When Craigslist is loaded with used quality tables for cheap?
I found a Gold Crown last night for $300.00 Too far away from me or I'd own it.
I found a Gold Crown last night for $300.00 Too far away from me or I'd own it.
Why do people buy cheap import tables?
- Thread starter bigshooter
- Start date
I figure it's just mostly people who just don't know any better. Simple as that. They want a pool table...see one at the local Walmart...and buy it....
They probably don't know any better and really don't care...they're not "real" pool players.
I would wonder more about why we see so many bargains on high quality tables so often. They actually aren't hard to find. Just a little patience is needed.
I would suppose it would be the same answer...they don't know any better.
My wife's best friend gave away an antique Brusnwick. When I found out (after the fact) I hit the ceiling. Why didn't she bother to tell me they were giving it away before it was actually done?
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That sucks... they pretty much had to know you are a serious pool player, you'd think it would have crossed their mind.
Not all deals on GC's are worth the money, I've had to fix up MANY of the so called ''cheap priced'' GC's for another $1,500-$2,000 in order to make them worth owning, most of the GC1's, 2's and 3's for sale are tired out commercially used up ex-pool hall tables from closed down pool rooms
Not all deals on GC's are worth the money, I've had to fix up MANY of the so called ''cheap priced'' GC's for another $1,500-$2,000 in order to make them worth owning, most of the GC1's, 2's and 3's for sale are tired out commercially used up ex-pool hall tables from closed down pool rooms
I have no doubt that is true but there are some of us out here that can't swing big money for a Diamond Pro my friend so we are deal shopping. Wouldn't be the first time a 'deal' bit me in the butt.
There are probably an unreal (to us) number of people who buy tables who are not pool players but for one reason or another want one for their home. Chances are the wife has a big say and it has to go with the furniture or decor. Playability and resale don't even enter into the equation. They google dealers in their area and buy the cheapest one that has the look they want.
They are more likely to ask what are the color choices of the cloth than care about if it's slate, what brand the cushions are, pocket size, what type/brand cloth will come with it, or or if the balls are Centennials.
Put it this way, chances are when they order the table they also need to buy cue sticks.
They are more likely to ask what are the color choices of the cloth than care about if it's slate, what brand the cushions are, pocket size, what type/brand cloth will come with it, or or if the balls are Centennials.
Put it this way, chances are when they order the table they also need to buy cue sticks.
A lot of people, I think, just buy whatever seems like a deal. I went to a "party" of sorts once and found out some of my relatives purchased a pool table for cheap. It was not for decor and it looked very out of place. So apparently it was supposed to be playable. It was a small table. But it was the worst I have ever played on. It was pretty sad... Crumbs and hair and all sorts of stuff just looked melted into the cloth. The balls felt like plastic. Their cues are worse than the house cues at the arcade. But nobody complained so I did not comment either. Now though... I know I'm not very experienced or anything but I do have some... preferences. Can't help but think maybe that was a good table. But a good table also requires good maintenance.
Believe it or not...they just thought it was "old". I didn't even know they had it. I had never been in their basement.
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Not all deals on GC's are worth the money, I've had to fix up MANY of the so called ''cheap priced'' GC's for another $1,500-$2,000 in order to make them worth owning, most of the GC1's, 2's and 3's for sale are tired out commercially used up ex-pool hall tables from closed down pool rooms
If I got a GC for a hundred and you fixed it up for $1500 I think I would have one hell of a table for one hell of a price. Especially with you doing the work.
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I will admit that I made this mistake. It was more that I didn't do an ounce of research into buying a used GC or anything of that nature. Sadly it was an impulse buy and I regret it very very much.
Anytime I see a post asking about purchasing a table where they are thinking of settling on something I tell them to wait and get one you want. After all the darn thing will last forever.
Anytime I see a post asking about purchasing a table where they are thinking of settling on something I tell them to wait and get one you want. After all the darn thing will last forever.
You speak wisdom here. I held out for what I think is a fair deal on my used diamond pro 9 footer. Paid $3,100 and it came with Aramith super pros, the dyamondwood rail upgrade and the embroidered cover. I moved it myself and had a professional set up for $450. Best $ I ever spent. Perhaps it wasn't a steal, but it was a significant discount to buying new, especially given that the table was and is still in mint condition. Love it.
Second best $ I ever spent was my 7' valley table from 1979 that I just happened accross on craigslist for $100. All done, I put new pedestal feet on it, new ridgeback rails, and new tourney blue simonis 860 on it. Plays better than most valleys at the bar and for a total set up cost of about $430 or so, I got my money's worth for sure.
The two tables in the basement make for some real fun pool shindigs. My next one will involve about 10 or so people and we'll play an 8 ball tournament (thinking race to 5 or so) on the small table and have a concurrent payball game on the big table. The payball is always a hoot. We pay out on the 1, 5 and 9 and the bet went from $1 per ball to $5 per ball when everyone was nice and lubricated enough. Not high rolling, to be sure, but it is enough to make it both friendly and interesting. I always throw some steaks on the grill and refreshments are always provided. Good times.
You can't judge other people by yourself. For most pool has little meaning and the table in the house can be little more then a decorator item.
For some people they are enough. When I was in high school, one of my friends got a pool table for his birthday. It was a "Sears special" with "felt" glued to the fiber-board bed and cheap plastic balls. It was the table that three or four people learned to play on. You made spot shots by aiming full at the ball on the spot and adjusting speed to get the needed roll-off.
It was new, it was cheap, and it folded up when necessary. I think the new crop of imports cost about the same (inflation adjusted) and come with something like a slate bed. Some people won't buy used if they can get new.
I just bought a table off of craigslist last month. I needed to have a 9' table, something I wasn't going to budge on.. Those are a rarity, at least in my area. So, originally I had planned to have a custom table built for about 4k.
When I found this table, it wasn't my ideal type. It's an Olhausen with accu-fast rails, I believe it's a Drake II model, a laminate. The table is not in top condition by any means. The color of the table was lighter than I really wanted, and laminate is not ideal, but I got the table for $600, had it moved and professionally setup for another $650. Also barely of note, it came with some throwaway balls, cheap cues, and a light (functional and in use).
So, for at least 1/3 of the cost of a new table, I got a nice playing table. I wonder about making some improvements to it, it could use new pockets (they aren't the worst, still hold balls), new cloth (upgrade to simonis, anyway), and the lower part of the laminate pieces are showing that they're laminate by just getting a bit of fluff to them. Not a horrible look, but not necessarily ideal.
Am I satisfied? Well, the cushions seem strong, the felt is playable, and I own a table for a fraction of what I thought I could. That's allowed me to own it sooner, maybe years sooner.. so overall I am satisfied with the purchase.
When I found this table, it wasn't my ideal type. It's an Olhausen with accu-fast rails, I believe it's a Drake II model, a laminate. The table is not in top condition by any means. The color of the table was lighter than I really wanted, and laminate is not ideal, but I got the table for $600, had it moved and professionally setup for another $650. Also barely of note, it came with some throwaway balls, cheap cues, and a light (functional and in use).
So, for at least 1/3 of the cost of a new table, I got a nice playing table. I wonder about making some improvements to it, it could use new pockets (they aren't the worst, still hold balls), new cloth (upgrade to simonis, anyway), and the lower part of the laminate pieces are showing that they're laminate by just getting a bit of fluff to them. Not a horrible look, but not necessarily ideal.
Am I satisfied? Well, the cushions seem strong, the felt is playable, and I own a table for a fraction of what I thought I could. That's allowed me to own it sooner, maybe years sooner.. so overall I am satisfied with the purchase.
They cost less than quality tables when buying both new. Places that sell pool tables have salesmen who want to sell tables and they push the product. Such people will never mention used quality tables. You have to be self motivated to buy a table on craigslist no matter the quality it will be a project as most people will have to do at a minimum the following find/travel/bargain/purchase/breakdown/move/clean or rework/assemble/cover/hang light.
I have a Gold Crown II I know what it takes to get a quality used table.
I have a Gold Crown II I know what it takes to get a quality used table.