Introduction
Online chess stores play an important role in sustaining the global chess community as they enable chess players to access essential chess equipment and learning resources so that both chess players and chess enthusiasts can improve their skills and enjoy the game wherever they reside. Online chess stores also play a key role in promoting chess and providing support for the global chess community which is essential for the future growth and development of the chess community and the chess industry. In this article i will highlight some of the best online chess stores and provide information on the history of their stores, their available products and services, their customers experience, their trustworthiness and reputation and much more. I will also explore their main strengths and weaknesses.
Chess and Bridge is a UK based chess store that was founded in 1992 which has both a physical and online presence. Chess and Bridge specialises in supplying chess products and accessories such as chess sets, chess boards, chess pieces, chess boxes, and more and Bridge products and accessories such as Bridge playing cards, Bridge books, Bridge software, Bridge DVD’s and more as well as Backgammon, Go, Poker, and a variety of other board games and games. Chess and Bridge is one of the top online chess stores in the world that has an extensive catalogue of high-quality chess products and services from some of the most reputable chess brands in the world such as Rechapados Ferrer, Skyline Chess, Purling, Staunton and the World Chess Championships. Chess and Bridge is one of the pioneers of the Uk chess industry and is known for it’s excellent customer service and for supplying the highest quality chess products to customers around the world. Chess and Bridge caters to chess players of all ages and levels of experience and other board game enthusiasts and has chess products to suit a variety of tastes and budgets. The Chess and Bridge store is also run by experienced chess players who have a thorough understanding of the game.
Store history
Chess and Bridge was founded in 1992 by International Master Malcolm Pein from Liverpool to supply chess players with all the tools needed to improve their game. Chess and Bridge was originally located in Euston Road but was relocated to Baker Street in 2010. Malcom Pein has been an extremely influential figure in the British chess community for decades and has made numerous contributions to the English chess scene. Malcom Pein is a talented chess player and chess coach, journalist, author, publisher, organiser, fundraiser, and entrepreneur who has competed against some of the strongest chess players in the world such as Jon Speelman, Viswanathan Anand, and Lev Psakhis. Malcolm Pein won his first chess tournament in 1965 at the age of 5 and was the 1977 British Junior Chess Champion. Malcom Pein has made contributions to numerous chess related projects during his career which includes consulting IBM for the Garry Kasparov vs Deep Blue chess match, acting as the match director for the Brains in Bahrain chess match between Vladimir Kramnik vs the Fritz computer program, voicing the Fritz computer program version 5.32, creating, fundraising and organising the London Chess Classic from 2009 up until 2019, establishing the Chess In Schools and Communities charity in 2010, writing chess columns for The Daily Telegraph, acting as the executive editor for CHESS magazine, consulting and devising chess sequences for popular television shows and films such as X-Men, Holby City, and Slow Horses, and acting as the international director for the English Chess Federation. Malcom Pein has been the captain of the England Open Team since 2015 and has led the English chess team to numerous tournament victories which includes guiding the team to win several chess matches at the 2016 Chess Olympiad and leading the team to secure a bronze medal at the 2019 European Team Chess Championships.
Product selection and quality
Chess and Bridge has an immense range of chess products, accessories, and services as well as a variety of other board game products and accessories such as Bridge, Go, Poker, Backgammon, and more. There are hundreds of chess products to choose from in the Chess and Bridge store such as chess sets, chess boards, chess boxes, chess DVD’s, chess software, chess videos, chess books, chess magazines, chess clocks, chess stationary, chess apparel, chess lessons from expert chess players, and chess trophies, medals, and badges.
Chess sets available at Chess and Bridge:
Wooden chess sets, magnetic chess sets, travel and folding chess sets, theme chess sets, chess set combinations, plastic chess sets, giant chess sets, stone chess sets, metal chess sets, pocket chess sets, world chess champion chess sets, tournament chess sets, and round magnetic chess sets.
Chess boards available at Chess and Bridge:
Wooden chess boards, Sapele and sycamore chess boards with and without notations, sapele and sycamore folding chess board, walnut and maple chess boards with and without notations, black mahogany and maple chess boards with and without notations, borderless maple chess boards, walnut and sycamore non folding chess boards, walnut and sycamore folding chess boards, palisander and sycamore chess boards, sheesham and maple chess boards, black dyed poplar and white erable chess boards, high gloss blue ash burl and white erable chess boards, high gloss grey ash burl and white erable chess boards, black dyed poplar and ash root chess boards, world chess walnut chess boards, world chess Bauhaus chess boards, official world chess championship chess boards, world chess folding chess boards, official world chess premium chess boards, world chess cabinet chess boards, and official world chess championship cabinet chess boards.
Chess pieces available at Chess and Bridge:
Standard wooden Staunton chess pieces, traditional Staunton acacia chess pieces, classic Staunton ebonised chess pieces, classic Staunton antique chess pieces, traditional Staunton ebonised chess pieces, Zagreb ebonised chess pieces, Zagreb acacia chess pieces, Alban acacia chess pieces, Parker burnt boxwood chess pieces, lacquered Staunton black and white chess pieces, Judit Polgar deluxe wooden chess pieces, Berkley chess Staunton chess pieces, Berkley chess sherlock chess pieces, Colombian chess pieces, Bauhaus style chess pieces, world chess club chess pieces, championship Staunton ebony chess pieces, supreme Staunton redwood chess pieces, London chess centre aviator ebony chess pieces, brass Staunton chess pieces, world chess championship chess pieces, Empire redwood chess pieces, and Elvis Knight ebony chess pieces.
Chess boxes available at Chess and Bridge:
Standard wooden chess boxes small, medium, and large, slide top sheesham wood chess boxes, deluxe mahogany lock and key chess boxes, deluxe leatherette fitted tray chess boxes, deluxe red burl fitted coffer chess boxes, world chess cabinet board chess boxes, and official world chess championship cabinet chess set chess box with chess pieces.
Chess software available at Chess and Bridge:
Chess opening software, defensive strategy software, time management software, endgame software, world chess championship software, chess mega database software, opening theory software, chess game analysis software, middlegame strategy software, chess game technique software, chess basics software, chess mastery software, middlegame to endgame transition software, chess opening mistakes software, chess calculation training software, chess key concepts software, mastering closed positions software, attacking principles software, decision making tips software, chess tactics software, classic chess games software, winning strategies software, black opening repertoire software, pawn structures software, material imbalances software, Magnus Carlsen master class software, how to study software, attacking the king software, mating patterns software, how to plan software, Vladimir Kramnik master class software, endgames of the world champions software, mastering gambits software, checkmate challenge software, pawns, pieces, and squares software, realising advantages software, queens pawn opening software, pattern recognition software, positional exchange sacrifices software, how to exchange pieces software, learning from world champions software, Anatoly Karpov master class software, Emanuel Lasker master class software, Jose Raul Capablanca master class software, chess in the digital world software, Alexander Alekhine master class software, Fritz and Chesster software, isolated queens pawn tactics, Mihail Tal master class software, Bobby Fischer master class software, the true value of pieces software, chess prodigies uncovered software, how i became world champion Garry Kasparov software, and HIARCS chess explorer software, killer dragon by GM Simon Williams DVD, Susan Polgar complete DVD collection, crash test chess thinking outside of the box DVD, weapons against the Caro Kann vol1 and vol2 Daniel Fernandez DVD, crash test chess using the initiative DVD, ChessBase magazine DVD and more.
Chess lessons available at Chess and Bridge:
Chess lessons with Nevil Chan, chess lessons with Jonny Pein, and chess lessons with Agnieszka Milewska.
Chess clocks available at Chess and Bridge:
DGT digital chess clocks, LEAP digital chess clocks, and Garde traditional analogue chess clocks.
Chess accessories available at Chess and Bridge:
Chess mats, weighted gambit chess pieces, magnetic pocket wallet chess sets, chess scoresheets and scorebooks, magnetic canvas chess demonstration boards, binders for chess magazines, chess drawstring bags, carry-all tournament chess bags, chess pens, chess badges, chess medals, LED chess night lights, chess wristbands, chess trophies, chess cufflinks, chess playing cards, chess socks, chess ties and bowties, chess t-shirts, chess keychains, chess envelopes, and chess mugs,
Chess and Bridge customer service and customer experience
The Chess and Bridge customer service team can be reached by phone, mail, and email, Monday to Saturday, from 9.30am to 6pm and on Sundays from 11am to 5pm (Greenwich mean time + 1 hour). The Chess and Bridge mail order department is open from Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 5.30pm (Greenwich mean time + 1 hour). Chess and Bridge is known for it’s excellent customer service and it’s customer service team is happy to help customers with any issues that they may have such as product related questions, assisting with exchanges and returns, assisting with refunds, website navigation queries, chess related questions and any other problems customers may have. The Chess and Bridge customer service team pride themselves in after sales tech support and their team of chess experts are ready to assist customers with any aspect of the game. There is a sparse number of reviews online that have been left by Chess and Bridge customers however most of the reviews that have been left by customers online on sites such as trustpilot.com and yelp.com are positive which verifies the claims made by Chess and Bridge regarding their excellent customer service. Many of the Chess and Bridge customers are impressed by their friendliness and willingness to help customers, their speedy deliveries, their extensive catalogue of high-quality chess products, their easy to navigate and intuitive checkout process, and their robust search functionality. On the other hand, the negative review that has been left by customers online on trustpilot.com is by a customer expressing their disappointment with the Chess and Bridge customer service team regarding their inability to respond to their queries in a timely manner. Overall, most Chess and Bridge customers seem to be satisfied with the customer service they receive whilst interacting with the store and tend to have positive experiences whilst shopping with Chess and Bridge even though there is a small number or reviews online to corroborate this assertion.
Trustworthiness and reputation
Chess and Bridge ranks highly in the scale of trustworthiness and is highly regarded in the chess community both in the Uk and around the world. Several customers have left positive reviews online about their experiences shopping with Chess and Bridge which is one of the reasons why Chess and Bridge is generally regarded as a trustworthy store. Chess and Bridge is unlike many online chess stores because it also has a physical location which enables customers to receive personal assistance from experts in the industry and view the products they consider purchasing before making a final decision which is especially helpful when making sizeable purchases. Chess and Bridge is one of the pioneers of the UK chess industry that has served the chess community for over 30 years and has established itself as a highly trustworthy and reputable company during it’s time in business. Chess and Bridge is run by and was founded by one of the most influential chess icons in the UK, International Master Malcom Pein, who has collaborated with numerous prestigious organisations such as IBM, Fritz, The Daily Telegraph, and CHESS magazine, as well as numerous television shows and movies such as X Men, Holby City and Slow Horses. Malcom Pein is the former captain of the English Chess Team and has played against some of the best chess players in the world over the span of his career. Malcolm Pein also created, organised, and fundraised the London Chess Classic from 2009 to 2019 and established the Chess In Schools and Communities Charity in 2010 which has taught chess to over 250,000 children since it was founded. Chess and Bridge is associated with many of the most influential organisations, chess enthusiasts and chess players in the world such as Nevil Chan, Jonny Pein, and Agnieszka Milewska which also contributes to Chess and Bridge’s trustworthiness and reputability.
Pricing and affordability
The products at Chess and Bridge caters to the tastes and budgets of chess players of all ages and levels of experience as Chess and Bridge supplies a wide range of high-quality chess products and services. The chess sets that are available at Chess and Bridge are priced as low as 7.95 pounds on the lower end of the spectrum and as high as 3,500 pounds on the higher end of the spectrum. The chess boards at Chess and Bridge are priced as low as 44.95 pounds on the lower end of the spectrum and as high as 699 pounds on the higher end of the spectrum. The chess pieces are priced as low as 9.99 pounds on the lower end of the spectrum and as high as 499 pounds on the higher end of the spectrum. The chess boxes at Chess and Bridge are priced as low as 24.95 pounds on the lower end of the spectrum and as high as 349 pounds on the higher end of the spectrum. The chess software at Chess and Bridge are priced as low as 5 pounds on the lower end of the spectrum and as high as 439 pounds on the higher end of the spectrum. The chess lessons at Chess and Bridge are priced as low as 45 pounds on the lower end of the spectrum and as high as 60 pounds on the higher end of the spectrum. The chess clocks at Chess and Bridge are priced as low as 24.95 pounds on the lower end of the spectrum and as high as 345 pounds on the higher end of the spectrum. Lastly the chess accessories at Chess and Bridge are priced as low as 1 pound on the lower end of the spectrum and as high as 54.95 pounds on the higher end of the spectrum.
Available Payment methods
Chess and Bridge accepts numerous payment methods which includes American Express, Apple Pay, Diners Club, Discover, Google Pay, Maestro, MasterCard, PayPal, Shop Pay, Union Pay, and Visa.
Shipping, cancellations, returns, exchanges, and delivery performance
Chess and Bridge ships both nationally to customers in the United Kingdom as well as internationally to over 150 countries around the world. Customers can choose their preferred method of shipping at checkout and shipping costs are dependent on the chosen shipping method, the order destination, and the weight of the order. Uk orders will be shipped via Royal Mail first class or other courier services whilst all international orders will be shipped via an airmail service or courier. Chess and Bridge aims to deliver UK orders between 3 to 5 business days, international orders to Europe should be expected to be delivered between 7 to 21 working days, and international orders to the United States and the rest of the world should be expected to be delivered between 7 to 28 working days. Orders placed in the UK before 1pm Monday to Friday with Express delivery as the chosen shipping method will be delivered the next working day between 8.30am and 6pm, orders being shipped to Northern Ireland, the Highlands, and Islands will be delivered in 2 working days and orders placed on Saturdays and Sundays will be dispatched on Monday via the next day service. Some postcodes are not eligible for the express delivery service and will be subject to additional standard postage charges which includes Aberdeen AB, Dundee DD8-11, Channel Islands including Alderney and Sark all GY and JE postcodes, Western Isles all HS postcodes, Isle of Man all IM postcodes, Inverness-Shire all IV postcodes, Fife KY, Ayrshire all KA-27-28 postcodes, Orkney Islands KW 1-3, 5-17, Renfrewshire PA 20-49, 60-78, Perthshire PH 19-26, 30-44, 49-50, Cornwall TR 21-25, Shetland Isles all ZE postcodes, Northern Ireland BT 1-99, and BFPO.
International orders will also be subject to additional shipping costs which are the responsibility of the customer due to customs duties, taxes and customs clearance fee costs that are required to facilitate international deliveries. The price of international shipping will also vary depending on factors such as the origin country and order destination, the weight and dimensions of the package, the price and type of item, and the taxes and customs charges required by each country. International shipping rates will be estimated until packages are ready to be shipped with definite weights and dimensions which is often cheaper than the initial quotes and any excess shipping costs are typically refunded to the customer. Chess and Bridge does not guarantee that orders will be delivered on their expected delivery date and will not be liable for any losses, damages or charges incurred by the customer due to the late delivery of goods. Customers are advised to immediately check the condition of their orders and inform Chess and Bridge in writing including email within 3 days of delivery of any damages, shortages, or non-delivery of goods. Any goods that are received damaged or faulty may be returned for replacement or refund, Chess and Bridge will also refund the cost of postage using standard first or second-class post however, customers should contact Chess and Bridge in advance as they may not be able to send their courier to collect items in certain circumstances. Customers have 14 days from the date of delivery to return any damaged or defective items which should be in perfect condition and unused with all instruction manuals and in their original packaging otherwise customers may be subject to a 15% (£7.50 minimum) restocking fee. The cost of both outgoing and return postage fees should be met by the customer which will be refunded by Chess and Bridge within 14 days of them receiving the goods however this policy does not apply to sealed items such as DVD’s, software and playing cards. Customers will be notified once their returned items have been received and inspected and if the refund will be approved or not, refunds that are approved will be automatically made to customers original payment methods and can take a few days to process.
Website navigation and mobile friendliness
The Chess and Bridge website is easy to navigate, intuitive and mobile friendly with easily identifiable product categories, a robust search functionality and an easy to navigate header and footer menu located at the top and bottom of the website. Customers have the option to utilise their preferred currencies by clicking on the currency dropdown menu located at the top right of the website homepage and can find additional information by browsing through the footer menu located at the bottom of the website. Hovering over the product categories will display all the item subcategories within a category which makes it easy for customers to find specific items. Users can also search for specific items by using the search bar that’s located at the top of the website. The Chess and Bridge website also has a recently viewed section thats located just before the footer menu which enables customers to find items that they have previously looked at in case they forget the name of a particular product or have trouble finding a product within a product category. Information such as the shipping policy, the refund policy, the privacy policy, frequently asked questions and more can be found by within the footer menu at the bottom of the website. The Chess and Bridge website is easy to navigate on all devices so customers can browse the website on their preferred devices whether desktop, tablet, or mobile devices. Product on the Chess and Bridge website have clear and vivid product photos with comprehensive product descriptions which enables customers to make well informed decisions before committing to any purchases. The Chess and Bridge website is also secured with TSL/SSL encryption which protects any passwords or credit card details used by customers on the website from malicious entities. Overall, the Chess and Bridge website provides a positive experience for customers as it is fast, easy to navigate, secure and well stocked with high quality chess products and services that are competitively priced.
Chess and Bridge strengths and weaknesses
Chess and Bridge’s main strengths are it’s domestic and international shipping capabilities, it’s intuitive and mobile friendly website, its extensive catalogue of high quality and competitively priced chess products and services, it’s trustworthiness and reputability and it’s excellent customer service. The fact that Chess and Bridge also has a physical location and is run by one of the most influential chess players in the UK are also major contributors to Chess and Bridge’s strengths as an online and brick and mortar chess store. However, like all businesses Chess and Bridge also has a few weaknesses which if addressed could massively benefit both the company as well as it’s customers. Some of Chess and Bridge’s main weaknesses include the absence of live chat which prevents customers from speaking directly and immediately with the Chess and Bridge customer service team, the absence of an about us page which makes it difficult to gather information on the trustworthiness of the store, products within the store that could be better organised to fit their respective categories which can make it difficult to find specific products, a lack of product variety compared to other online chess stores that have a wider selection of chess products and a lack of customer reviews which can also make it difficult to assess the reliability and trustworthiness of the store. Overall, Chess and Bridge is an excellent online chess store with much more strengths than weaknesses and a long history of serving both the UK and global chess community.
Conclusion
Online chess stores are an essential part of the chess industry, and they play a crucial role in sustaining the global chess community as they enable chess players to access essential equipment and resources that will enable them to improve their skills in chess however not all online chess stores are made the same as some are clearly better than others. In this article i have highlighted 25 of the most prominent online chess stores, each having defining characteristics. Some online chess stores specialise in supplying high end chess products, some specialise in supplying chess products for professional chess players, and some specialise in supplying chess products for chess players for all ages, tastes, budgets, and experience levels. Whether you’re a professional chess player in search of a chess set that’s suitable for practice sessions, a chess set collector in search of unique chess products, or a chess enthusiast in search of a high-quality chess set, this catalogue of online chess stores will enable you to find the perfect online chess store.
