Used vs. New 

The idea of used bowling shoes might be too repulsive to even consider. But a used bowling ball?  Or gear bag?  You can save a lot of money if you are willing to consider buying your equipment second hand.  

Keep your eye out for “new to you” bowling gear.  Perhaps there’s a store like Play It Again Sports, which buys almost-new sports equipment and then re-sells it, in your local area. Rummage sales, garage sales and advertisements in the paper are other ways to get bowling equipment at a discount.  

However, there might be some equipment you want to purchase new (like new shoes), and there are plenty of ways to find great deals.   

Online Shopping

Online shopping doesn’t just mean Ebay anymore. A convenient local alternative to Ebay is Craigslist.org. This website is basically a free, gigantic rummage sale.  Click on your city or town, and browse the advertisements. You can post a wanted ad free for bowling equipment or you can search for the specific equipment you need.  

Otherwise, if you want to buy new equipment at a steal, try Overstock.com, which has an excellent selection of new bowling shoes.  Or glance through Amazon.com – particularly Amazon’s used listings – or the gold standard for deals online, Ebay.  Ebay.com not only has auctions and Buy It Now listings, but they’ve recently introduced Want It Now, a feature where you can post about the equipment you would like to buy.  

Of course, you can still shop at your favorite sports stores online, but be prepared to pay full price unless they’re running a sale. Waiting for the sales can often be very rewarding, and you may find yourself paying a lot less in bowling’s off season if you just are willing to wait for it.