Fact Checking the Brunswick Parsons

We are just going to come right out and say it... You are getting ripped off at this price point. The truth is that Restoration Hardware (the website where this table is was bing sold) is a division of Pottery Barn. Brunswick is a completely separate company as well. So that makes three different companies that will need to get their cut of the sale. What ends up happening is that YOU, the consumer, end up footing the bill so that everyone else can get paid.

We've seen this same marketing trick dozens of times. Many other shuffleboard distributors like to use nice-sounding terms like Tulipwood, Canadian Maple, and even European White Oak. These terms create a false impression that the wood they're using is high-quality, but in truth, it isn't. So why the funny names? There are actually some macro-level geopolitical games at play, and you're paying the price. As you've probably heard, there are trade issues between China and the United States. As a result, it's more expensive to ship high-quality hardwoods (like true North American Rock Maple) to and from China. So companies that ship their tables overseas to get manufactured are sending lower-quality softwoods to get pass the tariffs.

In the case of the Brunswick Parsons, European White Oak is probably the actual wood used for the cabinet, but it's not as good a wood as it sounds. Those "nicks, knots, and imperfections" are not a sign of character. Neither are the cracks you'll almost certainly see as well. That's because it takes a lot of time to kiln-dry white oak without cracking it, and as they say, time is money. In reality, they're trying to "sell" you on the negatives by making them sound positive.

This playboard is not 3 inches thick. There is a quarter inch of plastic polymer poured over the top of a 2.75" playboard which means you’re essentially playing on plastic. When it comes to your Shuffleboard table's playing surface, every inch matters. In fact, every quarter inch matters too!

Have you ever been to a tavern or recreation center and played on a board where the pucks just don't glide well? You've probably noticed chips, rough spots, and pucks that always seem to slide toward the edges. Your shuffleboard experience is diminished because the polymer wears down easily and can damage the boards, and it tends to warp the boards. The warping is becomes even worse with thinner playboards. Virtually every shuffleboard manufacturer that uses the poured epoxy doesn’t even bother with a premium hardwood playboard because the end-game is being played on plastic, not the actual wood. I have been updating these; they were published some time ago, and Brunswick has now gone to all 2.25" thick playboards, which start at about $7800 to $8000.

Made to order, starting at Price: $7,495

The Parson's Pine Shuffleboard Table in Heirloom finish is both stylish and cost-effective. Each Parson's shuffleboard table cabinet is made from eastern knotty pine and made by the same craftsmen who make the McClure handcrafted custom tables. Every Parson's shuffleboard table features legs constructed from solid pine. The sleek design of Parsons' legs enhances the table's overall aesthetic, strength, and stability. Each Parson's Pine shuffleboard is also equipped with a 20" wide, 3" thick solid hard rock maple playing surface, sealed with a specially formulated piano finish, and backed by a lifetime warranty. This premium playing surface ensures that your new Parson's shuffleboard table will last for years and provide you and your family with countless hours of enjoyment.

• 100% Handcrafted & Made In America
• Playboard is Crafted from North American Hard Rock Maple
• Available in 12, 14,16,18,20 and 22-foot sizes
• Made to order, craft time 4 to 6 weeks

We received a phone call one day from a customer named Kevin about purchasing climate adjusters for a shuffleboard table he had purchased on Amazon from a company in China. From his descriptions, he was having serious issues with a crooked second table playboard, to which we had to inform him that climate adjusters just won’t fix it, unfortunately. We suggested that he returned the table if he could and seek a replacement from the manufacturer. Thanks to the great customer service Amazon offers, they promptly covered the costs to return the table and Kevin received a replacement shuffleboard. To his surprise, he had further issues with this new replacement and Kevin made the decision to send us a follow-up email to inquire about purchasing a McClure shuffleboard table.

A short time after receiving his brand-new McClure Patriot table, Kevin reached out with another email to express his love and satisfaction with it. He no longer had any issues as we met his needs, it complemented the room he placed it in, and most importantly, it played just the way he wanted it to. An experience we believe every customer should experience when purchasing a shuffleboard table, and what we strive for.