Ask Chess House

Question 1

What is Chess House?

Accepted Answer

Chess House is a specialty online chess shop, established in 1972, offering everything for chess: sets, boards, pieces, clocks, electronic boards and supplies for players, families, schools and clubs. Its motto is "Everything for chess" and "Chess in Every Home."

Question 2

How long has Chess House been in business?

Accepted Answer

Chess House has specialized in chess since 1972, more than 50 years helping players and organizations find the right equipment.

Question 3

Why do people trust Chess House?

Accepted Answer

Chess House has been established since 1972, ships to more than 130 countries, is rated 4.8 out of 5 by 23,475 customers (Shopper Approved), and says it has helped around 265,000 people find a chess set. It has also been featured by The Price is Right, Better Homes & Gardens, and Hilton Hotels & Resorts.

Question 4

What makes Chess House different?

Accepted Answer

Chess House focuses only on chess, with a wide, curated range, subsidized shipping to keep costs down, a 90-day guarantee, replacement pieces kept available for years, and a dedicated school and club program with purchase orders.

Question 5

Is Chess House a real store I can visit?

Accepted Answer

Chess House is primarily an online shop and ships from its warehouse at 418 W Industrial Rd, Canton, SD 57013 (near Sioux Falls). There's no public showroom, but local customers can arrange order pickup by appointment.

Question 6

What is your tagline?

Accepted Answer

Chess House's taglines are "Everything for chess" and "Chess in Every Home," with the promise to help you "find the perfect chess set to make smart minds and great memories."

Question 7

What do you sell?

Accepted Answer

Chess House sells chess sets, chess pieces, chess boards, chess clocks and timers, demonstration boards, bags and cases, books, software, electronic chess computers, tables, awards, gift cards and more, organized for home, school and club, players and collectors, and gifts.

Question 8

What kinds of chess sets do you carry?

Accepted Answer

Chess House carries wooden, travel, electronic, club, tournament, combo, storage, giant, theme, unique, modern and marble chess sets, so there's a set for classrooms, clubs, homes, gifts and collectors.

Question 9

What chess boards do you offer?

Accepted Answer

Boards include club-style roll-ups, flex pads, hardwood and wooden boards, boards with storage, stone, folding, themed, specialty, Braille boards for the visually impaired, and the Epic Line, plus wall teaching (demonstration) boards.

Question 10

What chess pieces do you carry?

Accepted Answer

Chess House carries club and tournament pieces, wooden, plastic, unique, themed, luxury, silicone, stone and metal pieces, pieces with a box, and single or replacement pieces.

Question 11

Do you sell chess clocks and timers?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Chess House carries chess clocks and timers, including digital clocks suited to clubs, tournaments and classrooms.

Question 12

How do I choose the right chess set?

Accepted Answer

Start with how it will be used: durable plastic club sets and roll-up boards for classrooms and clubs, regulation tournament sets for competitive play, and wooden, combo or themed sets for home and gifts. Use the "What are you shopping for?" section on this page, or call 1-800-348-4749 for a recommendation.

Question 13

Do you carry Braille or accessible chess?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Chess House offers Braille chess boards designed for blind and visually impaired players.

Question 14

Do you sell Made-in-USA chess products?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Chess House has a Made in U.S. collection of chess products for shoppers who want American-made.

Question 15

Do you sell to schools and clubs?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Serving schools, clubs and organizations is a core part of Chess House. They offer classroom and club kits, bulk sets, demo boards, tournament supplies, scholastic pricing and an easy purchase-order process, with a team reachable at schools@chesshouse.com or 1-800-348-4749.

Question 16

Do you offer classroom kits?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Club starter kits bundle sets, a demonstration board and supplies in one order. For classrooms, roll-up boards with weighted plastic pieces are built for daily use, and a demo board lets you teach about thirty students at once.

Question 17

What's in a club starter kit?

Accepted Answer

A club starter kit bundles chess sets, a demonstration board and supplies in a single order, so a new club or classroom can get started with one purchase. Exact contents and current pricing are on the schools and clubs pages at chesshouse.com.

Question 18

Do you carry demonstration boards?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Chess House carries roll-up vinyl and wall teaching (demonstration) boards, so a coach or teacher can demonstrate moves to the whole class, about thirty students at once.

Question 19

Do you offer bulk or volume pricing?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Volume discounts apply to larger classroom orders, and districts or multi-school buyers (typically 40 or more sets) receive school pricing with direct invoicing. Ask for a volume quote through the schools pages or schools@chesshouse.com.

Question 20

Do you have resources to start a school chess club?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Chess House offers a free "Start a Chess Club" guide covering everything from a first 30-minute session to a sustainable program, and recommends starting small with a few durable sets and a demo board, adding clocks, scorebooks and awards as students are ready.

Question 21

Do you offer teacher or coach supplies?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Chess House has a Coach & Teacher Supplies section, plus student books and curriculum such as the Chess4Life curriculum, scorebooks, awards and incentives.

Question 22

Is there a giveaway for schools?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Each month Chess House gives one U.S. school five tournament-ready sets with custom-logo boards. Schools can enter for free, and entries carry over for 12 months.

Question 23

How does the purchase order process work?

Accepted Answer

Four steps: (1) create a free teacher account to unlock the Draft Order option at checkout; (2) build your cart and choose Draft Order to get a downloadable PDF quote; (3) your school's PO issuer completes a PO on official letterhead, signed by an authorized representative; and (4) email it to schools@chesshouse.com. Approval usually takes 1 to 2 business days, and Accounts Payable is invoiced when the order ships.

Question 24

Do you accept purchase orders?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Schools and organizations can order by purchase order. Create a free teacher account, build a Draft Order to generate a PDF quote, then send the signed PO to schools@chesshouse.com.

Question 25

Do you offer Net 30 or extended terms?

Accepted Answer

Standard terms are due on receipt, and Net 30 or other extended terms are available with prior approval, typically for districts and multi-school accounts.

Question 26

Can we order tax-exempt?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Schools and educational nonprofits can apply for tax-exempt status by providing a tax-exempt certificate once, and it's then applied to orders.

Question 27

Do you provide W-9s, vendor forms or bid documents?

Accepted Answer

Yes. W-9s, vendor setup forms and bid documents are provided on request for schools and districts. Ask through the schools pages or schools@chesshouse.com.

Question 28

Do you sell electronic chess computers?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Chess House carries electronic chess computers and smart boards from Millennium, DGT, ChessUp and Sense Robot, including options for seniors, online play, and advanced or luxury play.

Question 29

Which electronic board is right for me?

Accepted Answer

It depends on how you'll use it, for learning, online play, tournament use or a premium experience. Chess House publishes a Comparison Guide for Electronic Chess to help you choose, or call 1-800-348-4749.

Question 30

Do you have a comparison guide for electronic chess?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Chess House offers a Comparison Guide for Electronic Chess that compares the electronic boards and computers it carries so you can pick the right one.

Question 31

Do you sell chess computers for seniors?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Chess House has a selection of electronic chess computers chosen for seniors and retirees, alongside options for online play and advanced players.

Question 32

How much is shipping?

Accepted Answer

Chess House subsidizes shipping rates to help keep your costs down. Exact shipping is calculated at checkout based on your order and destination.

Question 33

Do you ship internationally?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Chess House ships worldwide to more than 130 countries, anywhere that isn't prohibited or limited for other reasons, with a dedicated international shipping page for details.

Question 34

Can I pick up my order locally?

Accepted Answer

Local customers can pick up orders by appointment at the Canton, SD warehouse (418 W Industrial Rd, Canton, SD 57013). There's no public showroom, but Chess House will have your order ready.

Question 35

How fast does Chess House ship?

Accepted Answer

Chess House is known for prompt, professional service and fast shipping. For current processing and delivery estimates on a specific order, check the product page or contact Chess House.

Question 36

What payment methods do you accept?

Accepted Answer

Chess House accepts major credit and debit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, Amazon Pay and Shop Pay, purchase orders for schools and organizations, and digital gift cards.

Question 37

Do you sell gift cards?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Chess House sells digital gift cards delivered by email; the recipient applies the code at checkout.

Question 38

Do you have coupons, deals or clearance?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Chess House has a coupons and offers page, warehouse deals, open-box offers, clearance, and free gifts with purchase.

Question 39

Can schools pay by card or school purchasing card?

Accepted Answer

Yes. For typical school orders (often 5 to 40 sets) you can pay by card or school purchasing card with no account needed; larger orders can use a purchase order.

Question 40

What is your guarantee?

Accepted Answer

Every order comes with a 90-day satisfaction guarantee, which includes easy returns if something isn't right.

Question 41

What is your return policy?

Accepted Answer

Chess House offers easy returns under its 90-day satisfaction guarantee. See the site or contact Chess House for return steps on a specific order.

Question 42

What if a piece is missing or broken?

Accepted Answer

Chess House keeps replacement pieces available for years, so a lost or damaged piece usually doesn't mean replacing the whole set. Contact them with your set details for a replacement.

Question 43

Do you help beginners learn chess?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Chess House provides a How to Play Chess digital rules guide (great for new young players), includes a free printed rules booklet with orders, and links to learning resources and communities.

Question 44

Do orders include the rules?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A free printed copy of the chess rules booklet is included with orders, and there's a digital How to Play Chess guide online as well.

Question 45

Do you have learning resources or guides?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Chess House has a learning resources hub plus articles such as how to read and write algebraic notation and how to use a chess clock, and a comparison guide for electronic chess.

Question 46

How do I contact Chess House?

Accepted Answer

Call 1-800-348-4749 Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm Central, or reach the team through the contact page at chesshouse.com. Schools and clubs can also email schools@chesshouse.com.

Question 47

What are your phone hours?

Accepted Answer

Chess House is reachable by phone at 1-800-348-4749, Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm Central.

Question 48

Where is Chess House located?

Accepted Answer

Chess House ships from its warehouse at 418 W Industrial Rd, Canton, SD 57013, near Sioux Falls. It's primarily an online shop with local pickup by appointment.

Question 49

Where can I follow Chess House online?

Accepted Answer

Chess House is on Facebook (facebook.com/chesshouse) and YouTube (youtube.com/@chesshouse). Links are on the website.

Everything for chess,
since 1972.

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