If you want to introduce your family to the exciting and fun world of ping pong, there is nothing wrong if you decide to purchase a used table tennis table. Your priority is to look for good quality, pre-owned equipment, preferably, a professional type if your funds can support it.
The best places to look for it are your local sports stores, table tennis clubs and ping pong associations. There you can ask for anyone selling their table or for any leads. Another way is to let your circle of family and friends know that you are in the market for it. Word of mouth news will circulate around and who knows, there may be a neighbor who plans to move out and dispose of their old ping pong table to buy a new one. The other sources are newspaper classified ads, the yellow pages and online manufacturer's websites such as Amazon.com, eBay.com, Craigslist and Nextag. You just search for used table tennis tables under this category and you will be having many options.
In buying a used one, it is important that you are in a position to know if the price of the ping pong table being offered is reasonable in the condition that it is in. Usually, the deal is on an "As Is, Where Is" basis. First of all, you do not know the wear and tear background of the item. You just have to believe or rely on the information given to you when you inspect and ask some questions. In online auctions, this may not be possible. It is only the price and the photo or video that you have to base your interest in making a counter-offer.
A sample used table being sold online is a Butterfly T2625SU Centrefold 25 Sky Rollaway Table Tennis Table (Tournament Used) for $ 2000-35% discount or 00 free shipping.
Another sample online ad: "Stiga Elite Roller Ping Pong table for sale. New, these tables sell for around 0. A used one in good shape, which this one is, sells for 0-0. We're asking 0 for ours. I've attached a picture of the table in the flat play position. It also folds up for practicing alone. If you're interested in purchasing, you will need to come to our house with a truck."
How can you know if the price being offered is fair? To that question, if would be easy if you are aware of the year model and brand. If you get info from the manufacturer the brand new price of such model, it would be easy to calculate the depreciation percentage. Typically, a seller who bought his ping pong table two years ago for ,000 will ran an ad and sells it for $ 500. If you make a counter offer for let's say $ 300 and it is accepted, you can conclude that you have a good deal. For the discount of $ 200, you can budget it for enhancement or improvement of the table.
In cases where it is possible for you to inspect the item, it would be better if you can bring along someone who has the technical expertise to examine and assess the table. Part of the evaluation process is to the test the table by playing with your friend. You can do some ball bounce checks. Find out if the ping pong ball bounces according to the international standard. Try a variety of spin shots.
Check the smoothness of the surface quality and watch out for any warping or damage. Inspect the levelers if any and the condition of the wheels and the brake mechanism. See how it folds and check for other features such as playback. Have some tool and measuring tape handy to check the measurements and level. Feel also how stable and secure it is. This is the advantage of a visual inspection. If the price is negotiable, then you can go ahead and negotiate if you discern that the table can still be useful for many years. Be fair with your vendor. Don't haggle too much if the price and table's condition are okay.
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