Chronos Chess Clocks are Back!!!

The most amazing thing is that they can get $115+ for a tin box with a couple of buttons, two lcd displays, a small chip and a battery. These things could sell for $5 and they'd still make a profit.

Yes a chess clock is little more than a double sided kitchen timer.  As a matter of fact I've often used chess clocks to time a boiled egg , cassarole or frozen entre. 

Without a doubt that is the most accurate egg timer in the world!! Has anyone heard if ACE still has any clocks left?? I wonder if they have plowed through their quota after the National HS Championship concluded today?

most expensive and compicated too!

What to you supose the mark up on a chess clock, any brand including Chronos, is?  I wouldn't be supprised if it was 300%-400% or more.  you can get a cheap tablet computer for the porice of a Chronos, and down load  the chess.com App wich includes a clock.  Plus the ability to use internet play video and music. 

that's awesome!  xD  yeah looking at it that way, anything over $40 for a good chess clock seems insane.

I just checked these clocks out on eBay, they are one expensive and horribly ugly clock!! You'd think for that kind of money, they could have spent a couple of minutes on the design of that gross brick

I assume that it's time keeping abilities are amazing... Compared to... Do we have an issue counting to five minutes?

that's awesome!  xD  yeah looking at it that way, anything over $40 for a good chess clock seems insane. "

Was I a little too cynical?  Perhaps? Maybe? Possibly? NAW! Of course not!

Lots of great digital chess clocks sold at ChessPDX. Awesome selection with best prices and free fast shipping on every order!

Chronos seems to be back again at wholesale chess dot com........ anyone who has been waiting.

This time, they had both the long clocks and the short clocks. The short clocks were gone in a few hours.

Why is it that only Wholesale Chess seems to have these clocks?

Everone else reports being out of them forever.

American Chess Equipment (http://www.amchesseq.com) has them, too.

Chess House (http://www.chesshouse.com) had them last week.

There seems to be a rotation of 3 distributors right now: WC first, CH second, and ACE third. Right now I suspect Chrons is running close to full capacity, but the peak demand for the Chronos II has past, ands they  are now ramping up to meet demand for the Chronos GX, especially the Chronos GX Touch Sensor. The Zmart Fun Clock II is nothing more than the Ugly Stepsister that has been gutizied up compared to the Chronos GX TS, but sells for 1/2 the price of a genuine Chronos GX TS. That said given this economy, even an Ugly Stepsister, can be deemed beautiful, put there is still a huge demand for the Belle of the Ball now that she has returned. Expect other distributors to be included in the rotation as the peak demands for both the Chronos II and Chronos GX models pass and the pipeline fills.

I placed an order for a chronos II white at wholesale chess and it says "awaiting fufillment" do u think that means theyre out of chronos II and making a waitinglist??

It depends: Did you order the Push Button, or the Touch Sensor?? Did you even specify if you want the Push Button or the Touch Sensor?? If not maybe you need to go back to see if you specified Push Button or Touch Sensor.  Looking at the WC website they *do* have the Push Buttom Models in, but NO Touch Sensors. If you ordered the Push Button variety, then I would think the message means that your order is set to be (full)filled just as soon as business re-opens (probably Monday given that Sunday is Easter); OTOH if you ordered the Touch Sensor model, then you are in a que that will be filled just as soon as the next batch of Touch Sensor clock become available. My GUESS is now that Chronos Clocks are once again flowing, your wait will be about two, maybe three, weeks, which seems to be about the time between restocking for WC. Hope this helps.

Thanks

Wholesale Chess is now reporting no Chronos clocks. The ones they had went fast. To dogs10099 I would suggest calling or emailing Wholesale Chess to see what  "awaiting fufillment"  means.

Jeff (KB8PIH)

...and now Wholesale is reporting 5 different models available (biege in button or touch, blue in button or touch, and black in button), so evidently they got another shipment. This is becoming a regular occurance.

Also, American Chess Equipment just got a shipment of biege button models.

Can someone explain why the Chronos clocks are so popular and expensive?  I've recently gotten to see a lot of them up close and personal and they feel sturdy and well made.  The Game Time II I have feels like it's very cheaply made and could fall apart in a year's time, but I could also have 3 of them for the price of one Chronos.  What are the big selling points on this clock?  Do people prefer button or touch switch models?

I also saw a lot of ZMF knock off clocks, but didn't get to personally use one.  What's the general feeling on these?