Danum Series 4.4

It is ludicrous to assert that an ebony chess set can't survive a week's time in shipment to the buyer unless the quality of the wood is seriously inferior in which case it goes right back to the maker.

So, if/when the two pieces are replaced, are you happy with the purchase; would you purchase another set from Mandeep in the future (other than a possible matching padauk half set)? I did not mention buffing. I hope the buffing he did for you is standard. My main issue with Mandeep is that I feel he jerked me around a bit on the price. But if the set is as good as I thought you had indicated, I might order another, now being better armed to deal with price. I also would like to get a set from The Chess Empire, which, along with Staunton Castle, is supposed to be one of the better manufacturers in India.

@Brynmr Does your CB Punjab set look more like #81 or #74 above? I ask because I am considering that set "down the road." Thanks.

I would definitely buy THIS set again. I don't know how the quality of the Danum set compares to sets from other vendors but cracking aside the quality is excellent imo and if I were to own only one set, it would be this one and this design. The buffing is probably standard. 

#81. I might consider selling you mine if I can get the Danum padauk half set from Mandeep. I seriously have little money so I may have to let one go to get the other.

The timing likely would not work. After a multi-decade hiatus, I only recently started with chess again. I had a Drueke weighted plastic set and surprisingly managed to find all the pieces that my grandchildren had scattered . . . but that was it. I purchased a '59 Zagreb set on clearance from CB for $99, which is quite nice, and the Danum, for which I am waiting. To keep marital harmony, if not bliss (probably somewhere between  ), I am on a chess-set-purchase hiatus for a bit; though I continue to lust.

Just thinking out loud... Have you given consideration to the temperature extremes that is likely encountered being shipped in the hold of an airliner flying at 40K feet? Flying a great circle route from India to the U.S./UK, etc during winter no less? I can't imagine at or below zero temps being good for (un-insulated) chess sets

(This, in addition to my own 'theory' of manufacturers having to delve into their wood stocks prematurely due to demand)

If you keep this set you might want to try waxing them with the Liberon Black Bison Paste. I did that on my ebony pieces and they came up well. Renaissance wax also gets good reviews.

Of course, it shouldn't be necessary on "Luxury" pieces....

I don't remember my French Lardy set,purchased in the mid seventies having one single flaw.A mere $15. 

I totally agree with tskeldon.No doubt,most mfgrs play the odds,since a good number of people probably accept some defects and never bother to ask for replacements.

I had mentioned before that I loath the inspection process,whenever I get a new set,because I figure the odds are high there will be issues.Argh!

How do you say...NOJ?

Perfection at a cost,but no stress either.

I'll put Official Staunton at the top tier as well.

Very little anxiety with these guys.If course I realize you have to like their offerings and they are not cheap.

There's a good reason why NOJ is sold out for all of this year!!

This issue really gives me high blood pressure,which is normally low.Imo,many of these mfgrs get away with quite a lot.

I mean,some folks have been criticized for posting negative comments in order to light a fire under the ass of the seller.That is "exactly what they should do"!

Sadly,sometimes it's the only way to get a good outcome.

A while back I bought quite a few sets from one mfgr.(no need to mention who) whereas I had numerous issues.Not only with lousy quality,but pathetic communications.

As soon as I posted a thread on Chess.com my issues magically disappeared.

I had a small business for 35 years,with numerous corporate accounts.Loads of competition,with bigger operations than myself,but I offered consistent and "caring" service and quality.Maybe one reason I stuck around so long and was able to sell it....

so I could spend my hard earned money on second rate products,from second rate companies.

One reason why I regard Noj and Official Staunton so highly......These guys are the Gold Standard.

Sorry for the rant!

Feels good to get it out.

Added to wish list on Amazon. Thanks.

10 to 15C. My bedroom is almost that cold at night.

I was anxious because I was afraid I wouldn't like the quality not any damage or cracks. Those things can be corrected. 

No argument here.

Wow your chess set is nice.... so is your photography!

Sure is if you're sitting on the wing.

Thanks. I put myself out to capture the color of the ebony and the details.

Hi everyone!

The imperfections in sets of the 'price' often discussed here are caused (above and beyond natural imperfections in the wood) by too hasty turning: too much pressure behind a tool that is are no longer optimally sharp (these kinds of template chisels cannot be sharpened, so they are used well past their shelf life before being discarded only at a point where their failure has become 'too' conspicuous), in search of expediting output.

These workers are probably paid by the piece! Instead of slicing through the wood fiber, or the resinous material that binds it, the dulled edge it 'snags' and snaps or tears the material out leaving divots or pock marks in the surface. They can of course be filled to match and sanded, but that takes time, and costs money. Cheaper sets just get a thick coat of color matched wax, which eventually melts out; it can be reapplied though by owners.

The sellers of what I will call now 'premium' luxury sets ($1000+) have arrangements with the manufacturers that win for them a higher level of quality control that includes both the use of grade A  media, and the extra steps that it takes to realize its superiority. If these manufacturers can do it for House Of Staunton and others, they can of course do it for us too on the retail side of their operation, as I proposed in an earlier post, but we will have to pay for the privilege.

Brymr's SC Danum set sells for $423. His CB Punjab set sells for $266, after discount. Neither of these sets is inexpensive. Besides price, each is marketed as a luxury and finely crafted set. We should expect high quality workmanship for each.  This is especially so for Staunton Castle, which represents itself on its home pages variously as "World's Finest Handmade Chess," "World's Finest Handcrafted Wooden Chess Sets," and "We Are Committed to Quality Assurance." As shown by the price difference between the two similar looking sets, Staunton Castle charges a premium for its sets. And as shown by Brynmr's and my purchase of the Danum sets (I have not received mine yet), SC's customers are willing to pay a premium for quality, finely crafted sets. Indeed, Brymr wants to order a half Danum set in padauk. And if my set is as advertised, I might be a repeat customer. If SC fails to differentiate its products by not living up to its self-promotion, though, it should and will see a drop-off in customers over time.

From what I read on these Chess.com equipment forums, Noj and Official Staunton are on the more expensive (and higher quality) side, while Chess Bazaar is on the cheaper (and lower quality) side... With Staunton Castle in the middle.

So... which vendors are in competition with Staunton Castle?

To be honest, it doesn't seem like there are many other vendors with whom Staunton Castle has to compete. And I believe this to be the true reason that people seem to be content with imperfections: there are no (or not enough) similarly priced alternatives that provide better Quality Assurance.

Though I must admit I'm hoping for you to prove me wrong.