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| SHIPPING AND TAX CHARGES |
| Q. |
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How are your shipping charges calculated? |
| A. |
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Charges for shipping are calculated as follows:
$0 to $20.00 = 15%
$20.01 to $50.00 = 12%
$50.01 to $100.00 = 10%
$100.01 to $200.00 = 8%
$200.01 and up = 4% |
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| Q. |
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Do you charge sales tax? |
| A. |
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We collect "transaction privilege tax" (sales tax) from Arizona residents only. The rate is 8%. This includes state and city taxes. |
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| Q. |
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Why do you use PayPal for payment? |
| A. |
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1. We feel that PayPal is the safest and most secure way to transfer money over the internet.
2. PayPal accepts all major credit cards and you don't have to be a member to use it. |
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| Q. |
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Will you accept any other forms of payment? |
| A. |
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1. You can contact us with a credit card number if you wish, at: order@phoenixbilliards.com, or 602-843-0804.
2. You can send check or money order to:
PHOENIX BILLIARDS
6133 W PORT AU PRINCE LN
GLENDALE, AZ 85306.
Use the above schedule to calculate shipping and sales tax (close is good enough). |
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| GENERAL |
| Q. |
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What are your qualifications in the billiard field? |
| A. |
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Thirty years in the business. I've built, crawled under, disassembled, moved, re-covered, repaired, and played on more tables, new and antique, than most people know exist. |
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| Q. |
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Why should I buy any of your books? |
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Honestly, because any one of these books will more than pay for itself. If you want to do your own pool table maintenance, Pool Table Maintenance and Repair will save you hundreds of dollars - it's becoming the billiard mechanic's source book. If you are going to buy or sell a table and don't know much about them, Buying or Selling a Pool Table will educate you before you blow that thousand or more on some junk table. And, if your goal is to play pool to win, Playing Winning Pool is the place to start. Don't give your lunch money to someone you can beat. |
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| ROOMS |
| Q. |
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What is the ideal room size for a pool table? |
| A. |
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The room size depends on the size of the table. I recommend five feet of clearance around the periphery of the table. |
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(Page 103, Pool Table Maintenance and Repair)
(Page 15, Buying or Selling a Pool Table) |
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| Q. |
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How high should a light be hung above a pool table? |
| A. |
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Generally, the light's rim is hung about three feet above the playing surface, but the overriding factor is the brightness of the light. You want the entire playing surface illuminated without flooding the surrounding area. |
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(Page 106, Pool Table Maintenance and Repair)
(Page 133, Buying or Selling a Pool Table) |
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| TABLES |
| Q. |
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Should I attempt to assemble my own pool table? |
| A. |
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If you are so inclined, yes. It isn't as difficult as some would have you believe. And, my newest book, Pool Table Assembly will guide you to a professional job. |
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(Read, Pool Table Maintenance and Repair
or, Pool Table Assembly) |
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| Q. |
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What is the best pool table made? |
| A. |
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A lot of people, including me, like the older Brunswick classics like the Gold Crown or Anniversary. However, there are many excellent tables made today, the only caveat is that you have to pay for it. Remember, a cheap table is cheap for a reason. |
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(Read, Buying or Selling a Pool Table) |
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| Q. |
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Can I move my pool table without dismantling it? |
| A. |
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Almost all tables should be disassembled before they are moved, even for carpet replacement, but crating isn't always necessary. |
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(Page 85, Pool Table Maintenance and Repair) |
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| Q. |
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Which is better a one-piece slate table or a three-piece slate table? |
| A. |
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A regulation three-piece table is the better of the two because the slate will be oversize and will extend beneath the rails giving them a solid attachment. |
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(Page 39, Pool Table Maintenance and Repair)
(Page 69, Buying or Selling a Pool Table) |
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| Q. |
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Is a ball return table better than one with pockets? |
| A. |
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No. It's simply a matter of preference. I actually find ball returns more of a nuisance than help, and some games, like One Pocket, are difficult to play on a ball return table. |
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(Pages 38, Pool Table Maintenance and Repair)
(Page 119, Buying or Selling a Pool Table) |
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| Q. |
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Should a slate be crated before moving? |
| A. |
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Not necessarily. Most moving companies require that you crate them before they will move them, but if you're doing the job yourself, it isn't required. |
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(Page 48, Pool Table Maintenance and Repair) |
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| Q. |
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Are spots required, and if so do you need one at both ends of a pool table? |
| A. |
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No spots aren't required, but some means of locating the foot spot (where the balls are racked) is a requirement, and this is usually done with a spot; however, it can be located where the long string crosses the foot string. The head spot does not need to be indicated. |
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(Page 39, Pool Table Maintenance and Repair)
(Page 65, Buying or Selling a Pool Table) |
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| Q. |
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What is the significance of slate? |
| A. |
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Slat is inexpensive, plentiful, has sufficient weight, and stays relatively flat. |
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(Pages 23 and 231, Pool Table Maintenance and Repair)
(Page 119, Buying or Selling a Pool Table) |
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| PLAYING |
| Q. |
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What is the difference between a safety and a safe shot? |
| A. |
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A safety is a defensive shot in which you sacrifice an opportunity to score in an attempt to leave your opponent hooked; it's part of the game and must be declared. A safe shot is any legally missed shot that you use purposely to hook your opponent, and, although legal, it is considered dirty pool in some circles. |
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(Read, Playing Winning Pool) |
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| Q. |
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How can you advocate playing dirty pool? Do you cheat? |
| A. |
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No. Never. There's no reason to cheat because most players don't know how to win. Playing to win means being prepared and using whatever resources are available to you, short of cheating, even though your opponent won't like it. To do this, you must know the current rules inside out so you'll know how to use them to your advantage. |
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(Read, Playing Winning Pool) |
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| BUYING OR SELLING |
| Q. |
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Why should I buy a four thousand dollar table when I can get one over the Internet for twelve hundred? |
| A. |
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Are you nuts? No, seriously, some Chinese tables are okay and great looking, and even some big name manufacturers sell them. But most are inferior because they are made of cheap woods, wavy slates, non-hardened bolts and screws, etc., and most dealers won't set them up or guarantee them to be level even if they do set them up. You're kind of on your own, but Pool Table Maintenance and Repair or Pool Table Assembly shows you how to assemble these tables if you're so inclined. |
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(Read, Buying or Selling a Pool Table) |
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| Q. |
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What is the most important thing to look for when buying a pool table? |
| A. |
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This depends on why you're buying the table. If you're going to play on it then quality is the most important consideration. But, believe it or not, a lot of people don't buy a table to play on. They want it to fill a room, or they want to keep up with their friends or neighbors, they don't know how to play and never will. In this case, buy something that looks good and don't worry about durability, playability, or resale value. |
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(Read, Buying or Selling a Pool Table) |
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| Q. |
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How can I determine the value of my used pool table? |
| A. |
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A rule of thumb I use is to halve the present cost of the table to get the low value. If a new table similar to yours cost $5000, its low used value would be around $2500, no matter what you paid for it, new or used. Of course it could be worth more depending on its condition, and the only way it would be worth less is if there are some serious defects - broken slate, scratches in the wood, etc. And, of course, an antique table is something entirely different; they're worth what a buyer is willing to pay. |
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(Read, Buying or Selling a Pool Table) |
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