Higher Prices, Yikes!!

Alright, I admit that I bought my Chess sets when prices were lower.  But today’s prices are much higher than I would be comfortable with.

I just checked out the new House of Staunton website and their prices are substantially higher than I would be comfortable with, even with discounts.  

I understand that they are now offering free worldwide shipping, but they sure raised the prices to more than pay for the shipping, anywhere.

I really understand why many on here will only buy from the lower priced, direct sale places in India.

Also in their pieces category they list a whopping 298 offerings which are mostly wood piece sets.

There are sets like the Liberty Series, which they now call Pinney, that I paid $125 for which now lists at $219.  $94 covers quite a lot of shipping and then some.

They have brought some sets back that they had discontinued like the Marshall Series.  And these are actually priced lower than the originals were in the 2000 decade when Frank brought them out.  I personally question if these newer ones would be as nice as the older sets.

Yes, Noj has their prices up as well.  I would not be buying a number of the sets from them either that I did.  $650 would be my ceiling price like $580 was when I bought mine.

I am happy with the too many sets I own and certainly don’t want anymore  

I have not been a fan of Ebony for quite a long time and actually prefer the browner or even reddish woods used today.  

What do you folks find and think of this newer market?

Same as you Doc. You stated it perfectly.

Prices are high and in some cases, customer service is down. They are doing record sales so the prices keep going up, wholesale as well as retail. One day and I have no idea when that will be, there will be an abundant 2nd market with people selling sets, and that in turn will slow down the new chess set market as well. That could be 2 years from now or 5 years from now but it will come. 

Nothing out there tickles my fancy so not even considering another set, especially at inflated prices. 

House of 
Stauton has always been pricey for as long as iv had a membership here/ 10-15 years ago, they do have good shipping and the best customer service anywhere, but if your looking for the best possible deal/ look somewhere else

\later dudes

goommba88

Take a look at the price of a gallon of gas,or how much a good restaurant is charging these days.

It's more than just the T.V. series.The world economy has been shaken by the virus.

I'm with you though.....I'm glad I finished off my collection......except I still have the hots for a quality end grain board.

Gonna' lie down until the felling subsides.-

Yes,  I too have finished my collection, thank goodness.  

I also am happy to say that I found some really good deals on nice sets.

What I usually did was find a discount that brought the price down enough to cover the shipping, for sets where the shipping was over 10% of the cost.  And I often would find another 10% or so off more.

My HoS Craftsman set in blood rosewood was had for decently under $300 complete including shipping, for instance.  And I became quite the finder for friends and even me getting the HoS Fisher-Spassky 1972 set for right around $142 complete.

yeah, now I can enjoy my equipment without spending anymore money.

Just wait it out. Compare the economy of toilet paper nowadays to that of March 2020.

With prices so high, chess sets are no longer an impulse purchase at the spur of a moment for collectors with multiple sets. 

"Analysis Paralysis" sets in. 

I know for a fact that the biggest manufacturers hired and trained many more carvers. When the "rush" is over there are two things they will face. It's not hard to guess.  Either sell more to keep all their workers employed or terminate some employees.  Regarding the former, that would mean lower prices. This all assumes that the quality of the product does not suffer going forward.

Something also to keep in mind. These manufacturers can pump out more and more new chess sets to meet demand, the prices and quality will go up and down as the market corrects and adjusts.

BUT, there are only a set (x) amount of vintage Jaques sets available out there. After this yearlong 2020/21 rush, supply has drastically dried up on the secondary market. Most going into private collections never to see the light of day again for a few decades. Prices for vintage Jaques sets will only go up.

That's what the secondary market is always aiming for anyway: lower the supply to increase the resale value. The same holds true for retro toys and video games.

Seems that those newly trained carvers got a crash course.Why we see so many poor quality sets and unsatisfied buyers.

<<<<<That's what the secondary market is always aiming for anyway: lower the supply to increase the resale value. The same holds true for retro toys and video games.>>>>>>>

Some items do fluctuate and even reach a peak, even antiques.  I see this on the TV show "Antiques Roadshow". They have the value then (2010) and the value now (2020)  and many times the price now is cheaper. Just depends.  Those dates I picked were used just as an example. 

You can easily overpay for an antique getting caught in a bidding war and it might be a long time before you could even get what you paid for.  Just because you pay X amount of dollars doesn't mean the next person will buy it for what you paid for it or more. Just saying, the value at the time is what the market is willing to pay for it and then you also have "fads" even in antiques. 

Just like playing musical instruments: only time and hands-on experience will improve their skill with the craft.

Totally agree, no one wanted to lose any orders or tell customers "that particular set has a 4 month waiting period".  Instead, inferior pieces and boards were shipped, which should have never been done.  

That's exactly why I "so respect Noj".

Refusal to lower quality in order to meet demand.....Penultimate chess sets!

If you've not seen and handled one,you'd not know what I mean.....Not to mention a really functional "quality cardboard" box  with dividers and a silver  etched Noj logo,that does a nice job and looks way cool.

You forgotten the pen 

Safe to assume that when we’re referring to items in limited quantities that are increasing in price over time, we’re only referring to those that are desired by most/many. 

My pen never worked....I forgive Noj.-