The primary time I purchased a used bowling ball on-line, it was a rush job and I sadly paid the value for it.

My native professional store charged $110 for certainly one of my favourite balls, however on eBay the identical ball was going for lower than half that worth!

Possibly you already know, however whenever you purchase a used bowling ball from somebody on eBay or Fb, they’ll let you know all about how nice the ball was for his or her league and what sort of strikes they received with it and whatnot…

Sadly, they received’t let you know that now, it has a smashed pin!

Or, oh I do not know…that the ball was used for dishonest!

Good luck making an attempt to barter a full and even partial refund. Not gonna occur. Sorry.

My level is, there are hidden risks in relation to shopping for bowling balls on eBay or Fb…

And when you’re going to purchase used bowling balls from sellers in both of these marketplaces, purchase good.

How will you purchase good?

Proper now I’d prefer to share 3 frequent errors to keep away from when shopping for bowling balls from eBay or Fb.

The primary mistake is just not shopping for a brand new ball whenever you’re able to shopping for a brand new ball.

Should you’re not shopping for a brand new ball, there are a lot of different issues that would come up.

Possibly it is a broken ball. Possibly the bowling alley the place the ball was used could not sustain with its upkeep and now that ball has turn out to be too scratched up to make use of anymore.

So purchase new when you possibly can.

This is a trick when you can’t and a used ball is your solely choice:

Ask the vendor when you can see extra footage of the ball…however this time with in the present day’s date and your eBay username (or actual identify if the supply is from a Fb Group or Fb Market) written on a chunk of paper subsequent to the vendor’s ball.

The date and your eBay username subsequent to the vendor’s ball ensures that the vendor at the very least has the ball…

However simply because a dishonest vendor has the ball…

It doesn’t imply they nonetheless can’t take your cash after which ship you a field of moon rocks, as a result of they’ll!

So this trick received’t assure that you just get your bowling ball, nevertheless it at the very least proves that the vendor possesses the ball, which is the 1st step when shopping for something, proper?

Bear in mind, particularly on eBay, the burden of proof is on the individual claiming to have an actual product, so look ahead to them to show they have precisely what they’re telling you they have.

If there is not any approach to confirm whether or not the ball’s situation is what the vendor claims, then do not buy!

Not studying (or asking) what kind of lane circumstances the ball was utilized in

That is one other mistake to keep away from whenever you’re shopping for a used ball: ignoring the lane circumstances the ball was utilized in.

“Are there marks on the ball?”

“Do you see any different indicators of wear and tear?”

“Did the ball get used on event circumstances or did it solely get used on home circumstances?”

“How was the ball saved over the winter and when not in use throughout lockdown?”

These are all good inquiries to ask. Why?

Effectively, generally footage simply aren’t sufficient – the best way mild can replicate off of a bowling ball won’t reveal marks on the ball.

And so when footage aren’t sufficient, you must ask the vendor to explain the ball’s situation in phrases.

Should you’re not glad with what they let you know, go spend your hard-earned cash some place else!

Not asking in regards to the finger holes

This third one is one other mistake individuals make when shopping for a used bowling ball: they do not ask in regards to the finger holes.

query to ask is:

“How deep are the finger holes?” Relying on the depth of the finger holes, the ball is likely to be unlawful based on official USBC guidelines. Plus, the impact that deep finger have on ball dynamics can utterly throw your recreation off.

One other query you possibly can ask is how nicely the finger holes have been drilled. Sounds foolish at first as a result of a machine drill can do superb issues, however fact is, no machine is ideal…

A drill wears out over time and will go away you with finger holes that are not completely spherical. It would not take a lot to make finger holes which can be barely off and break your recreation.

So before you purchase somebody’s used ball, be certain that the vendor reveals you clear footage of all of the finger holes.

Shopping for used balls on eBay or Fb will be difficult…

On the finish of the day, whenever you’re shopping for a brand new or used bowling ball off of eBay or Fb, just remember to ask loads of questions.

You may even ask how the ball was used and the way it was saved (that is equally vital for brand new, undrilled balls, too); this manner you keep away from getting caught with an costly however unusable merchandise.

While you purchase from a person reseller from eBay or Fb Market, I like to recommend asking if the vendor can ship you an image displaying in the present day’s date and your identify on a chunk of paper subsequent to their ball; this manner you understand whether or not or not the product is actual earlier than you ship them any cash.

This text ought to assist hold you out of hassle when purchasing round for brand new gear!

Here’s a hyperlink of the Newest Bowling Balls!