It's tempting to treat yourself to a second-hand table football found at a flea market! We tell ourselves that with a few tools, accessories from table football and a little elbow grease (and why not a few friends), a dusty old table football will definitely regain its former glory. But be careful! There are certain essential points to check before buying a second-hand table football. Learn this checklist by heart so you don't end up with a table football that's cheap, but incurable! 
The body
It's no secret, the body of the table football is a key element. Examine it from every angle, take the time to look out for the slightest irregularity, the slightest crack in the wood that would indicate imminent breakage. If major restoration work on the table football furniture is to be considered, and you are not a cabinetmaker, it is better to move on and look for other good deals. On the other hand, small imperfections and a few minor scratches can be easily corrected with sandpaper and touch-up corrector. Add a little varnish and your used foosball table will look 10 years younger for a very reasonable price.
Player Bars
Beware of bent foosball bars! Inspect them carefully one by one. Keep in mind that to change a table football bar (with players molded onto the bar) you will have to pay between €50 and €100 depending on the model. If all the bars need to be changed, your cheap table football will quickly reach the price of a new table football... For table football with screwed players, the advantage is that you can change only the bar and keep the players. If the latter have aged a little, a fine brush and a little paint will help you bring them back to life.
The legs
Beware of broken, twisted, and wobbly legs! If the table football tilts, playability will be greatly affected... A spirit level can be useful when you're hunting for a good used table football. Once again, vigilance is essential. The legs of a table football can be easily changed (preferably 2 people to carry out the operation). The problem would rather be of a financial nature.
The coin mechanism
Nothing beats the authenticity of a coin-operated foosball table! But does the mechanism work? There's only one way to find out! Don't expect to pay less than €50 to install a new €1 coin mechanism. That said, if you want a coin-operated table just for the decorative side, you'll just need to polish it a little.
The playing surface
Ouch! The beautiful Gerflex mat from the second-hand Bonzini table football you just found seems to have had its day. Don't panic, changing a table football pitch is a simple and affordable operation. And what better way to customize your table football? Blue, green, white, black, there are many colors and nothing is stopping you from adding your personal touch.
The Handrails
Damaged handrails seriously detract from the appeal of a used foosball table. And yet, it's so easy to replace them! This minor detail shouldn't stop you from finding a cheap foosball table. For a small fee, you can give your old foosball table a gleaming new look!
Football table handles are probably the easiest and least expensive accessory to replace. Keep in mind, however, that there are eight handles on a table football table, and the cost can be a bit higher if they all need replacing. Rotate them, moving them back and forth to make sure they're holding up. There's nothing more annoying than a table football handle that gets stuck in your hands during the game...
Bolts and screws
Armed with patience, the right places, and these few tips, you're sure to find the perfect used foosball table, one you'll enjoy bringing back to life!
