We have written about this before, but figured it might be useful for a refresher course in case people get hung up on how to replace the backboard on their Lifetime basketball system. You should always verify compatibilty of the backboard you are interested in before ordering the product.

Match manufacturer with manufacturer

First things first. If you are ordering a Lifetime basketball backboard as a replacement backboard for your system, your system absolutely has to be a Lifetime basketball system. Every manufacturer has their own designs and measurements. If your system is not made by Lifetime Products, it will not work. If you have a Lifetime basketball system, please see the next step.

Pole size and shape

Next, the mounting brackets – the four arms that attach the backboard to the main pole of the system – can change depending on the size and shape of the pole of your existing system. The shape we need for a replacement Lifetime backboard to fit is round; the size is 3.5-inches in diameter. If measuring the diameter of your pole is difficult, you can also obtain the diameter by measuring the circumference. The circumference for a 3.5-inch diameter pole is 10.99 inches. If the size and shape of your pole match up, please continue to the last step below.

Where it the “Y”?

Lifetime has different mounts for different systems with the same size pole. The way you can determine if your mounting bracket is correct is to look on the back of your existing backboard (assuming it is still attached to your basketball system) and look for a bracket that looks like a capital letter “Y”. It is very obvious if you have it, so you should not have to look hard. If you do have that Y-bracket, then you are set. Any of the replacement Lifetime basketball backboards on our website will be compatible with your basketball system. You can change the size of the backboard if you want. You can change the quality of the backboard and rim as well. Note that when purchasing a replacement basketball backboard, the Y-bracket is not included in the purchase; you will use your same bracketing system on your current basketball goal to attach the new backboard.

The rarest of rare exceptions:

Everything in life just cannot be simple, and so it is with replacing a backboard. Even if all of the above steps check out, the age of the system might make your Y-bracket outdated. No need to worry though; it just adds one more step. In this case, if you receive your backboard and the bracket holes/size does not match up to your new backboard, simply contact Lifetime Products directly at 1-800-225-3865. Their customer service line can actually get you a replacement left and right Y-bracket so you have up-to-date parts. As the heading shows, this need is the rarest of rare exceptions, probably effecting 1 percent of Lifetime basketball backbaord customers we deal with.

Yesterday, I was walking through the store when I stumbled across a well-known brand name at a discount store. As I looked at the product, a folding table, I immediately recognized the design as being very familiar. The product was a 5 and 6-foot fold-in-half table. The product label was not what I expected because I knew the design was definitely from Lifetime Products, but this label showed a completely different brand entirely. Sure enough, upon closer invenstigation I found the Lifetime logo inprinted on the table. How could this be? The table was clearly of inferior quality of any Lifetime table I had ever dealt with – the table top was thinner, the leg frame was smaller, and the product was truly weaker in every regard. I unfolded the table and set it up in the aisle for further investigation. Everything seemed to be right in the design, just a poor quality.

Do Not Be Fooled By Low-End Quality Lifetime Tables

Just because you see the Lifetime logo on the table, does not necessarily mean that you are getting the quality of table Competitive Edge Products sells. Frequently, when compromising on quality – as in the case of these low-end folding tables I saw at the store – you weaken the table top and frame. This weakening means a lower weight capacity and a shorter life of use. Call or email us if you have any questions.

Now through February 29, take $5 off per table when ordering two or more of the single packs of Lifetime commercial grade folding tables. The putty 6-foot professional Lifetime table is the original color of the commercial grade table line from Lifetime Products. On top of that Lifetime now offers the same table and features with an almond Lifetime professional folding table. The coupon codes are as follows:

For the 80126, when ordering 2 or more of the single packs, enter coupon code: cheap80126.

For the 280249, when ordering 2 or more of the single packs, enter coupon code: cheap280249.

What are the differences between the professional grade Lifetime table, and the original Lifetime folding table?

The professional grade tables from Lifetime Products come with a stronger frame, which provides greater weight capacity than the traditional models. To drive home the strength and quality of this new design, Lifetime Products also offers a Limited Lifetime Warranty, as opposed to the 10 year limited warranty on the original Lifetime folding tables.

Kayaking is a fun recreational activity by itself, but now Lifetime has made it more fun. Now get a battery and motor mount to turn your kayak into a trolling machine. The mount comes with a battery case and a place to attach a motor. Lifetime also has a 12 volt motor that can be purchased separately, but the mount can also accept other makes of 12 volt motor.

Fishing while kayaking

The battery mount is best used on Lifetime’s 8 and 10 foot kayaks. By using this mount and motor you can get to your favorite fishing destination on the lake quicker and enjoy more fishing time.

Looking for a great gift for your children this Christmas? Do your kids love basketball? Take a look at an arcade basketball game this year. Arcade electronic basketball games provide a fun, active product for your family. Several different models are available; however, we will just focus on one: the 90056 Double Shot Basketball Game from Lifetime Products.

90056 Double Shot Electronic Basketball Game

The point of arcade basketball games is to bring a fun, competitive basketball game inside a home or building. Each system has different design features, such as a single basket or a double basket. The 90056 from Lifetime is a double basketball design. Here is a look at the beauty here:

From the picture, you will see a couple of different features. First, the pole structure, made of steel, is very thick and broad. In comparison to some of the other electronic basketball games we carry, the space where the players stand to shoot the basketball on the opposite end of the system to the backboard is much wider than other models. This additional space gives players more room to shoot. The system comes with 7 basketballs, whereas some of our other models only come with 5 or 6. After much playing experience, 7 basketballs appears to be the magical number that allows both players to shoot the basketball consistently, without having to always fight over basketballs – not that this will not happen with the 90056, just not as frequently. One last thing this basketball game design features is a frame that can change in height by 8 inches by adding or removing a piece of the back from work where the backboard mounts. This piece is easily removed and reapplied when needed.

Order your Arcade basketball games for home here.

The following coupon codes are still available through December 9, 2011 for your Christmas shopping or just to save money.

• cheap71523
• cheap1558
• cheap2971
• cheap2970
• cheap98856
• cheap98862
• cheap98874
• cheap90157
• cheap90056

Each of these coupon codes takes off a certain dollar amount from each product. Use the numbers of the coupon code for the applicable product SKU on theCompetitive Edge website. Details of the coupon code are available on the the product listing.

Not all Lifetime basketball backboards are the same, and not all mounting braackets on Lifetime basketball systems are the same either. Below, I have compiled a list of frequently asked questions concerning replacing and purchasing a backboard for a Lifetime basketball hoop.

1. Will this Backboard work with my system?

This question is most frequently asked when replacing a broken backboard. First step to knowing if a certain Lifetime backboard will work on your system is to know if your current system is made by Lifetime Products. If it is, then we are on the right track. Lifetime basketball backboards will not work when used on any other basketball system made by a different manufacturer. Next, what is the size and shape of your main pole on your system? For this question we are wanting to see 3.5-inch round. This size and shape of pole insures that the width of the mounting bracket is compatible with the width of the mounting uprights on your replacement Lifetime basketball backboard. Lastly, can you see a “y-shaped” bracket that attaches to the back of your current backboard. This bracket is what will be used to attach to your new backboard; thus, if you do not have a y-shaped bracket on your current basketball hoop, the bracket will not be able to attach to the new backboard your order.

2. What size of backboard do I need?

While it is always safe to maintain the same sizes when replacing a backboard, it is actually not neccessary with dealing with Lifetime basketball backboards. For instance, if you successfully answered the questions asked in FAQ 1 above, then your current pole and bracket system can accept any backboard sized 44 inches wide to 54 inches wide. All of these backboard sizes have the same bracketing design.

3. Which kind of basketball backboard is best?

This question deals with the different materials and design featuers used on Lifetime backboards. Backboard materials range from plastic framed in plastic to acrylic framed in plastic to polycarbonate framed in steel. Whenever budget permits, always get a Lifetime backboard framed in steel. The steel frame makes the backboard much more rigid and will thus produce a better rebound when the ball bounces off. A plastic framed backboard absorbs a lot of the impact of the ball and will thus weaken the bounce. Steel frames are the way to go

Where to go from here:

You can check out our entire line of available Lifetime replacement basketball backboards here and start finding the right one for you. If you need some assistance determining which backboard will be best for you, or if you have any compatibility questions, you can reach us at 1-866-308-5484.

Today only, take advantage of a 5% sale on nearly all products. This sale takes 5% off the lowest marked price on most products. In conjuction with this sale and the Christmas holiday, we have created several new coupon codes for use on our site now through December 9, 2011. Please note that these coupon codes will no longer work and the offers no longer valid literally at the stroke of midnight, December 10, 2011 CDT. So, make your purchases now before time runs out.

Current coupon codes for Competitive Edge Products

cheap90157 – save $20 off this Lifetime kayak
cheap98856 – save $30 off this Mammoth Basketball Hoop
cheap1558 – save $15 off this Lifetime Portable Basketball #Hoop
cheap2970 – save $48 off this 12 pack of Lifetime Round Folding Tables
cheap2971 – save $48 off this 12 pack of Lifetime #Round Folding Tables
cheap98862 – save $40 off this Mammoth Basketball Hoop
cheap98874 – save $50 off this Mammoth Basketball Hoop

Every year people have a shopping list of things both large and small they want for a specific date in November and December. Every year, people wait until its too late and are left wanting on their particular date. No one wants that, least of all the company you are ordering from, so here is a list of things to consider to make sure you get your order delivered on time.

1. Country of Origin.

When researching products and what you need for your event, consider where the product is being made. If the product is made in the United States, chances are you should have no problem get the product when you need it as manufacturers in the United States typically make products on repeated schedules daily, weekly, and monthly. If the product out of stock today, chances are it will be back in stock in a few business days. If your product you are researching is imported, however, out of stock really means out of stock. Between the time a manufacturer requisitions a new stock of an imported product and actually receiving that product at their warehouse can take upwards of 6 weeks or longer!!! That means if you wanted your backordered, imported product delivered in time for Christmas this year, the manufacturer would have to have a requisition in for the product by November 11 at the latest. If you do not know where the product is made, contact the company you are ordering from and they can tell you. Do not wait until closer to Christmas only to find out your product went of out stock and will not be available until mid January.

Size and weight of package.

When packages are small, typically a small parcel service – like FedEx or UPS- can deliver the package really quickly. If your product is large – i.e. in a box longer than 55 inches or heavier than 150 lbs. or both – small parcel services are no longer an option and you will have to use an ltl freight carrier. Ltl freight carriers do not make as frequent of stops as a FedEx or UPS would. They also typically take a business day longer for delivery. So, when your product you need fits the large criteria, add at least 4 business days to the expected transit time to make sure you get your order in time.

Shipping times and costs.

If your event is tomorrow and you have not ordered your product yet, chances are you waited too long. Shipping takes time. FedEx typically shoots for 5 business days anywhere in the continental United States; you can expect about the same from UPS. Freight carriers can also get deliveries done relatively quickly. If you need your order sooner than this time period, be prepared to pay and pay a lot. For instance, shipping a 50-lb. product from Tennessee to California might cost a retailer around $40 to do and would take around the typical 5 business days in transit. Now, speed that up to a 3-day service, and that cost jumps to around $75. 2-day? Try $135. Next-day by 7 p.m.? We are now at about $180. Next-day priority (typically means before 8 a.m.)? How does around $265 sound? Now this was just an example, and a lot of things not considered in this example go into the actual cost of shipping, but hopefully the point is clear. Save yourself $225 and order your product early enough. If you are not sure what early enough is, contact the company you intend to order from now and see what their expected ship times are.

Hopefully this list will help you avoid the pitfalls of holiday shopping. Happy holidays.

Well, it was fun while it lasted. Lifetime just informed us that the 90013 has been discontinued and is no longer in stock. This means, the closest product available in this price range to the 90013 is the 54-inch glass backboard in-ground basketball system. These two systems have many differences beyond the size of the backboard you should be aware of. For instance, the 90013 was not a traditional in-ground basketball goal; it used an achor kit to mount to the ground. The 90014, on the other hand, cements the pole into the ground instead of an anchor kit. To get a basketball system with an anchor kit will require a jump to the Mammoth basketball line.

As always, the discontinuance of model 90013 does not affect the warranty for those who already purchased one. Lifetime can still assist with product issues for these customers.