i dont really know exactly what you have available to you but let me give you some tips that ive come up with in my bong shopping days.
- make sure the base is made of thick glass and looks very sturdy, you dont want it to crack when your jackass friend gets too stoned and loses fine motor control.
- buy something with a simple shape, theyre usually cheaper, more stable(no tipping over), and easier to clear/ clean out.
- a bigger piece is going to cause you to use more bud, alot more than a pipe or one hitter or w/e. id select something in the 1-3 foot range. know a 3 footer is going to go through bowls in a hurry.
- dont be afraid to haggle a little bit if you find some mild defect with a piece. odds are the shop would rather sell the item for a few bucks less than not make a sale at all. dont be an asshole when you haggle, thats not going to help.
- make sure if the piece has a huge chamber that the downstem is large as well. its cool to have a giant hit but it sucks if you cant get enough airflow through the downstem to clear it before the smoke gets stale.
i think thats about it. those pointers were learned by meself over the years, ya theyre all basic but id have saved alot of money if i had known what i know now when i was younger
good luck and post up some pics of w/e you choose to get!
also, im kinda anti RooR, theyre fine pieces but i feel you pay alot more just for the name. try n find a roor look a like but make sure to check for all the things i mentioned above. you'll save money and still have a quality piece. good luck