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.
The House of Staunton
The House of Staunton is one of the most well-known online chess stores in the world that has a strong reputation for producing the highest quality chess board sets, chess boards and chess boxes. The House of Staunton brand is named after the legendary English chess master Howard Staunton, and the world-renowned Staunton chess set which is used exclusively in all official FIDE approved professional chess tournaments. The official slogan of the House of Staunton is the “Manufacturer of the world’s finest chess products” and they have a plethora of accolades to corroborate their claim as their products have been featured in numerous movies, television shows, artwork for book covers and various other forms of media. The House of Staunton is also the exclusive equipment provider and an official sponsor of the US Chess Championships.
Store history
The House of Staunton is a manufacturer of chess sets, chess boards and chess boxes that was founded in 1990 by Frank Camaratta and is based in the United States in the state of Alabama. Frank Camaratta is an expert in antique Staunton chess sets and other antique chess sets, an avid tournament chess player with an International Master title, a well-informed historian, a talented author and lecturer and an accomplished aerospace engineer. The founding of The House of Staunton was sparked by Frank Camaratta’s passion for antique chess sets and history which inspired his desire to produce chess sets that resembled the craftmanship found in the chess sets of the old world, especially the early Jaques Staunton pattern chess sets. The House of Staunton has secured numerous accomplishments since its establishment in 1990 which includes gaining worldwide recognition and collaborating with prominent organisations such as the NBC, UbiSoft and the US Chess Championships. The House of Staunton chess products have been featured in numerous movies and television shows which includes the NBC’s The West Wing, Warner Bros’ Wild, Wild West, Sony Pictures’ The Luzhin defence, and the Disney film The hoax. UbiSoft, one of the world’s leading video game publishers, chose the House of Staunton chess pieces for inclusion in their bestselling chess program, the 2007 Chessmaster: Grandmaster Edition which featured the House of Staunton’s finest chess pieces including their bestselling Sultan and Morphy series chess pieces.
Product selection and quality
The House of Staunton specialises in supplying extremely high quality chess sets, chess boards and chess boxes but also offer a wide range of other chess products and services which includes chess tables, chess bags, chess clocks, chess books, chess software, chess DVD’s, chess computers, chess score books and club supplies, custom printed chess products, chess accessories, chess clothing, chess education, and a House of Staunton chess collectors club membership program which enables customers to gain access to a variety of discounts and other benefits such as early notices on exclusive and retiring chess sets.
Chess sets available at the House of Staunton:
Electronic chess sets, wooden chess sets, luxury wooden chess sets, travel chess sets, European chess sets, plastic chess sets, tournament chess sets, school and club chess sets, analysis chess sets, giant chess sets, custom chess set combinations, US chess plastic tournament chess combinations, wooden travel chess sets, and Magnus Carlsen signature series chess sets.
Chess boards available at the House of Staunton:
Wooden chess boards, luxury wooden chess boards, electronic chess boards, electronic chess computers, straight up chess boards, custom printed chess boards, vinyl chess boards, full colour vinyl chess boards, silicone chess boards, mouse pad chess boards, full colour mousepad chess boards, paper chess boards, and full colour thin mousepad chess boards.
Chess boxes available at the House of Staunton:
Library chess boxes, premium chess boxes, slide top chess boxes, superior chess boxes, fitted chess briefcases and signature chess coffers.
Chess pieces available at the House of Staunton:
Wooden chess pieces, luxury wooden chess pieces, DGT enabled chess pieces, artistic chess pieces, plastic chess pieces, bone chess pieces, mammoth ivory chess pieces, The Forever collection, The Camaratta collection, giant chess pieces, themed chess pieces, and clearance sale chess pieces.
House of Staunton Collector’s Club Membership
The House of Staunton offers an exclusive membership program, The House of Staunton Collectors Club, for a one-off fee of one hundred dollars which enables all club members to gain access to a wide range of benefits which includes:
- Discounts on House of Staunton brand chess equipment with a minimum discount of 10 percent off MSRP (manufacturer’s suggested retail price). Club members can expect to save an amount equal or exceeding the cost of their membership fee on their first purchase. Membership in the House of Staunton Collectors Club is for life and club members are entitled to these discounts for the rest of their lives. Club membership discounts can also be combined with other discounts and promotions and is applicable to all products that are sold on the House of Staunton website even on products that state that no coupons are allowed.
- Exceptional discounts on close out House of Staunton brand chess equipment.
- Early notifications on chess sets that are about to be retired and early notifications on limited edition chess sets that are about to be introduced.
House of Staunton customer service and customer experience
The House of Staunton customer service division can be contacted via phone, email or by leaving a message on their response form on the bottom of their contact us page on working days from 9am to 5pm (central time) and they are happy to help their customers with any issues they may have such as product related questions, assisting with returns and exchanges, assisting with website navigation issues, and any other queries customers may have. You can find all their contact information by clicking on the contact us link which is located at the top of their website. House of Staunton customers can also arrange a visit to the office by calling in advance and booking an appointment if a personal visit is more convenient for them. Customers can also speak with someone from the House of Staunton customer service division by utilising the live chat feature and clicking on the red icon which is located at the bottom right of the website. There are mixed responses regarding the customer service that customers receive from the House of Staunton. There are several negative reviews that can be found online from customers expressing their dissatisfaction with the House of Staunton’s customer service and the condition of House of Staunton products upon arrival, whilst on the House of Staunton website dozens of customers have expressed their satisfaction with both the customer service provided by the House of Staunton and the quality and condition of the products from the House of Staunton. However, there is also a small number of total reviews online on sites such as Trustpilot with the majority of them coming from customers expressing their approval. Overall, it is safe to assume that considering the ratio of customers that have left positive reviews after purchasing a product from the House of Staunton most customers that purchase House of Staunton products are satisfied with the products and services that they have received.
Trustworthiness and reputation
The House of Staunton has a strong reputation for producing the highest quality chess products in the world and they specialise in producing high quality chess sets, chess boards and chess boxes. The House of Staunton has been in business for over 30 years and has collaborated with numerous world class businesses on a wide range of projects over the years in areas such as movies, television shows, literary and art works, software, and professional sports. The House of Staunton are official sponsors of the United States Chess Championships and are also the exclusive providers of chess equipment for the United States Chess Championships. The House of Staunton has established itself as a household name in the chess community, professional chess players, chess enthusiasts, and chess collectors trust that the products and services that the House of Staunton provides are of high quality and are reliable which is a sentiment that’s held by many in the chess community. Lastly, the House of Staunton has a well organised professional website, clear, comprehensive and descriptive product descriptions and clear and transparent policies which enables customers to easily navigate the website and gather all the information needed to make informed decisions before making purchases.
Pricing and affordability
The chess products that are available at the House of Staunton are competitively priced and there are chess products to suit a variety of tastes and budgets. The chess sets at the House of Staunton are priced as low as 4.95 dollars on the cheaper end of the spectrum and as high as 6,895 dollars on the higher end of the spectrum. The chess boards are priced from as low as 1.99 dollars on the lower end of the spectrum and as high as 6,095 dollars on the higher end of the spectrum. The chess pieces are priced from as low as 5.95 dollars on the lower end of the spectrum and as high as 12,995 dollars on the higher end of the spectrum. The chess boxes are priced from as low as 49.95 dollars on the lower end of the spectrum and as high as 1,195.95 dollars on the higher end of the spectrum. The chess tables are priced from as low as 795 dollars on the lower end of the spectrum and as high as 1,195 dollars on the higher end of the spectrum. Lastly the other chess products are priced as low as 0.00 dollars on the lower end of the spectrum and as high as 3,033.95 dollars on the higher end of the spectrum. The pricing of chess products will vary depending on the level of craftmanship and the type of materials used to construct the products. Customers can save money on chess products from the House of Staunton by taking advantage of discounts and clearance sales, utilising coupons, and by purchasing a House of Staunton Collectors Club membership. Casual chess players, professional chess players, chess collectors and chess enthusiasts are catered for at the House of Staunton. Whether you’re a chess collector looking for high end luxury chess products and collectibles or a casual chess player in search of affordable chess products you will be able to find what you need at the House of Staunton.
Available Payment methods
The House of Staunton accepts numerous payment methods which includes PayPal, Credit/Debit Cards (VISA, MasterCard, Discover and American Express), Amazon Pay, Money Orders (In US Dollars), Personal Checks and Money Wires (On Personal Orders Over 200 dollars). The House of Staunton also offers a layaway payment program which allows customers to make payments on their orders over time however orders must amount to at least 300 dollars excluding the cost for shipping for customers to qualify for the layaway program.
Shipping, cancellations, returns, exchanges and delivery performance
The House of Staunton ships both nationally and internationally to over 150 countries. International orders will only be shipped via trackable methods with either FedEx, DHL or the United States Postal Service and may be subject to delays and additional fees such as customs duties tax, VAT, and GST. The House of Staunton must be contacted immediately if customers want to cancel an order as once an order is processed by the warehousing department it can no longer be cancelled and customers will have to return the products at their own expense. The quickest and most reliable way to cancel an order is via telephone during business hours or after hours via the customer service email address. Customers have 30 calendar days from the date their order is shipped to submit a return request or notify the House of Staunton that they would like to return an item and must receive an RMA (return merchant authorisation). Upon approval customers will then have 14 calendar days to return their items and have their items in the possession of the House of Staunton. The House of Staunton will refuse all packages that do not have an RMA clearly written and visible on the outside of packages. All costs associated with returns and exchanges are the responsibility of customers and will be subject to a 25% restocking fee unless the item is being replaced for an exchange or store credit however the restocking fee is not applicable to damaged or defective items.
Website navigation and mobile friendliness
The House of Staunton website is both easy to navigate and mobile friendly with easily identifiable product categories, a search box that enables customers to search for specific items, a header and footer section with additional store information and live chat. The House of Staunton website is as easy to navigate on mobile devices as it is on desktops. The House of Staunton also has an enormous catalogue of products with clear and vivid product images and comprehensive product descriptions which makes it easy for customers to gain a better understanding of the products appearance and features before deciding to purchase. Customers can also gain additional help and information on products as well as on a range of other queries by utilising the live chat feature on the website which enables customers to speak with a live agent in cases where human assistance is needed. All passwords and credit card numbers that are used on the House of Staunton site are secured through the SSL/TSL protocol so customers can be at ease and shop with confidence knowing that they are protected from fraud, phishing attacks and malicious entities. Overall, the House of Staunton provides an easy to navigate website on both mobile and desktops which is sufficiently stocked up on a variety of chess products that are of extremely high quality and competitively priced.
House of Staunton strengths and weaknesses
The House of Staunton is a world class chess store that has a strong reputation for producing high quality chess products however regardless of its size and stature the House of Staunton still has both strengths and weaknesses. The House of Staunton’s main strengths is its extensive and high-quality product catalogue, it’s easy to navigate and mobile friendly website, its competitively priced chess products, and its worldwide shipping capabilities. The House of Staunton caters to chess players around the world of all ages and levels of experience and makes it easy for chess players to find the perfect chess products that also aligns with their taste and budget. The first of the House of Staunton’s main weaknesses however stem from their customers dissatisfaction with their shipping and delivery as a number of customers have claimed that they have received their orders in poor condition or have had issues whilst making purchases and have struggled to get the House of Staunton to address their issues in a timely manner if at all. The House of Staunton’s other weakness is the search navigation feature of the website which tends to not show all the products within a category which makes it difficult for customers to find their desired products. Whilst the House of Staunton is strong in many areas there are still a few areas where improvements can be made however overall, the House of Staunton is still one of the best online chess stores in the world.
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.
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