By Laura Varnon, Marketing Coordinator
You’ve decided you want to buy a pool table. Maybe you’re not ready to commit to a big purchase, so you start searching Craigslist.
After a minute or two of searching, you see this ad.
Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it? But what if the pockets are ripped? What if there are holes in the felt? That could be costly to repair.
How are you even going to get it home?
We at The Spa and Sauna Co. aren’t going to tell you that you shouldn’t buy a pool table on Craigslist, or from any other second-hand outlet, but we do want to share some helpful buying tips, so you can enjoy your purchase.
Before you buy a pool table off a site like Craigslist, or from any individual seller, there are a number of things you will want to consider.
- Do you know how big of a pool table your room can accommodate? Pool tables are typically 7”, 8” or 9”. If you don’t know how large your room needs to be to fit a pool table, Click Here for a blog that will give you the dimensions you need.
- Make sure you are purchasing a quality table. The seller should know the brand, and possibly the model, of the pool table.
- Is the pool table in good repair? You can check this in a variety of ways. You should test the rails by rolling a ball hard at each rail and making sure it bounces back three to four times on all sides. Check the felt and pockets for holes or rips.
- Is it a slate bed or a wood bed pool table? You can tell by the sound it makes when you knock on the felt. If it is slate, it will be a higher pitch knocking sound. If it is wood, it’s going to sound like lower, similar to the sound when you knock on a wooden door. If you are looking for a high-quality pool table, we recommend purchasing a slate pool table. Wood can warp, which doesn’t make for the best playing experience.
- How is the construction underneath? If it’s metal, you might want to move on. You should see at least one wooden beam underneath the table, if it is of good quality.
- Finally, what comes with it? Are there cues, brushes, balls, ball racks included with it? Or will you need to purchase those items separately?
If you do decide to purchase a used pool table, we can help you move it to the new location. Click here to request a pool table set up, move or refelt.
Finally, if you’re more comfortable buying from an authorized pool table dealer, please know that, at The Spa and Sauna Co., we carry new and used pool tables. A play kit and delivery is included.
For more information on our used and entry-level pool tables, which start at about $1,999, Click Here.