Post Your Chess Sets

Hi all, one further observation that I make now that I am playing with the 2016 Bridle Knight set previously noted... and apologies in advance to the experienced members of this community because you’ll probably laugh at the obvious nature of my comments. In relation to the way the set feels - I am again delighted. Remembering - I haven’t actually played with a wooden set before and I purchased my set (previously posted in this thread) online .... without actually touching the board or pieces. So it is great that pieces feel solid and balanced in my hand. When I move them I might slide them or usually lift and place them ... and there is a wonderful solid, audible clunk as I place the pieces down. Similarly, they slide easy too and don’t feel like they might tip over. The hand feel is a ripper to - my set is a buffed finish (not gloss) and the pieces feel good in the hand. I also note that it’s quite hard to knock the pieces over - indeed, I can place them on quite an angle and they flip upright. This latter point makes me smile - it’s like there’s a magnet somewhere but it’s clearly just the weighted pieces ... anyway, again I thought I would highlight this for the newbies like myself ... and caveat .... please understand that I am not saying weighted is better than unweighted nor am I saying my set is better or not ... I have absolutely no point of reference other than this set but ... I am glad it feels like it does and thought the observation may help others.

Weighted sets are the best. However once you get to a certain weight. It starts to backfire on you. The heavier the set. The more of a chance weights are going to start to come loose. Having loose weights is worse than a slightly weighted or unweighted set. I don't like it when my pieces sound like a baby rattle or rattlesnake. Plastic sets should have weights molded in and wooden sets should have weights screwed in. 

 

@MCH818 I too like the 1972 World Championship set. I have the RCM version of the 1972 set. Which is slightly lighter than the HoS version. I usually like to use a library size set for study and analyzing. Big enough to see yet small enough to place and then to be much lighter than full size tournament set. 

I, too, prefer weighted sets. And yes, you can have too much of a good thing, where the weight of the pieces becomes an encumbrance. The sweet spot for me is between 60 oz. and 80 oz. (1.7 kg - 2.3kg) for a 3.75" to 4.5" (9.5cm - 11.4cm) set. Any taller and I tend to knock pieces over with my sleeve. Of course, sets with a lower center of mass require less weighting to achieve stability. One of my most stable sets is a 3.125" (7.9cm) "Stubby" set that weighs in at 40 oz. (1.13kg).

Ok heard back from Chessbazaar regarding the replacement bishop. They're asking for the shipping charge only of $25. I kinda thought they'd cover that but ok.  

Brynmr,

Chess Bazaar advertises "free" replacements. Someone should point out that paying $25 for shipping doesn't make the replacement "free." In fact, it sounds like they're including the replacement cost of the piece in there as well. I've had pieces replaced from CB in the past and never got hit with a shipping charge. Personally, I feel CB should bear the entire cost of replacing the piece, including shipping charges. After all, the problem was doubly their responsibility, first, the piece was defective, and second, no one took the time to properly check the set before shipping. Hey Chess Bazaar, it's called Quality Control. You should try it sometime!

@loubalch Good point. I mentioned that. We'll see what they say.

Totally agree on weighted sets. Decades ago when I played and owned several sets, none of them were weighted. My recent purchase from Chessbazaar is triple weighted and I'm like going WOW, where have you little guys been all my life!! Such a huge difference. If chess is war do you want to plunk down a K2 Black Panther Battle Tank or a Ford Pinto?

@MCH818 I wrote back and politely requested they honor their free replacement. They could at least give me a cheaper shipping cost. 

Hi all, I was just wondering how many of people here have bought a new Dubrovniks from chessbazaar?
https://bit.ly/34XGdtL

Hollow plastic sets are more like Smart cars, motorized roller skates.

Yeah, a replacement bishop weighs less than 3 oz! Can easily ship in a small box via postal service. It may take a while, but what's your hurry.

Yep. I'd be thrilled with a Christmas delivery. 

HAMID8285, Please stop trolling! Either contribute to the discussion at hand or remain mute.

I have had numerus pieces replaced by C.B. for free.They have sent me entire sets of one color at no charge.I'm hoping the loss of business,due to the virus, hasn't altered their business sense of fairness and what is right for the customer......If they charge you,I'l seriously consider buying my next set(that I have had my eye on for a while) elsewhere!

Good luck

Brynmr,

Here's a thought, if CB insists on charging you the $25 for shipping, then I would claim that they sold you an "imperfect" set by mistake (which is what it is) and demand a 25-35% rebate!!

P.S. I'll join with magictwanger and boycott CB products if they renege on their "free replacement" policy without prior written notice (and I own seven of their sets!). It's not right, nor is it ethical. If they're going to start charging $25 every time they send out replacements, then what would be the incentive to improve their quality control? Hell, why not increase the number of defective sets and create an additional revenue stream! To paraphrase Eleanor Roosevelt, people will treat you the way you allow them to. It's a form of Consumer Reconditioning, getting your customers to accept "less" for the same amount of money increases profits! But how far can you push it before you start losing business? Ah, that's the question. CB, are you listening? 

I heard back from CB. They'll send the replacement bishop free of charge however it's coming by snail mail. They said due to the virus that service is temporarily stopped but will resume shortly and the item will ship out when it does. Mayank from CB said I could choose DHL @ $25 if I wanted. I'm in no rush so I'll wait. No need to boycott and I do appreciate the support from you guys. Thanks.   

Sound is right. Also, their usual free shipping of sets offer probably doesn't include DHL delivery, does it? (It didn't years back when I was buying sets from CB.)

@MCH818 Here's a closeup of the JK Creative Wood chess board I just received that you were curious about. There are maybe 9 or 10 slight misalignments. These are the worse however they don't bother me at all. What would have bothered me is if the board wasn't smooth but it is seriously smooth with no gaps and I love the finish so I'm very happy with it. For me it's a hit.

Anyone have the Vienna Coffee House Antique Reproduction set from The Chess Store? I'm wondering about it's weight and quality. I'm generally not attracted to gloss but this looks awesome in a quirky kind of way.