Second hand Lawn Bowls Buyers Guide
How do you buy good second hand lawn bowls? Read our guide to get the best bowls for a fraction of the RRP of new. Buying a new set of woods is always an exciting experience, however for most bowlers buying them brand new from a dedicated bowls shop isn’t possible. In this guide we will be looking at the most popular sites, as well as what you should look for in your next purchase, what to expect from the process, and how to get the best deal.
What you need to know
Before you get going it’s probably best to consider what you’ll want and what you need. We suggest asking the following questions:
What size woods do I need? – let’s get the obvious one out the way first. Make sure you know your size! Check out our Blog on how to determine the correct size for you. What weight wood do I need? If you need yours to be “Heavys” then check the listing or with the seller to check. What is my maximum budget, knowing what you can realistically afford is a good starting point when filtering down many options.
What to expect when buying pre-loved woods
Buying woods online is a safe, and simple process, once you have your list of answers. Most posts on the sites listed below should have enough information within them to check off your list, however if something is missing there is always a way to contact the seller.
Woods can be HEAVY and this can make postage quite expensive. You will find rates can vary a lot, so do be sure to include the P & P in your costs.
If you have a particular colour or pattern in mind, then you could find you are searching for some time, as there’s no guarantee that what you want is available. Sometimes this requires a bit of compromising.
Finally, go out and have fun looking around! Deep down we all love a bit of window shopping and it can be fun to talk to the sellers to find out what their experiences have been.
eBay.co.uk
eBay is the biggest second hand marketplace in the world, with hundreds of bowls listings available at any one point.
A great plus for eBay is you can easily contact sellers about the items they are selling, this is great if you need to know something specific, or if you just want to know more about what you’re buying. Many listings will have great photos of the items too which gives you a great idea of the condition of the woods.
There are also a fantastic array of filters available so you can get down to exactly what you need. Price, size, brand are all easily selectable which will make finding what you need super easy.
As the items are sold by individuals the price of P & P can vary, however eBay will clearly show the postage price if it is not included.
Bowlsworld.co.uk
Bowlsworld is a popular online shop for bowls equipment, and they also have a Secondhand & Nearly New Bowls section.
Secondhandbowls.co.uk
A list of all the woods available are shown in a table with an outline of brand, condition, size and price. Pictures aren’t included yet, but these can be arranged over the phone.
Colemans Hatch Bowling Club
Whilst there are many options for buying online, there is always the opportunity to buy some used bowls from CHBC or from other members. This gives you the opportunity to “try before you buy”, see how they feel in your grip, and how they fit in your hand.