That's disappointing. I got an excellent folding set a few years ago from CB. It wasn't magnetic though, which might make a difference.
I think your experience a few years ago was fortunate. But now, I think their management philosophy has changed or that there has been a serious change in production process internally.
From my experience with C.B. they have their heart in the right place,but are consistently inconsistent.
When I first reported to their customer service about product differences with several detail photo, I think they should have promised an immediate update of home page description, not the differences due to manual carving as if it were natural.
For those type of sets I recommend House of Chess on eBay. I have one of their 12" magnetic sets with the slide out storage drawer and I' be been very pleased with it. I've Also bought 4-5 full sized chess pieces from them over the years with equal satisfaction. Any issues were handled expeditiously and without a hassle.
I think you are right. This kind of travel chess set shouldn't be bought from a company that is taken from another company, and I have experienced having to buy a product from a company that produces a good quality product directly. The product I bought from CB has already been dumped, and I purchased this product from House of chess and shipped.
On a positive note, the chess set you received has magnet closure instead of the cheap sharp metal clasps. Still sucks overall though. Is it possible to call your credit card company for help and see what they have to say?
The quality of Chessbazaar products may not be that high specially when you have them literally in your hands but their customer service is good and caring.
In your case, I think you are lucky or your company's mindset has changed over time. we can know that At least looking at selling something different from the product's description.
I am sorry you are going through this. This is very disappointing. I would be very upset if I were in your shoes. Personally I have had only one experience with CB and it was a pleasant one. The set CB sent me matched exactly what was on their eBay store and on their website. There were minor issues with a few pieces, but CB took care of it. Your situation is completely the opposite.
Take it from me... don't keep it. I have received some bad products from other suppliers and I did not always return the items for a refund. The worse one was a custom box from an Etsy woodworker who sent me a box that was broken. I paid $115 (I think). I was so upset with the product that I told the guy I didn't even want to bother. I kept the box as a reminder about what can go wrong with chess stuff on Etsy. I eventually threw it out.
I think you should send it back on their dime and get your money back.
I feel completely the same as you. I don't want to keep it and I don't want to look at it. No matter how good they have other good product, I don't want to do deal with CB again which those companies that are still not updating their descriptions.
Wow, that is shoddy and chess pieces that don't even lay flat is especially unacceptable. A full refund is in order and a different company that knows a lttle QC is recommended.
In fact, those who haven't experienced how bad it feels like a chess peice not sticking to the board cannot imagine. It was really disappointing not good finished product even it was not enough to sell other products with the description.
Contact customer service and arrange to return it to get a full refund for all the things you pointed out. Have them provide a shipping label for the return of wrong item that you received. At the very worst, ship it yourself, but do not settle to keep it. Finally, leave a review on their website.
I doubt how enough feedback would be just because it took another month to send it and get a refund after they check it out. Now I even don't want to see that product far from the description. They still not changing the webpage photos.
Well, it is true that Chessbazaar quality does not meet high standards and faults of different types come up here and there now and again but CB customer service is very good and they always go out of their way to solve issues amicably.
I don't think that taking an extra month and getting a refund is enough. The very first thing I asked to them was to change the proper description in the webpage same with real product, but they just replied the cause of hand carving and have not yet updated. I will through away this product.
Well, it is true that Chessbazaar quality does not meet high standards and faults of different types come up here and there now and again but CB customer service is very good and they always go out of their way to solve issues amicably.
I don't think that taking an extra month and getting a refund is enough. The very first thing I asked to them was to change the proper description in the webpage same with real product, but they just replied the cause of hand carving and have not yet updated. I will through away this product.
You have overplayed your hand in complaining, coming off as quite a bit whiny and wimpy in the process. It was a mistake on CB's part that could and should have been avoided, but enough already.
+1
yea more post on bad India chess sellers , blah/ blah/ blah & at that price ! 
Thank you for you guys interest. @sound67 @theendgame3 @lighthouse. I use re:re: once more as a small politeness to the interest in reply on SNS. If you guys uncomfortable to see that, Instead, I'm sharing another set of pictures that I think is great that you folks might like.
Beautiful set Seunghwan.. you deserve a compliment for both the set and your politeness.
Good luck
Beautiful set Seunghwan.. you deserve a compliment for both the set and your politeness.
Good luck
It's been about a month since I started playing chess, but with your words, I felt that the word Chess is Gentleman's game was worthy and that there were people who could continue to enjoy with. Thank you for your kind word.
My pleasure!Feel free to message me any time.Unless I'm enjoying a snack.😊
Thank you for you guys interest. @sound67 @theendgame3 @lighthouse. I use re:re: once more as a small politeness to the interest in reply on SNS. If you guys uncomfortable to see that, Instead, I'm sharing another set of pictures that I think is great that you folks might like.
Point was CB did offer you a refund , life aint what it was with this COVID-19 pandemic ! whining & whinge help no one , sort it out or at least give it away .
Was that really necessary? The guy is trying to be sincere and may gave somewhat of a language barrier.
Give him a break.
Was that really necessary? The guy is trying to be sincere and may gave somewhat of a language barrier.
Give him a break.
over his whining & whinge
I must admit that I think this guy was extreme in his complaining.
At first I read it, looked at the pictures and felt bad for him. I knew CB would make it right, which they did.
He is labeling CB as bad in general because of this single incident. He apparently doesn’t consider or realize that these travel sets are usually made somewhere else and come to the retailer packaged. Also these sets are cheap, and we all know and accept this as fact. If there are problems with one set, the companies simply grab another from the shelf and ship it to the customer.
He wants to tell them what they should have in their web page, and he expects them to obey.
If that batch of sets had a variance but all those before and after will be like the pictures, they better not change the pictures and description.
Chess Bazaar has been excellent in both quality and service for awhile now. This is one little problem that in no way reflects the quality of the company or products.
I'm not faulting OP but ordering that travel set from CB is like ordering sushi at a steakhouse. The very fact that it took 20 days tells me they got it from some other manufacturer or vendor. Every order I got from CB that wasn't on backorder arrived in 5 days or less.
There is no evidence to prove that they have been supplied by other companies, but the one thing i can guarantee is they selling different product with the web page description and does not make sense without proper action or response. The same explanation they repeated, It wasn't just a quality gap by manual carving, it was a completely different product.