Us vs. Them

On the fence about buying a pool table from DK Billiards? Let’s go over a few Pros and Cons about buying from the Pool Table Experts.

Pros

1. Price. Our prices are lower than most other “big name” stores around. And our prices include local ground floor delivery and more than just a “starter” accessory kit.
2. Quality of Installation. We take the extra time to do it right the first time. Whether you are a beginner or a pro, we’ll make sure your pool table is set-up properly.
3. Your table is built to order. By the owner.
4. We have a showroom, with assembled pool tables and regular operating hours. No need to make an appointment to visit. And, we offer after-hours/off day appointments, too.
5. We specialize in pool tables only. No spas, no beer pong, no gym equipment. We stick to what we know best.
6. We offer the same manufacturer’s lifetime warrantee as the “big names”.
7. We may be small, but we are licensed and insured and have been since 1993.
8. Your table is set-up by Owner/Installer.
9. Fischer and Presidential Pool tables are built with the same construction qualities as Brunswick. Metal to metal construction, floating nut plates, high quality slate, cushions, etc. giving you and your family more bang for your buck.
10. Spend less and get more. We made a name for ourselves as a service company and run our store with the same mentality.
11. No pressure. Come in and browse our selection of pool tables. Meet our family. We pride ourselves on finding the right table for your budget and decor.

Cons

1. Name recognition. Not everyone is as familiar with the brands we carry. The companies we have chosen to represent spend less for advertising.
2. Our selection is more limited than some of our competitors. We stock only the moderately priced, popular styles and stains.
3. You might experience longer wait times. We only have one setup crew and schedule things accordingly. It is very difficult for us to accommodate a same day or next day delivery. We require enough time to build your table properly and also service/deliver tables for other customers. An in-stock table is usually delivered within 7-10 days.

So there you have it. We aren’t going to beat around the bush. We are straightforward, family owned and operated (meaning two toddlers are in the showroom most of the time). The pros of buying from DK Billiards far outweigh the cons. Stop in, you’ll see why we are different. Different is good and less is more.

Dead Cushions? Already?

You have a beautiful pool table, but something is just not right. You can’t put your finger on it, but it just doesn’t play like it did when you bought it. It seems like the cushions are just not bouncing right. But how can that be? The table is only 5 or 6 years old. Cushion rubber is supposed to last like 20 years, right? What is going on!?

Here’s the scoop:
Recently, we have seen many pool tables less than 10 years old with bad cushion rubber. Some less than 5 years old. Some were inexpensive to buy, but most weren’t. There are a few major pool table manufacturers that used a batch of rubber cushions that was inferior. It can affect only one or two cushions or all six. There doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason. But the truth is, if one rail has gone bad, the others are likely to follow suit shortly after. We’ve seen a few different brands of pool tables that have rubber issues, but at the top of the list are American Heritage Pool Tables and Artisan Pool Tables. We’ve even seen it on a few Beach Manufacturing and Goldenwest Pool Tables. These are all nice, well built tables that just had poor quality rubber on the rails.

The rubber is K-66 profile and most often pink in color. You probably don’t know what color the rubber is, since your cloth covers it. But, it is pink rather than amber or tan. Don’t take off your cloth to see the color! You can test your cushions by thowing a ball firmly against a cushion on the short side. It should make 3-4 cushion contacts before coming to rest. The telltale sign of a dead cushion is a “thud” noise on contact. Cushions should be quiet and lively.

Good pool table cushion rubber generally lasts 20-25 years, although some last longer. We can swap out your bad rubber for good rubber and get your table playing like new.