Table Tennis | Sports & Leisure Classifieds

If you are looking to buy table tennis equipment then it may seem like there aren't too many options to choose from, so it should be easy to buy the equipment you need right? Well, maybe not; there are all kinds of options here from the equipment on offer to the places where you can buy it. Let's take a look what you need to know.

Types of table tennis equipment
Table tennis equipment tends to basically boil down to two areas: tables and accessories. Table tennis tables come in all shapes and sizes from fun-sized small tables for the kids through to tournament sized full-sized tables. Some tables will only be designed for indoor use whilst others will be suitable for use outside (although check how they are designed to withstand really bad weather!).

Portability of your table may be an option here so give this some thought. You may for example, need a table that folds down easily and that folds into a small compact shape to make it easier to store. Obviously this isn't so much of an issue if you will be leaving the table up all of the time.

You will also need table tennis bats and balls when you buy a table tennis table. Other options in accessory ranges include nets, posts, covers, cleaning sprays and solutions and scoring boards and towers.

Where to buy new table tennis equipment
You can find new table tennis equipment in most major high street sports stores and in some department stores. Bear in mind that some stores may not have the room to stock full-sized tables so they may need to be ordered for you and delivered directly.

You may find that you have more choice of new table tennis equipment if you can buy online. And, shopping this way could well get you a discount. If you really feel that you need to see the table tennis equipment that you want to buy before you buy it, then you can always check it out in a shop first and then buy via the Internet.

Do remember (especially if you are buying a table tennis table) that your delivery costs may be quite high as these tables can be heavy and/or bulky. Do make sure to factor delivery costs into the equation when you work out if you are making savings here as there is no point buying table tennis equipment online to save money if the delivery costs eat up all the savings that you could have made!

Where to buy second hand table tennis equipment
It is possible to pick up second hand table tennis equipment without using the Internet You could, for example, hear of somebody who wants to sell their table tennis stuff or you could see an advert in your local paper.

A lot of the time, however, you'll find that you get more choice if you look for table tennis equipment second hand online. You could pick up a bargain on an Internet auction site such as eBay or you could hook yourself up with someone who is looking to sell via online classified ads. If you manage to find what you are looking for then the chances are that you will be able to save yourself a fair amount of money when compared to the cost of buying table tennis equipment new.

Things to think about before you buy table tennis equipment second hand online
Do bear in mind that you won't actually be able to see the table tennis equipment that you plan to buy online. If you buy it offline then this won't be a problem as you can usually check it out for yourself before you decide to buy it.

If buying online then make sure to ask the seller plenty of questions about the table tennis equipment to make sure that you know as much about it as possible before you hand over your hard-earned cash. So, for example, ask them why they are selling it. A father selling his kids' table tennis table because they never use it is a good reason, but if they've broken off a leg, have written all over the table in indelible ink and have turned the net into a macram� project, is not!

Most online sellers will take digital photos of the second hand table tennis equipment that they are selling which will also be of use here. So, if they do not automatically have photos then ask if they can take some. Ask them specific questions about the quality of the table tennis equipment that they are selling to assess if there is any damage that you need to know about.

Finally, think about delivery and delivery charges. It may save you some money if you can travel to pick up the table tennis equipment yourself (and then you can also check it out). If this isn't possible and the seller will have to use a delivery service then make sure that you know the charges up front; once again, a bargain is only a bargain if it saves you money and not if it comes with extortionate postal costs!