Pawn shops

Serious Business 25 replies 868 views
FatHobbit's avatar
FatHobbit
Posts: 8,651
Feb 23, 2017 12:42am
Anyone ever go to pawn shops? I drove from Florida to Ohio this week and for some reason I thought it would be a good idea to check some out. It all seemed like a bunch of over priced crap to me. They had a couple of firearms and jewelry but I'm pretty sure that stuff didn't cost that much when it was new. How do they stay in business?

The only thing I saw that was remotely interesting was some lady throwing a fit because they sold her shit and she thought she had more time to pay.
salto's avatar
salto
Posts: 2,611
Feb 23, 2017 1:53am
FatHobbit;1838439 wrote:Anyone ever go to pawn shops? I drove from Florida to Ohio this week and for some reason I thought it would be a good idea to check some out. It all seemed like a bunch of over priced crap to me. They had a couple of firearms and jewelry but I'm pretty sure that stuff didn't cost that much when it was new. How do they stay in business?

The only thing I saw that was remotely interesting was some lady throwing a fit because they sold her shit and she thought she had more time to pay.

Pawn shops stay in business from loans and selling crap when customers don't pay in time, like the lady throwing a fit. All pawn shops are a bit shady, the business is dealing with stolen items or people down on their luck.

That said, the only things I've ever bought at a pawn shop was a billiards cue and a car amp.
justincredible's avatar
justincredible
Posts: 32,056
Feb 23, 2017 8:18am
I have been to a few but I've never bought anything before. I was never impressed so I tend to stay away from them now.
Spock's avatar
Spock
Posts: 2,853
Feb 23, 2017 11:19am
pawn shops are for poor people
justincredible's avatar
justincredible
Posts: 32,056
Feb 23, 2017 11:23am
I only went looking for my front porch furniture.
Commander of Awesome's avatar
Commander of Awesome
Posts: 23,151
Feb 23, 2017 12:05pm
I love the show Pawn Stars though.
bases_loaded's avatar
bases_loaded
Posts: 6,912
Feb 23, 2017 2:44pm
Commander of Awesome;1838473 wrote:I love the show Pawn Stars though.
It's great for the historical stuff...and people that have never heard of Ebay.
Q
QuakerOats
Posts: 8,740
Feb 23, 2017 2:47pm
Spock;1838466 wrote:pawn shops are for poor people


Sincerely,

Sleeper
FatHobbit's avatar
FatHobbit
Posts: 8,651
Feb 23, 2017 4:49pm
salto;1838441 wrote:Pawn shops stay in business from loans and selling crap when customers don't pay in time, like the lady throwing a fit. All pawn shops are a bit shady, the business is dealing with stolen items or people down on their luck.

That said, the only things I've ever bought at a pawn shop was a billiards cue and a car amp.
I get that they buy stuff from people down on their luck, but who buys their over priced shit? Someone has to, or they would go out of business, right?
S
superman
Posts: 3,582
Feb 23, 2017 7:00pm
I saw a 1968 OSU National Championship ring in a pawn shop once.
Cool sorry bro.

The local shop will get overstocked on video games from time to time. I will go in and check out the sales then.
Z
Zunardo
Posts: 370
Feb 23, 2017 10:53pm
Went to one pawnshop five or six years ago to see if they had any drumsets - they had one with a name brand on the bass drum, but it looked sketchy. When I leaned over to try to look at the label on one of the toms - I had grab the bass drum spur for balance - the owner yells me at me to get away from it. Just before I complied, I saw the toms were a different off-brand.

I looked at the crabby guy and told him he didn't have anything worth putting my hands on. Folks certainly don't shop there for the customer service.
salto's avatar
salto
Posts: 2,611
Feb 24, 2017 3:38am
FatHobbit;1838530 wrote:I get that they buy stuff from people down on their luck, but who buys their over priced shit? Someone has to, or they would go out of business, right?
The only thing usually of value at pawn shops around here is tools or electronic stuff. Pawn Stars (the show) has a good selection of quality antiques and collectibles. Pawn Stars also is a tourist attraction for Vegas. Usually theirs a line halfway around the block just to get in the door.
salto's avatar
salto
Posts: 2,611
Feb 24, 2017 3:43am
FatHobbit;1838530 wrote:I get that they buy stuff from people down on their luck, but who buys their over priced shit? Someone has to, or they would go out of business, right?
The only thing usually of value at pawn shops around here is tools or electronic stuff. Pawn Stars (the show) has a good selection of quality antiques and collectibles. Pawn Stars also is a tourist attraction for Vegas. Usually there's a line halfway around the block just to get in the door.
mcburg93's avatar
mcburg93
Posts: 3,167
Feb 24, 2017 11:52am
I have bought a few things from pawn shops. All being my own tools after they were stolen. Its bullshit that my tools were stolen, sold to a pawn shop, and then I had to buy them back at the price the pawn shop paid the thief for them. I wish I would have got a lawyer and discussed my options once all my stuff were found at one pawn shop. Just took what the Sheriff said as gospel so not sure what the actual laws are about that situation.
Q
queencitybuckeye
Posts: 7,117
Feb 24, 2017 1:19pm
mcburg93;1838597 wrote:I have bought a few things from pawn shops. All being my own tools after they were stolen. Its bullshit that my tools were stolen, sold to a pawn shop, and then I had to buy them back at the price the pawn shop paid the thief for them. I wish I would have got a lawyer and discussed my options once all my stuff were found at one pawn shop. Just took what the Sheriff said as gospel so not sure what the actual laws are about that situation.
The actual laws are something you can prove was stolen from you is your property. The key is in the evidence. Did you make a report when they were taken?
mcburg93's avatar
mcburg93
Posts: 3,167
Feb 24, 2017 2:39pm
queencitybuckeye;1838624 wrote:The actual laws are something you can prove was stolen from you is your property. The key is in the evidence. Did you make a report when they were taken?

Made a report, had serial numbers recorded on the tools that had them, pictures of all the tools, and my name and number engraved on every tool. The pawn shop had every one but a hammer drill. Never did recover that.
Q
queencitybuckeye
Posts: 7,117
Feb 24, 2017 2:43pm
mcburg93;1838640 wrote:Made a report, had serial numbers recorded on the tools that had them, pictures of all the tools, and my name and number engraved on every tool. The pawn shop had every one but a hammer drill. Never did recover that.
What was the response of the Sheriff when you told him you found your belongings?
mcburg93's avatar
mcburg93
Posts: 3,167
Feb 24, 2017 2:53pm
queencitybuckeye;1838641 wrote:What was the response of the Sheriff when you told him you found your belongings?
The sheriff found them. Told me he recorded all the info of the person that pawned them and where it was found. Said they have put info out about the suspect. They caught up to him a few days later. And That I could recover my belongings by paying what the pawn shop paid for each item.
justincredible's avatar
justincredible
Posts: 32,056
Feb 24, 2017 2:57pm
That sounds like a racket that the sheriff was involved in.
F
friendfromlowry
Posts: 6,239
Feb 24, 2017 3:01pm
Pawn Stars sucks
mcburg93's avatar
mcburg93
Posts: 3,167
Feb 24, 2017 3:03pm
justincredible;1838644 wrote:That sounds like a racket that the sheriff was involved in.

It could have been. The victims advocate wasnt sure and was suppose to check in on it. But that went on for a few months. I had to buy back a dewalt four pack, a bag of hand tools, right angle drill, saw zaw, drain snake, and a few other things. I think to get everything back it cost me 575. The tools would have cost me way over 2500 to replace. the snake alone was 1000. So just shows what they pay for shit at the pawn shop.
Q
queencitybuckeye
Posts: 7,117
Feb 24, 2017 3:25pm
Either what Justin said or the Sheriff is too lazy to be bothered to do his job. The "it's a civil matter" is an excuse used by law enforcement personnel not to have to work. The law is clear, your stuff is your stuff and should have been returned to you.
justincredible's avatar
justincredible
Posts: 32,056
Feb 24, 2017 3:35pm
Right. Shouldn't it have been on the scumbag that stole and sold the stuff, that they caught, to compensate the pawn shop?
mcburg93's avatar
mcburg93
Posts: 3,167
Feb 24, 2017 3:36pm
queencitybuckeye;1838648 wrote:Either what Justin said or the Sheriff is too lazy to be bothered to do his job. The "it's a civil matter" is an excuse used by law enforcement personnel not to have to work. The law is clear, your stuff is your stuff and should have been returned to you.


That is what I figured. I wish now I would have talked with a lawyer. Guess it was a lesson learned. Still makes me sick to think about it.
G
gut
Posts: 15,058
Feb 24, 2017 6:56pm
salto;1838569 wrote: Pawn Stars (the show) has a good selection of quality antiques and collectibles. Pawn Stars also is a tourist attraction for Vegas. Usually there's a line halfway around the block just to get in the door.
I always wondered how long they were that way, or if they "dressed it up" for the show. That shop is not in a good area. It may be better now, but certainly not one you'd walk around in at night by yourself. I've read a lot of stuff their "consultants" come in to appraise is actually stuff those "consultants" are selling in their own shops. Just like they have a serious gun collector who comes in frequently to buy & sell - you'd have to assume a serious collector knows where to go for better deals on both ends.