Used vs. new pool tables

A new pool table is a clean, simple purchase if you want a specific model and you are paying for that. A used table, if it is slate and has been put right, is often the more practical way into a good playing table — provided you know what you are actually buying.

Alpha Billiards sells used pool tables from an appointment showroom at 955 Lively Blvd, Wood Dale, IL 60191. We also have a new table on the floor from time to time. This page is about how to think about the choice, and what the prices on our used tables include. We do not publish service rates here, and we do not invent comparable “new table retail” numbers we cannot stand behind.

What a used table should actually include

A used table off a classified ad is often “as is, you move it.” That leaves you to find someone to disassemble, move, and set it up, and to decide later whether the cloth and cushions are any good.

On the tables we list for sale, the price you see includes delivery, installation, playing accessories, and new felt, with tax. That is the offer on the used tables page, and it is why a showroom table is not a fair comparison with a basement bargain that still has to be moved.

When we say a table has been prepared, we mean you should be able to come look at it, understand the size and the brand, and have it delivered and set up to play. If something on a particular listing is different, it will be stated on that table's page.

New vs. used, in practical terms

A new table gives you a current finish, a warranty from the maker when one is offered, and the exact model you picked. You still need the room to be right, and you still need the table installed and leveled.

A used slate table from a known maker — Brunswick, Olhausen, Connelly, American Heritage, and others we have had on the floor — can play as well as a new one of the same size once the cloth is new and the setup is correct. You are buying the slate, the cabinet, and the way the table was built, not the old felt.

What you should be cautious about, anywhere: tables that are not slate, cabinets with structural damage, or a seller who wants you to move it yourself down a basement stair. We will not talk you into a table that is the wrong size for your room, which is why the room size guide exists.

7-foot, 8-foot, or 9-foot

Most homes in this area take a 7-foot or 8-foot table. A 9-foot table is the standard tournament size and needs a larger room. An oversized 8-foot sits in between. Measure the room before you fall for a particular table. The room-size page has the typical minimums for a standard cue.

If you want to see the real footprint, come look at a table of that size in the showroom. Photos flatten the scale.

Come see the table

The showroom is by appointment only. Call or text (708) 415-1403 to set a time. You can look at the current inventory first, including sold tables when those are shown, on the used tables page.

If you already own a table and you are weighing whether to keep it or change it, we can talk about repair, a refelt, or selling the one you have. We do not promise to buy every table, and we do not post buy prices.

Questions

Are your used tables already refelted?

New felt is included in the listed price on our used tables, along with delivery, installation, playing accessories, and tax. We will go over color when you buy the table.

Do you sell new tables too?

Sometimes. When a new table is on the floor, it is listed with the rest of the inventory. The same appointment and delivery conversation applies.

Can I pick a used table and have it delivered to a suburb?

Yes, within the area we serve. Delivery and installation are included in the listed table price. If the path into the house is unusual — tight stairs, a long carry — tell us when you call so we can plan the install.

How do I know a used table is slate?

Ask, and look. Slate is a stone bed, usually in three pieces on 8-foot and 9-foot tables. If you are shopping with us, we will tell you what the table is. If you are looking at a private listing, be careful with phrases like “slate-like” or “wood bed.”

Do you negotiate prices on tables?

Call and ask about the table you want. The listed price already includes delivery, installation, accessories, new felt, and tax. We do not put service menus or extra shop rates on this page.

See the current tables

Browse used pool tables for sale, then call or text (708) 415-1403 to visit the Wood Dale showroom. If you are still measuring the room, start with the room size guide.