Having a pool table in your rec room may sound like a great idea…until you start looking at the price tags. A brand new pool table can easily cost you $3000 to $4000. One option is to purchase a cheap used pool table. There are several websites where you can find incredible bargains. 

One is UsedPoolTable.com. This site lists pool tables available by state. There are some genuinely good deals to be had here. For instance, one listing in Florida offers a Brunswick Black Pool Table for only $400 as long as the buyer is able to come pick it up. The site does have a couple of problems. Some people posts ads for things besides pool tables, and some of the pool tables advertised are new and expensive. Each state has only a few listings each. Still, you can get lucky on this site, so it’s worth a look.

Another website worth checking out is Craigslist.  Again, availability varies greatly from one location to another, but there are some genuine bargains to be found here. A quick search of the Kansas City area, for instance, turned up a $4000 pool table selling for $1800 and a 25-year old oak pool table on sale for $750.

If you like the thrill of an auction, try the granddaddy of all online auction sites, eBay. A word of caution: Though the price may start out enticingly low, the final cost depends on how many people bid for the item you want to buy. Don’t get carried away in a bidding war and spend more than you can afford.