THE ONE STOP FOR LONG ISLAND POOL TABLES

Once you have found the right priced pool table lets think about what makes up a good table. Most are built relatively similar because they follow a set standard of construction. Well, at least they should. Anyway, One of the most important features for a pool table to have is a sturdy base. The construction of the legs and frame structure will define everything. You want to look for a table that has a frame made of solid wood, even if partitioned. There are also Steel frames out there and one cant go wrong with that. Legs you would want to have a solid core if already not solid wood. Keep in mind that many tables for sale haven't been used in a while and may require hardware to be tightened. You may experience tables that seem loose but you're to be more concerned about construction at this point. We'll handle the rest!

Now lets continue building the table in our heads. Next would be the oh so important and infamous Slate Bed. Slate is a natural dense stone and as such is extremely heavy. DO NOT TRY AND LIFT THE TABLE! You will most likely damage something if not yourself.  What you are looking for is a 3/4"- 1"+ thickness. True 1" is ideal but most of these tables will play just fine.  Most common slate setups will be in three pieces, although you may find several different variations. That is perfectly fine, just know that any single piece slates may be cumbersome to move through hallways and stairwells in your home. So plan ahead before you buy. We've experienced it all....

Finally, lets get to the playing surface. Don't worry so much about the condition of the cloth. It can be changed and we recommend it to be done upon the moving services to keep the fee nominal. The biggest concern, and one many are unaware to check on, is the rubber cushions the balls bounce off of. They are a natural gum rubber and have a shelf life. The natural oils will seep out over time, from lack of use or from high heat. Some manufacturers used poor quality cushions and some are just aged. You may experience what we call "Dead Rubber". You can immediately tell the cushions may be worn by judging the bounce or "Action" of the ball. If the ball stops or barely rolls off the cushion, then its time to change them. There are also two stages to feel the cushion for. The early stage of rubber degradation will turn it soft like a sponge. It will literally swallow the ball. The late stage will turn the rubber solid as a rock as the oils have been fully depleted. At that stage the cushions will literally crumble and the table would be unplayable. Fortunately those cushions can be replaced. Once needed though, you will also have to incur the cost of a new cloth as it needs to be stripped for the cushions.

So, that covers the main things to look for in a used pool table. There are other things you may want to be concerned about like the cosmetics of it or any moving/mechanical parts. Most of that can either be detailed or repaired on installation site.  And remember, only let a trained professional Billiard Mechanic service and move your table. And never, I repeat NEVER try and move a pool table in one piece with your buddies. You may be biting off more than you can chew.

Selling a Table

Ahh, the ole pool table brought your family so many enjoyable moments. So much you held onto it well beyond the kids went off to college.  Or maybe that mancave has the blessing of becoming a playroom for the incoming bundle of joy. What ever the case may be, selling a pool table is a fairly common occurrence. We couldn't tell you how many times we've moved the same table for different clients.  But a good quality table can live on and now its time for you to pass it on for someone else's memories. So how do you do it? Well first, you have to ask yourself a few questions. Do you know or have the pertinent info on the table? Make, model, size, finish, etc. A good description will help make a buyers decision. Can you provide photos? and lastly, Is it imperative to have it sold by a set date? There is a viable reason why I mention the date.

Unfortunately, the resale market for pool tables is not as appreciative as used vehicles would be. And if you are in no rush, you could hold on a price tag that would give you the best return. If time is of the essence though, then the price must be made to sell quick.  But another deciding factor is the costs the buyer may have to incur upon the services needed to move and/or repair the table. That includes changing the cloth color.  To put it into perspective, a newly purchased table would start around $2,000. And as mentioned in the buyers guide, the service costs can drive the all in investment into the range of new tables.  So keep that in mind when setting a price.

There are three recommended price ranges that I would work within depending upon my needs. And the prices will be the same for 95% of pool tables. Unlike Cars, not many know the difference between brand names. So the buyer is mostly looking for an affordable pool table first. The first range is if you know you have a particular model, and you have done your research then you can set a price that would appeal to a particular buyer. It may take awhile to sell but you could get a good return. But for the more common situation you are looking at the other two ranges. Its a competitive market and as such must be priced accordingly. If you are in no rush to move the table, I can recommend a price range of $500-$750. If time is a factor and the table must go now, then commit to a price range of $350-$500. Keeping the table priced accordingly to the online market will ensure you are able to sell it at your accord.

Now where does one even sell a pool table? Fortunately the internet is constantly creating new and fabulous ways to sell our gently used items. Long gone are the days of online pennysavers like Craigslist. Today's markets are found across social media platforms and device applications. Facebook Marketplace is a tremendous resource to sell used items, but applications like LetGo have also recently provided for safe and easy person to person sales. There are also many fleamarket groups on Facebook you could join in order to sell.

You may also ask if dealers ever purchased used tables. And the answer would be yes. But they, and we, can not make an offer to reach the price tag you may have. Because of the competitive markets, we all have to keep any resale of a table not only under retail of new tables but within operational limitations. That does not leave a proprietor much room to make a substantial offer. But, if you have a table you just have to get rid of, contact us or your local dealer and we will do our best to try and make an offer. Occasionally there are some models that are more desirable and hence could expand any offer.

I hope this helps you in your endeavor and just remember to recommend a professional billiard mechanic to any buyer you have. It will benefit both parties in the end.