I had a bad experience from House of Staunton. I received the set, a totally different set of the photos on their website. When, I contacted them, they said, "That is the correct order that you have received. It is a technical error website showed a different photo". I contacted and contacted complained and complained and they were firm that no refund. Not until I started posting my experience in chess groups and here at chess.com. They panicked and returned the money. Except for the taxes I paid. But ok it was what it was. I had a bit of depression, or stress is caused maybe, because of it I am not the type of person that loves fighting and arguing. Charge as experience and life went on.
House of Staunton Review
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baudouin27 wrote:
Hi baudouin27,
I bought the same set (but in red and white painted lacquer) from HoS a few years ago, and I believe it was based on an English set. Recently, I took it out to play and discovered that the knight heads can be unscrewed.
Dec 3, 2024
0
#204
self_taught_gm wrote:
I had a bad experience from House of Staunton. I received the set, a totally different set of the photos on their website. When, I contacted them, they said, "That is the correct order that you have received. It is a technical error website showed a different photo". I contacted and contacted complained and complained and they were firm that no refund. Not until I started posting my experience in chess groups and here at chess.com. They panicked and returned the money. Except for the taxes I paid. But ok it was what it was. I had a bit of depression, or stress is caused maybe, because of it I am not the type of person that loves fighting and arguing. Charge as experience and life went on.
I'm sorry to hear of your bad experience but glad they finally made it (mostly) right. However, you absolutely did the right thing in staying after them. The "it was a technical error that the wrong photo is on the site" is pathetic BS - they are fully responsible for the images and descriptions of their products, especially products that are purchased based primarily on visual perception. Reminds me of a horrible bait-and-switch experience I had with the scumbag Chess Baron tools. Ugh!
GrandPatzerDave wrote:
self_taught_gm wrote:
I had a bad experience from House of Staunton. I received the set, a totally different set of the photos on their website. When, I contacted them, they said, "That is the correct order that you have received. It is a technical error website showed a different photo". I contacted and contacted complained and complained and they were firm that no refund. Not until I started posting my experience in chess groups and here at chess.com. They panicked and returned the money. Except for the taxes I paid. But ok it was what it was. I had a bit of depression, or stress is caused maybe, because of it I am not the type of person that loves fighting and arguing. Charge as experience and life went on.
I'm sorry to hear of your bad experience but glad they finally made it (mostly) right. However, you absolutely did the right thing in staying after them. The "it was a technical error that the wrong photo is on the site" is pathetic BS - they are fully responsible for the images and descriptions of their products, especially products that are purchased based primarily on visual perception. Reminds me of a horrible bait-and-switch experience I had with the scumbag Chess Baron tools. Ugh!
Yes, precisely, If you buy a laptop of course you buy the specifications and the outside appearance. Description says chess set weighs 1.3 kg. I borrowed a weighing scale it is only somewhere 800-860 grams. Totally different chess pieces set. I paid at least 9,000 hard-earned Philippine pesos for a set that I did not buy.
I deleted the social media and chess.com posts when they returned 80% of the money. You know hate is not good for your health. They did not get the set they delivered. But okay I insisted to like the set that I do not like. I like heavy sets. Their Reykjavik II, Reykjavik version 2, is so light-weighted.
Another worse part is the receipt they put it only 3,700 PHP. Philippine Customs called me and said it is much higher value and I had to pay the taxes and the storage fees. They hid the set for like 3 days for value recheck and confirmation. I violated Philippine laws that I did not do.
Dec 4, 2024
0
#208
self_taught_gm wrote:
I deleted the social media and chess.com posts when they returned 80% of the money. You know hate is not good for your health. They did not get the set they delivered. But okay I insisted to like the set that I do not like. I like heavy sets. Their Reykjavik II, Reykjavik version 2, is so light-weighted.
Reykjavik sets tend to ALL be light weight. Only popular because of the Fischer Spassky match. Me?? I would not touch one because of a) the design b) they are vastly under-weighted. They are supposedly a replica of the Tournament set, but from what I hear it does not matter if the Reykjavik II set is from HoS or some clone (which are not nearly as good ) they ALL suffer from the weighting issue. If you are like me and NEED a heavily weighted set, depending on your finances, buy either the Plastic Marshall set which take a beating, or one of the "triple weighted" sets out there which are very nice but tend to be not as durable. If WOOD is your poison, buy any weighted set that is modeled on the Staunton 1849 set or its offshoots, characterized by the the wide BROAD bases and require a square size of either 2.375" or 2.5" for a King that measures either 4.0" or 4.4" (Club Size sets). They are marked by being virtually self righting if accidentally knocked.
My Plastic HoS Marshall set has a very nice "feel" and plays well on a roll-up vinyl board with 2.25" squares. My HoS "Luxury Collector Series" set w/4.0 King is based loosely on that design with some refinements. It is a very heavily weighted set that tends to be self righting, and looks right at home on my Custom all Wood chess board with 2.5" squares. *MY* "Rule of Thumb" is IF you NEED a heavily weighted set, get a board (assuming you use a Tournament size set w/ King of 3.75" ) with at least 2.25" squares, or one size larger (2.375"), that way you avoid having pieces on the wrong square from "over crowding" and becomes an even bigger problem if you have any tremors.
Unless you are chess set collector who is interested in historical representations of sets used in major tournaments, stick with sets based on the original Staunton Design or East European Designs but which are HEAVILY WEIGHTED (many of those sets are unweighted -- ask me how I know ) Many of those WEIGHTED sets are a DREAM to play with; the UNWEIGHTED sets however are horror nightmares to play with. I used a lot of those sets when I was stationed in Germany. Some unweighted sets were better than others but I had a problems with all those sets, and that was long before I was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. Now a days when I go to the club and someone brings in a rather cheap looking set I usually ask if the set is weighted or not and will turn down a game if the set is UNWEIGHTED, because I know in advance that pieces "ARE going to fly" from move 1 and on -- it just not worth it.
Most of these "Scholastic Players" use these cheap sets because they come in a "Rainbow of Colors"... plus they are CHEAP to buy! The first thing that some 8-10 y.o will notice is how HEAVY my set is... simply because they are not use to playing with a weighted set.
But that is my take on chess sets and which to consider buying and those that do not deserve a second glance.
Dec 4, 2024
0
#209
azbobcat wrote:
self_taught_gm wrote:
I deleted the social media and chess.com posts when they returned 80% of the money. You know hate is not good for your health. They did not get the set they delivered. But okay I insisted to like the set that I do not like. I like heavy sets. Their Reykjavik II, Reykjavik version 2, is so light-weighted.
Reykjavik sets tend to ALL be light weight. Only popular because of the Fischer Spassky match. Me?? I would not touch one because of a) the design b) they are vastly under-weighted. They are supposedly a replica of the Tournament set, but from what I hear it does not matter if the Reykjavik II set is from HoS or some clone (which are not nearly as good ) they ALL suffer from the weighting issue. If you are like me and NEED a heavily weighted set, depending on your finances, buy either the Plastic Marshall set which take a beating, or one of the "triple weighted" sets out there which are very nice but tend to be not as durable. If WOOD is your poison, buy any weighted set that is modeled on the Staunton 1849 set or its offshoots, characterized by the the wide BROAD bases and require a square size of either 2.375" or 2.5" for a King that measures either 4.0" or 4.4" (Club Size sets). They are marked by being virtually self righting if accidentally knocked.
My Plastic HoS Marshall set has a very nice "feel" and plays well on a roll-up vinyl board with 2.25" squares. My HoS "Luxury Collector Series" set w/4.0 King is based loosely on that design with some refinements. It is a very heavily weighted set that tends to be self righting, and looks right at home on my Custom all Wood chess board with 2.5" squares. *MY* "Rule of Thumb" is IF you NEED a heavily weighted set, get a board (assuming you use a Tournament size set w/ King of 3.75" ) with at least 2.25" squares, or one size larger (2.375"), that way you avoid having pieces on the wrong square from "over crowding" and becomes an even bigger problem if you have any tremors.
Unless you are chess set collector who is interested in historical representations of sets used in major tournaments, stick with sets based on the original Staunton Design or East European Designs but which are HEAVILY WEIGHTED (many of those sets are unweighted -- ask me how I know ) Many of those WEIGHTED sets are a DREAM to play with; the UNWEIGHTED sets however are horror nightmares to play with. I used a lot of those sets when I was stationed in Germany. Some unweighted sets were better than others but I had a problems with all those sets, and that was long before I was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. Now a days when I go to the club and someone brings in a rather cheap looking set I usually ask if the set is weighted or not and will turn down a game if the set is UNWEIGHTED, because I know in advance that pieces "ARE going to fly" from move 1 and on -- it just not worth it.
Most of these "Scholastic Players" use these cheap sets because they come in a "Rainbow of Colors"... plus they are CHEAP to buy! The first thing that some 8-10 y.o will notice is how HEAVY my set is... simply because they are not use to playing with a weighted set.
But that is my take on chess sets and which to consider buying and those that do not deserve a second glance.
Wow, the plastic Marshall set is surprisingly heavy at 49 ounces. That’s more than most wooden chess sets under $200. My wife has the Fischer plastic set, which is 45 ounces. They feel very nice for a plastic set. And no mold lines, which surprised me for such a cheap set.
For anyone looking for a relatively cheap weighted set, I can highly recommend the Tahl II set which is currently on clearance. It’s $114.50 for the ebonized version, with a weight of 51.3 ounces. I wish it were a bit heavier, but at that price it’s hard to find anything heavier; my wife's heavier sets are $400 or more.
The Tal set may not be everyone's taste, but its robust design and lack of superfluous details makes it wonderful to handle.
azbobcat wrote:
self_taught_gm wrote:
I deleted the social media and chess.com posts when they returned 80% of the money. You know hate is not good for your health. They did not get the set they delivered. But okay I insisted to like the set that I do not like. I like heavy sets. Their Reykjavik II, Reykjavik version 2, is so light-weighted.
Reykjavik sets tend to ALL be light weight. Only popular because of the Fischer Spassky match. Me?? I would not touch one because of a) the design b) they are vastly under-weighted. They are supposedly a replica of the Tournament set, but from what I hear it does not matter if the Reykjavik II set is from HoS or some clone (which are not nearly as good ) they ALL suffer from the weighting issue. If you are like me and NEED a heavily weighted set, depending on your finances, buy either the Plastic Marshall set which take a beating, or one of the "triple weighted" sets out there which are very nice but tend to be not as durable. If WOOD is your poison, buy any weighted set that is modeled on the Staunton 1849 set or its offshoots, characterized by the the wide BROAD bases and require a square size of either 2.375" or 2.5" for a King that measures either 4.0" or 4.4" (Club Size sets). They are marked by being virtually self righting if accidentally knocked.
My Plastic HoS Marshall set has a very nice "feel" and plays well on a roll-up vinyl board with 2.25" squares. My HoS "Luxury Collector Series" set w/4.0 King is based loosely on that design with some refinements. It is a very heavily weighted set that tends to be self righting, and looks right at home on my Custom all Wood chess board with 2.5" squares. *MY* "Rule of Thumb" is IF you NEED a heavily weighted set, get a board (assuming you use a Tournament size set w/ King of 3.75" ) with at least 2.25" squares, or one size larger (2.375"), that way you avoid having pieces on the wrong square from "over crowding" and becomes an even bigger problem if you have any tremors.
Unless you are chess set collector who is interested in historical representations of sets used in major tournaments, stick with sets based on the original Staunton Design or East European Designs but which are HEAVILY WEIGHTED (many of those sets are unweighted -- ask me how I know ) Many of those WEIGHTED sets are a DREAM to play with; the UNWEIGHTED sets however are horror nightmares to play with. I used a lot of those sets when I was stationed in Germany. Some unweighted sets were better than others but I had a problems with all those sets, and that was long before I was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. Now a days when I go to the club and someone brings in a rather cheap looking set I usually ask if the set is weighted or not and will turn down a game if the set is UNWEIGHTED, because I know in advance that pieces "ARE going to fly" from move 1 and on -- it just not worth it.
Most of these "Scholastic Players" use these cheap sets because they come in a "Rainbow of Colors"... plus they are CHEAP to buy! The first thing that some 8-10 y.o will notice is how HEAVY my set is... simply because they are not use to playing with a weighted set.
But that is my take on chess sets and which to consider buying and those that do not deserve a second glance.
I have plastic sets from HOS. In fact, I bought 6 plastic sets. I was very satisfied. So I decided to buy wood pieces. Then this, I received a Reykjavik II. The photo and specs shown was Fischer-Spassky. Same photo from Chess Empire Spassky. So ok for collecting purposes, though it is small 3,75 is said it is 1.3kg. So I bought and received a different light weighted set.
magictwanger your experience is the exact same one I had several years ago except my set is the Luxury Collector Series in Boxwood and Rosewood w/ 4.0 King and it came with the fitted Red Burl Coffer, only because at the time we were in the throws of the "Great Recession". Our experience is otherwise exactly the same.