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.
ChessSets.co.uk is a UK based online chess store that was founded in 2011 by Julian Deverell and is the sister company of Regency Chess. ChessSets.co.uk specialises in supplying high quality chess sets, chess boards, chess pieces and chess accessories. The chess products from ChessSets.co.uk are sourced from highly reputable manufacturers from all over Europe in countries such as Germany, Poland, Italy, and Spain as well as manufacturers from other continents such as Asia in countries such as China and India. Much like Regency Chess, ChessSets.co.uk has a strict quality control system in order to ensure that all their products are of the highest quality and are sourced from suppliers that operate in the most ethical manner. ChessSets.co.uk and it’s sister company Regency Chess are members of the JDS Group which is a multi-channel ecommerce group that is made up of multiple ecommerce stores that specialise in supplying traditional toys and games to numerous countries around the world which includes the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Germany, Ireland, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Australia, and Canada. ChessSets.co.uk is the ideal online chess store for chess players of all ages and experience levels and is one of the most popular online chess stores in the UK as well as around the world as they strive to provide customers with the highest quality products as well as an outstanding standard of customer service.
Store history
ChessSets.co.uk was founded in 2011 by Julian Deverell in order to serve the chess community with the highest quality chess products which are durable, crafted with care, and highlight the expert level of craftmanship of the artists that make them. ChessSets.co.uk is the sister company of Regency Chess and a member of the JDS group which is a multi-channel ecommerce group that is made up of multiple ecommerce stores that specialise in supplying traditional toys and games to numerous countries around the world. The leadership at ChessSets.co.uk have carefully vetted and chosen all their suppliers based on their ability to meet their high standards and create products that demonstrate exceptional craftsmanship as well as their commitment to ensuring the fair and ethical treatment of artists by personally travelling to the workshops in numerous countries and developing a personal relationship with the artists themselves. This hands-on approach to sourcing products has enabled ChessSets.co.uk to guarantee that their products are of the highest quality, beautifully crafted, competitively priced, and made by artists that are fairly treated and compensated for their work. ChessSets.co.uk has grown into one of the most popular online chess stores in the UK and in the world because of their commitment to supplying the highest quality products at reasonable prices, for ensuring that the artists that create their products are fairly treated and compensated, and for delivering an outstanding standard of customer service.
Product selection and quality
ChessSets.co.uk has a large catalogue of chess products that cater to the taste and budget of chess players of all ages and experience levels. The products that are available at ChessSets.co.uk include chess sets, chess boards, chess pieces and chess accessories.
Chess sets available at ChessSets.co.uk:
Staunton chess sets, luxury Staunton chess sets, vintage Staunton chess sets, Isle of Lewis chess sets, and themed chess sets.
Chess boards available at ChessSets.co.uk:
12-to-14-inch chess boards: walnut and maple chess boards, wenge and maple chess boards.
15-to-16-inch chess sets: folding walnut chess boards, inlaid wooden chess boards, walnut and maple chess boards, the Siena genuine leather chess boards by Italfama, manopoulos mahogany chess boards, black and erable chess boards, inlaid wooden chess boards with notation, and wenge and maple chess boards.
17-to-18-inch chess sets: wenge and maple chess boards, walnut and maple chess boards, the templar hand painted solid resin chess boards, Saluzzo genuine leather luxury chess boards, Mastellone Giuseppe elm wood inlaid chess boards, Montgoy palisander and maple chess boards, lacquered black anegre chess boards, black anegre and palisander chess boards, black and maple chess boards, dark walnut and elm wood luxury chess boards, olive green erable and elm wood luxury chess boards, dark grey erable and elm wood luxury chess boards, briarwood and elm wood luxury chess boards, and blue erable and elm wood luxury chess boards.
19-to-20-inch chess sets: briarwood and elm wood luxury chess boards, lacquered red erable luxury chess boards, painted Italian artisan chess boards, black and white inlaid chess boards by Italfama, satin blue erable and maple chess boards, lacquered blue erable and maple chess boards, gloss lacquered ash burl chess boards, lacquered black anegre and maple chess boards, black anegre and palisander chess boards, manopoulos walnut chess boards, manopoulos mahogany chess boards, walnut and maple chess boards, moulded walnut and maple chess boards, wenge and maple chess boards, inlaid wooden chess boards with notation, and inlaid mahogany chess boards.
21-to-14-inch chess sets: Montgoy palisander and maple chess boards, gloss black anegre and maple chess boards, dark walnut burl luxury Italian chess boards, briarwood and elm wood luxury chess boards, briarwood and elm wood chess cabinet with drawers, black anegre and palisander chess boards, wenge and maple chess boards, walnut and maple chess boards, matt black and maple chess boards, gloss lacquered ash burl chess boards, black anegre and maple chess boards, and inlaid mahogany and birch chess boards.
Chess pieces available at ChessSets.co.uk:
Staunton chess pieces, luxury Staunton chess pieces, vintage Staunton chess pieces, Isle of Lewis chess pieces, themed chess pieces, Berkeley chess pieces, and metal chess pieces.
Chess accessories available at ChessSets.co.uk:
Wooden Turnier chess clocks, standard Turnier chess clocks, DGT 2010 professional digital chess clocks, DGT 3000 game timers, DGT 10104 easy plus chess clocks, quartz tournament chess clocks, DGT 10168 easy chess clocks, mahogany chess boxes with keys, draw string bags, wooden sliding lid chess cases, root wood burl hinged lid chess cases, polished solid wood hinged lid chess cases, polished sheesham wood hinged lid chess cases, birch wood chess cases, Italian chess piece case and boards, dark wood chess piece storage cases, black leatherette chess piece cases, and sheesham chess piece cabinets with sliding lids.
ChessSets.co.uk customer service and customer experience
The ChessSets.co.uk customer service team can be contacted via phone, mail, or live chat, Monday to Friday, 10.30am to 4pm (Greenwich Mean Time or British Summer Time). Customers can access the live chat feature by clicking on the black icon with the speech bubble which is located at the bottom right corner of the website. The ChessSets.co.uk customer service team are happy to help customers with any queries or issues they may have such as product related questions, assisting with returns and exchanges, assisting with website navigation issues or any other issues that customers may have. There are very few reviews online regarding customers experience shopping with ChessSets.co.uk which makes it difficult to determine whether customers have had positive, neutral, or negative experiences after shopping with ChessSets.co.uk. However, ChessSets.co.uk has received 17 reviews on tenereteam.com which consists of 4 and 5 star reviews and an average rating of 4.4 stars. The customers of ChessSets.co.uk that have left reviews on teneretam.com have expressed their satisfaction with ChessSets.co.uk’s pricing, shipping and delivery, return policy, price and quality, and their customer service. ChessSets.co.uk’s customer review page also has all positive reviews and customers have expressed their satisfaction with the pricing of their chess sets, their secure packaging, and the standard of customer service they received.
Trustworthiness and reputation
ChessSets.co.uk ranks highly on the scale of trustworthiness for many reasons, the main factors that contribute to their trustworthiness are their association with other reputable online chess stores such as Regency Chess and the JDS group, their commitment to supplying the highest quality products, and their excellent standard of customer service. ChessSets.co.uk has served the chess community for over 10 years in the UK and overseas and in which time they have received significantly more positive reviews than negative reviews which is rare for online stores as well as being a strong indication that the majority of their customers are generally pleased with both the quality of their products and the standard of customer service they have received whilst shopping with ChessSets.co.uk even though they have a small number of reviews. Another factor that contributes to the trustworthiness of ChessSets.co.uk is their transparency as they have a clear and comprehensive terms of service page that outlines exactly what customers can expect whilst shopping with ChessSets.co.uk. During their time in business ChessSets.co.uk have built a reputation for supplying the highest quality chess products and for prioritising the needs of their customers which has enabled them to become one of the most popular online chess stores in the UK and in the world.
Pricing and affordability
ChessSets.co.uk has a wide range of chess products that caters to the tastes and budgets of chess players of all ages and levels of experience. Their hands on approach to sourcing and vetting suppliers has also enabled them to provide their customers with the highest quality products at competitive prices. The chess sets that are available at ChessSets.co.uk are priced as low as 129.99 pounds on the lower end of the spectrum and as high as 1,079.99 pounds on the higher end of the spectrum. The chess boards are priced as low as 54.99 pounds on the lower end of the spectrum and as high as 499.99 pounds on the higher end of the spectrum. The chess pieces are priced as low as 11.99 pounds on the lower end of the spectrum and as high as 999.99 pounds on the higher end of the spectrum. The chess accessories are priced as low as 4.99 pounds on the lower end of the spectrum and as high as 128.99 on the higher end of the spectrum.
Available Payment methods
ChessSets.co.uk 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
ChessSets.co.uk ships both nationally and internationally to almost every country in the world and all items that are ordered from ChessSets.co.uk are securely packaged and fully insured. Orders to the UK mainland will be shipped via FedEX, UPS, or Royal Mail, orders to Ireland will be shipped via Interlink Express and the rest of Europe and worldwide via UPS. Orders that are received before 2.30pm will be processed and shipped the same day, and orders that are received after 2.30pm will be dispatched on the next available working day. ChessSets.co.uk dispatches orders Monday to Friday excluding on public holidays and orders that are received on weekends will be dispatched on Monday. There are two shipping methods available for orders to the UK mainland, the UK free shipping service and the priority shipping service. Orders that are shipped with the UK free shipping service should arrive within 2 to 3 working days and orders that are shipped with the priority shipping service before 2pm should arrive on the next working day however only orders to the UK mainland and some areas of the Scottish Highlands are eligible for the priority shipping service. Orders that are placed during weekends, public holidays, and courier strike days are ineligible for the priority shipping service. Orders to Ireland should arrive within 48 hours, the rest of Europe within 2 to 4 days and the rest of the world in under 10 days from the date that the orders are received and will require a signature upon delivery. Shipping costs are dependent on the size and weight of the items. Damaged items must be reported immediately and in the event that orders are received damaged or faulty ChessSets.co.uk will arrange for the items to be collected and replaced regardless of the size of the item or issue a refund to customers. Customers have up to 30 days from the date of their purchase to initiate a return for a refund or an exchange however returned items must be in the same condition they arrived in, securely packaged in it’s original packaging, with the customer’s name, address, phone number, order number and packing slip included. Refunds will be processed within 2 to 6 days from the date returned items are received in good, unused, saleable condition and issued to the customers original payment method.
Website navigation and mobile friendliness
The ChessSets.co.uk website is intuitively designed, easy to navigate and mobile friendly with product categories that are easy to identify, a search bar that’s located at the top left corner of the website which enables customers to search for specific products, and a footer menu that’s located at the bottom of the website which enables customers to find additional information such as the contact us page, the privacy policy page, the returns and refunds page, the shipping policy page, the terms of service page, the frequently asked questions page and more. On desktop devices, clicking on the “shop” button will display the different product categories and on mobile devices clicking on the hamburger menu that’s located at the top left corner of the screen will also display the different product categories. The ChessSets.co.uk website is easy to navigate on both desktop and mobile devices with clear, vivid, and professional product images and comprehensive product descriptions which enables customers to make well informed purchase decisions. ChessSets.co.uk’s live chat feature which is located at the bottom right corner of the website enables customers to communicate with the ChessSets.co.uk customer service team in real time. The ChessSets.co.uk website is also secured with TSL/SSL encryption which protects users’ sensitive information such as passwords and credit card numbers that are used on the site from malicious entities whilst interacting on the site. Overall, the ChessSets.co.uk website is intuitively designed with the customers convenience in mind, easy to navigate, secure, mobile friendly, and well stocked with a variety of high quality and competitively priced chess products.
ChessSets.co.uk strengths and weaknesses
ChessSets.co.uk’s main strengths are their extensive catalogue of high quality and competitively priced chess products, their excellent standard of customer service, their live chat feature which enables customers to communicate with the ChessSets.co.uk customer service to in real time, their secure packaging, their worldwide shipping capabilities, their ability to accept numerous payment methods, and their ethical approach to sourcing products. ChessSets.co.uk is unlike many other online chess stores in that they take a hands-on approach to sourcing suppliers and their products which enables them to obtain the highest quality products whilst ensuring that the artists they work with are treated fairly and compensated for their work which is one of their main strengths. The majority of the customer reviews for ChessSets.co.uk are positive and verifies many of their strengths. Whilst ChessSets.co.uk has many strengths it also has weaknesses which if addressed will greatly improve the shopping experience for both existing and future customers. ChessSets.co.uk’s main weaknesses are their lack of customer reviews which can make it difficult for potential customers to assess the trustworthiness of their store, and their limited variety of chess sets and chess accessories. Overall, ChessSets.co.uk is a trustworthy and reputable online chess store with a reputation for supplying the highest quality chess products and for providing an outstanding standard of customer service.
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.
Related Posts
Thechessstore.com Store Review
Official Staunton Store Review
Hoyle’s of Oxford Store Review
The House of Staunton Store Review
Studio Anne Carlton Store Review
British Museum Shop Store Review
