz.
As Of Today,...
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If I was in the marked for a set I wouldn't buy from CB. Nice set I received from them but their customer service is terrible.
I would only buy direct from a manufacturer via Etsy or eBay. That way, there is at least a minimal amount of buyer protection. But it really won't help much if a crack appears 6 months later.
Apr 1, 2021
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#47
But warrants regular visits to site as their products change frequently . . .
Apr 2, 2021
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#48
As of today, I am fortunate and grateful to the folk of this forum. I am grateful because it is through this forum that I gained the knowledge and confidence to purchase my two sets. I am fortunate because I purchased these sets just before the current surge in demand that started in late 2020. Rightly or wrongly, I believe that my pieces were manufactured with older stock wood that was properly dried. Or perhaps I am just hoping like hell! 
Anyway .... my gut feeling is that, to satiate the increased global demand, most manufacturers are delving into wood reserves that are not ready. As a result, we entered the chess set period known as the 'crackeneing' (To borrow from Bob's post.) So, as of today, I am not rushing to purchase any more sets due to the increased risk of disappointment (at substantively higher prices) and hassle. that decision is probably good for my marriage too. 
Albeit I was looking forward to increasing my set collection - I am stoked to have two sets that are of a quality that exceeded my expectations. There are not flawless but they are beautiful and they feel great to me.
On my 2016 Bridle series .... I love the mouth and bridle on the knight, the slightly curved turret on the rook, the double crown on the queen, the simplicity of the pawn and the high collared bishop that looks like a muppet. On the smaller, lighter GM Blitz, it the one piece knight and elegance proportions of the King and Queen.
So I say again, thank you all! Your advice is appreciated.
Apr 2, 2021
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#50
I'm with you Powder.
I got a superb Padauk Russian Zagreb set from The Chess Store just before the "Crackening Era".One more set on my list,but I'll wait it out.
Btw,superb sets you have there.
I'm going to focus on playing better,which is where the real satisfaction should be I guess.
Good luck.
I am with both of you @PowderDigit and @MagicTwanger. I won't be buying any wood sets this year.
Btw, @PowderDigit nice sets!
Apr 2, 2021
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#52
Thanks for the feedback Dave and Magic! Playing is where it’s at for me for sure. My brother and I fight it out online most days ... which is brilliant fun. I don’t play many faster games - just Daily and puzzles mostly ... it was really satisfying to break through 1200 recently - which I guess most people would
scoff at but alas, I was chuffed. That said, I get absolutely nailed by players north of 1800 ... so I fully understand that I’m not very good but... I am far worse - when I have had a Shiraz and try to play .... but at least I have lovely pieces to cry over when I analyse a game.😆
scoff at but alas, I was chuffed. That said, I get absolutely nailed by players north of 1800 ... so I fully understand that I’m not very good but... I am far worse - when I have had a Shiraz and try to play .... but at least I have lovely pieces to cry over when I analyse a game.😆
Powderdigit wrote:
Sorry MCH - our posts crossed over - thanks for your feedback too. 👍
No worries!
Speaking of Chess Empire...the good news: the service was very speedy and the pieces were all well carved, no cracks, even felts, etc. The bad news: I ordered a 3” Yugoslavian set in plain boxwood and sheesham and they sent a high gloss “burnt” version.
Not normally a set I would purchase, but they do look nice on the new little JKCreativeWood board I bought the pieces for and my wife likes them (plus, I’d rather avoid the shipping hassle, not to mention essentially saving $25 on the set I decided to keep).
Apr 4, 2021
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#57
ogbumblingpatzer wrote:
Speaking of Chess Empire...the good news: the service was very speedy and the pieces were all well carved, no cracks, even felts, etc. The bad news: I ordered a 3” Yugoslavian set in plain boxwood and sheesham and they sent a high gloss “burnt” version.
Not normally a set I would purchase, but they do look nice on the new little JKCreativeWood board I bought the pieces for and my wife likes them (plus, I’d rather avoid the shipping hassle, not to mention essentially saving $25 on the set I decided to keep).
Well, Chess Empire made a number of the nicer sets for HoS. Talking with a few of the US retailers, Chess Empire is one of the top two or three manufacturers in India. I know that I am very happy with the Chavet reproduction I bought from them. That set is noticeably of a higher quality than my comparable Chess Bazaar sets.
Now that they have gone to direct sale, they need to learn the better practices of retail and customer service. These are good guys. I think they are learning.
Apr 4, 2021
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#58
ogbumblingpatzer wrote:
Speaking of Chess Empire...the good news: the service was very speedy and the pieces were all well carved, no cracks, even felts, etc. The bad news: I ordered a 3” Yugoslavian set in plain boxwood and sheesham and they sent a high gloss “burnt” version.
Not normally a set I would purchase, but they do look nice on the new little JKCreativeWood board I bought the pieces for and my wife likes them (plus, I’d rather avoid the shipping hassle, not to mention essentially saving $25 on the set I decided to keep).
I like the knight, which is well done, better on the set they sent to you than the thinner-faced knight on the set you ordered.
As of today...
Any changes? Slightly better quality and production? Faster response times? Less demand?
Eyechess wrote:
Well, Chess Empire made a number of the nicer sets for HoS. Talking with a few of the US retailers, Chess Empire is one of the top two or three manufacturers in India. I know that I am very happy with the Chavet reproduction I bought from them. That set is noticeably of a higher quality than my comparable Chess Bazaar sets.
Hi, who are the other two manufacturers from India? on your list. Thanks
I've done three orders from House of Staunton in the last month. Bought a plastic 3.75 chessmen set with silicon board and travel bag. The bag and board I'm thrilled with. The chessmen are OK. The weights in them are lose and the seams from the mold are very prevalent.
I then ordered a 6" Fischer/Spassky set with a beautiful huge board in Elm burl and Birdseye maple along with a large hinged box. The chessmen are to die for. Flawless, besides a little bit of tolling marks on the ebonized boxwood knights. But I had to inspect them very closely to see it. The board does have a single, small ding in the one of the squares, but otherwise is perfect. The box is standard and in great condition.
Lastly I ordered a cheap wood set, with board and sliding box for my kids to play on in the house. It hasn't arrived yet.
All three sets were shipped quickly. The two I received were packages well and free of damage.
The one gripe I have is the website. It's constantly timing out on me when I'm trying to check into my orders. I can browse the site, navigate to all pages, but when I try and log in, it times out. It happens more often than not. I get this paranoid feeling like I'm being scammed. But then the package arrives, I'm happy overall with the purchase and then can log in eventually.
That's great news. Your situation seems to be the exception rather than the rule