High quality supplier who deserves attention

Hi folks....

I've been looking to buy my last/final chess set for quite some time.My chess/hobby room had one more spot for a set,which would take my collection to 19 tourney sized sets and 3 travel sets.Three nice boards top it off.

HOW THE HECK DID I WIND UP WITH SO MANY SETS? SHEESH! Not complaining though.

I've been hugely disappointed with the hassles I'd seen so many forum members experiencing this last year and I'm friendly with a few of you guys.Bad customer service to pathetically poor quality control from some of the big names in chess.

I've had my issues myself,in the past and though I've had the issues cleared up,it still kinda' left a bad taste in my mouth seeing so many nice guys here putting up with the seemingly endless hassles.

THAT DAMN QUEEN'S GAMBIT,had to make chess so popular,we couldn't get a nice buying experience on a consistent basis.

Anyway,I figured I'd let it all play out and buy way down the road,but that last space in my shelf bothered me.... The wonderful forum member "MCH" mentioned HOS had a sale on a classy chess box...really cheap,so I got it,figuring I'd still wait it out.....Btw,sorry for my long winded post(listening to my earbuds at 3 a.m. instead of hitting the sack,will probably cost me some chess losses tomorrow..ha.)

OK...My point...  

ETSY....I was looking at the site 2 weeks ago,influenced by a few of you guys and I came across a set that blew me away!

The price was really a bit too good,for what the set looked like.

All pieces of solid rock maple and the vendor had loads of 5 star reviews.

The seller is OLDSET....on ETSY,as I'd mentioned before.

Got the set a few days ago....It is his 

19TH CENTURY ALEKHIN'S PIECES

I am not exaggerating when I say these pieces are within a hairsbreath of my NOJ and Limited Edition Official Staunton pieces,but at 1/3 of NOJ and almost half of my Limited Edition O.S. pieces.

The fit,finish,carve,quality of mfgr. and gorgeous patina are easily in the class of these top tier sellers.

Service? 12 hours after I ordered it,the guy sends me an email stating it was shipped.

Perfectly packed....  Every piece flawless!

This seller is in the Ukraine and his sets are of Soviet style....and....nice!

Big time!

I'm trying to get some pics up,but I've had some issues.Hopefilly it can sort itself out.

Go to this guys site and give him your business,if you like what he offers.

A no brainer for a hassle free experience and...in my opinion...underpriced chess pieces!

Forgot to mention one other personal thing.....I guess some of us,well me in particular,have been conditioned to not be so wild about the new set inspection process.....It's like the opposite of getting a scratch out lottery ticket.....With each scratch on the ticket the anticipation of a win gets more emotional....

Well,in the case of checking out and inspecting new chess pieces,from some of my past experiences,with each piece I unwrapped,my anxiety level grew,because I was not confident there would not be some annoying issue.....Many of you guys know what i mean.

In the case of "this set",from OLDSET on ETSY......They were packed so beautifully and in a deep red wrapping paper(appropriate color,due to region of mfgr. I thought-)  cut to the size of each piece and tightly wound to a perfectly snug/safe fit.

I'm now thinking to myself...."Am I unwrapping chess pieces or do I want to eat the fine chocolate that surely must be inside these wrappings"?

You get the point......Pure class and a set that is definitely my favorite.

Btw,shipping to New Jersey was only $30.00

Best to all.

Pics?

Niceee! Congratz! I'm curious about the pics yes. Actually, to all of your inventory so it would be nice if you show pics of them . Me personally I'm also done with buying unless something nice comes along. I'd figure when we're having lockdown #6 this winter, my kids don't have to go to school so they don't need winter jacket this year, they can use blankets from last year so this leaves me nice budget for unexpectedly nice set.

You do know with reorganizing efficiently your shelves you could probably make more room for 3 sets extra a shelve right?

How long does one need sleeping?

I agree with Michael - now that you've finally found a really good chess set supplier, it would seem a shame to only buy one set from them. As Michael points out - you can almost certainly make some room by re-organising your existing sets, and - as far as money is concerned - you simply need to sacrifice some things like food and clothing. How many clothes does a family really need anyway? And as for food - how many of us wouldn't benefit from losing a few pounds? In fact, the health benefits of fasting have been widely publicised recently.

“Just one more and then I’m done.” You know we’re all having a good belly laugh at that one. Anyway, looking forward to some pictures soon. Congrats! BTW kids grow up, move away, and forget you so limiting their caloric intake will only help them move away sooner thereby freeing up room in the budget.

I think I found my kind of people here.

Not to mention you can fit lot of shelves in those rooms.

Congrats!

In case anyone wants to see the set, here it is https://www.etsy.com/listing/951966888/1-reproduction-alekhins-chess-set-19th

It is beautiful if you ask me.

@magictwanger you are thrashing me in our ‘daily’ games and thrashing me with your collection… and you’re not fooling me …, you’ll buy another set; addiction is a hard beast to tame!

This is a rather good forum - it helps with harmony at home …when my lovely wife see’s me looking at another set of pieces …. And says something like:
”you’ve got three sets why on earth do you needs another?” … It all becomes relative - I say: “You’re lucky to be married to me - Magic’s got 19, MCH has heaps - some cats have 100’s.”

For some reason she doesn’t respond with “Oh yes, I am lucky to have found you my dear - go get another set” … rather she walks off shaking her head …. 🥴😊

Yup! That's my new set.The pic does not come close to doing it justice.

Case in point... My wife has zero interest in anything related to my chess.She watched The Queen's Gambit and loved it,but has absolutely zero interest in any of my chess sets.Nada!

As I opened this set and began to put each piece on the table,she stopped in her tracks and shouted "Wow!That's a really nice set.So different and unique".

That was huge.

All good things, in time… my new set was actually purchased for me by my wife. I picked it out and whined about the price until she said “it is a gift from me to you.” So, as you can see, I can no longer whine about the money as it was a gift. Btw- awesome buy and set!

Nice set. Agree it is unique and elegant.

Thanks folks.

Enjoy our chess related hobby.😊

Btw....Powderdigit took me in a game as well.He's someone to watch out for down the road.Oh yeah!Definitely no interest in anymore sets!

It is nice to see something new, his Killarney reproductions are rather nice.  I think I like them more than the Dutch style I've have been talking myself out of.  

You wife must love us here at CB&E. Haha!

Your next chess set is never your last chess set. Unless you die first. For me, it’s over 50 and counting! (Most of them are cheaper plastic sets, I don’t believe I’ve ever paid more than $110-$120 for a wooden set.)