pawn shops

[greyling22]

I always hear about people getting good deals on stuff in pawn shops, but every time I duck in one it all seems overpriced and they won't come down much, if at all. am I asking wrong, are their prices really that high, or am I just looking in the wrong shops? (I'm looking for a 30/30)

 

[Kindrox]

Must be the wrong kind of pawnshops. The few I have been into (all large chain pawns) charged megabucks for everything. Warn out beat to heck tools for as much as new at home depot.

From what I read, the good deals are at the mom and pop pawns.

 

[Deanimator]

My only experience with pawn shops was in the Fort Knox area in the '80s. They were all crooks. You could stand there and watch them lie to the suckers who came in. Every gun was "rare" or "valuable"... unless you were SELLING.

 

[Shadowangel]

Same here. I've been through all my local pawn shops.. In almost all cases, they want brand new prices for used guns, or more. I've yet to find anything i'd remotely call a deal.

 

[El Tejon]

Learn the Art of Patience. Wait for the gun to come down as it ages on the shelf.

Pay in cash and flash it beforehand. Refold your money before you ask to see a gun.

Be friendly, but take the attitude that you can always walk away.

You have the advantage, use it.

 

[Dravur]

There are some...

I have been to some pawn shops in Denver where they want to sell stuff as fast as possible and you can get good deals from these guys. They just want turn over and are willing to haggle....

Then you have the Pawn Shop in Longmont.... All I can say is don't bend over and leave your wallet at home. Anyone who has actually bought anything from these guys walked out with their pants around their ankles and a dazed look.

These are the guys who think every gun they have was Hitler/Pattons/<insertfamouscelebhere> personal gun. Their prices on a used gun missing parts is often MORE than MSRP.

I walk in there occasionally and have never purchased a thing....... and just walk out shaking my head.

 

[Werewolf]

Though I occassionally stop in various pawn shops to look I've only purchased one gun from one. A Saiga rifle in 7.62X39. Paid $259 for it. Found out about a week later I could have gotten it for $239 everyday price at a real gun store just a mile away.

Since then I've become very familiar with the going rate for guns I'm interested in here in OKC. I've never found a deal in a pawn shop based on price. But I have found a lot of junk and once I found a pawn shop proudly displaying Hi-Point 9mm's for $289. I pointed out to the guy one could buy a 9mm Hi-Point at the gunshows that come to OKC for $89 sometimes and that I've never seen them priced at a gun show for more than $119. He couldn't have cared less if I'd paid him to.

 

[ROMAK IV]

I have had very good lick with pawn shops. What the pawn shop will have is a fraction of what they take in. Some pawn shops will never have anything decent because they don't take it in. Let's say for instance, you want a M oison Nagant Rifle. What will happen is that they will loan too much on the first rifle and not be able to get rid of it. It's a mindset. So instead of loaning less on MN rifles, they will neve een take any in ever again. Too bad, they could probably sell as many as they wanted at say $50. Anyway, from my experience, the bigger pawn shops are more likely to have something decent for less than small ones, simply out of volume. The exception might be smaller pawn shops that are isoated and don't have much competition. Anyway, the more common firearms are likely to be closer to market price and in some instances, higher than market price. Thus, I found and bought a Para-Ordinance P-14-45 for $400, and that was with an extra high capacity magazine at the latter part of the AWB. I also found a Swiss 1896/11 for $150, a GEW 98 for $129, a RC K-98 for $129, and a Chinese SKS Sporter for $200. I also missed out on a nice Type 99 Arisaka with the bayonet, and the AA sights, and it may have had the monopod as well for a little over $200. It was gone when I came back. I also passed on a Russian SKS for $200. So it does pay a bit to look at pawn shops.

 

[Nathanael_Greene]

greyling22, it's been my experience that you gotta look around, and be patient. I must've cruised the shops around me a zillion times before I found anything good--but the deals I've found have been worth it.

(By the way, where do you live? I might be able to help you with your 30-30 quest if you're in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.)

 

[hemiram]

You have to get lucky, and time it right. Don't be afraid to make an offer, the worst they will say is no.

I got my second, and almost new looking Dan Wesson Model 15, 4"VH at a pawnshop. I hadn't been in for a while, and when I saw it, I didn't ask about it much, there was a 1911 that I pretended to be interested in, instead. I looked at the 1911, and kind of shrugged my shoulders, and then I asked the guy behind the counter, "What's that?". He made a face like it smelled and said, "That's a Dan Wesson .357!". I said, "Dan Wesson?" He nodded and I asked to see it. I pretended not to know about the interchangable barrels, and asked how much he wanted for it. He said, "Well, it's been here a while, and I was looking for $125 for it, it has the box and the tool and stuff with it, too".

I looked at it for a while, and at an old rough looking Beretta 1934 that he said shot ok, it just looked bad. He had a bunch of old WWII and Korean war vintage binoculars, and I found a pair I liked, and put it on the counter. I think he wanted $25 for them. They were in nice shape, and were a lot better than the crappy pair I had won recently at a casino.

After about a half hour, I said, "Will you take 125 for the Dan Wesson, along with the binocs, out the door?". He sat there for a while, and said, "Ok!" I ended up giving him an extra $2 I found in my pocket, for $127. I was thrilled as hell, and took the DW home, checked it out, and shot a couple hundred rounds through it the next morning. It was the last one of the four I eventually had that I sold to buy PC stuff in the early 90's, and was still in 99% condition. I regretted selling it as soon as I gave the gun to the guy.

Later on, I got my Beretta 84 at the same place. I don't remember the price I paid for it, since I bought a bunch of stuff at the same time, including a really nice German pocket knife I can't find anymore.

You had to do a lot of looking and leaving before you could get a deal worth doing. One of the local pawnshops in Vegas was insanely high, and I never was able to do any dickering at all with the owner or his son. He had some real nice S&W revolvers pass through there between 77 and 82. Several 29's he wanted as much as a new one went for anywhere else.

 

[woof]

The pawn shop in my area that gets the most guns in will only sell to an FFL. I have a much better chance at getting a deal on something that has lingered awhile in a gun shop that at a pawn shop.

 

[Lovesbeer99]

I bought a Winchester 94 in 30/30 a few months ago from a pawn shop for 230.00, actually on the internet. When I got it, it had 15 or so years of dust on it, but when I cleaned it off it looked brand new. I can't imagine that the previous owner ever put more than 5 rounds though it. I love this gun.


Lovesbeer99

 

[jaholder1971]

Most pawn shops are legalized fencing operations. Practically every one in Topeka also own a large number of Section 8 or worse housing and will accept property in lieu of rent.

What kills me is every one has a large quantity of 12 and 20 guage single shot scatterguns for sale at 150 percent of what a new one at Wallyworld costs. Don't mention that to them as they get angry and tell you to go there and buy it then.

 

[pinstripe]

pawns

I also check pawn shops in the next counties from where I live. I am always on the lookout for a mil surp that may be there. I have noticed that most of the pawn shops that are around here are the same way as you described. They ask as much for a worn out rifle as you would expect to pay for a new one. I went into one pawn shop just last week and they had and sks there for sale. I noticed the tag dangling from the trigger guard. It was $395. COME ON NOW!
The blueing was none existent, the stock was trashed, and it had different numbers on every removable part. He said if I really wanted it he could come down to $175. I offered $50, because it was nothing more than a parts gun.

 

[chipperi]

The pawn shop in my area that gets the most guns in will only sell to an FFL.

Curious why is that? To take guns in they need a FFL so they are legit to sell to the public. Either that or a buddy owns a gun shop and that is how they get their inventory cheap.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Most pawn shops are legalized fencing operations. Practically every one in Topeka also own a large number of Section 8 or worse housing and will accept property in lieu of rent.

What kills me is every one has a large quantity of 12 and 20 guage single shot scatterguns for sale at 150 percent of what a new one at Wallyworld costs. Don't mention that to them as they get angry and tell you to go there and buy it then.

Sounds like you are sour because you didn't get the deal you wanted. Why would a law abiding citizen attempt to do business with a business he believes is acting in an unethical or potentially illegal manner? Why would you attempt to buy a gun that you feel might have been fenced?

 

[camslam]

I bought one of my guns from a pawn shop at a gun show. Every other time I have looked for something, the prices are a rip off.

I try to explain to them that they are way out of the market for what they are charging, but the usual response is, "somebody will pay me for it."

Sad but true. Look elsewhere, you'll find better selection and prices.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

I bought one of my guns from a pawn shop at a gun show. Every other time I have looked for something, the prices are a rip off.

I try to explain to them that they are way out of the market for what they are charging, but the usual response is, "somebody will pay me for it."

Sad but true. Look elsewhere, you'll find better selection and prices.

If somebody will pay them for the product at the price they ask, then by definition, they are NOT out of the market for what they are charging. Why should they cut the price on an item they will sell at the higher price? If a product commands a higher price sometime later, then it might be pretty silly to sell it for a lower price now. The question is then one of determining when the broker wants to get the $. Sometimes a quick buck now is better than a slow buck-fifty later, sometimes not.

Of course, there is a trend that nearly everyone who comes through the front door of a pawn shop knows more about every piece of merchandise than the pawnbroker, knows the broker's business better than s/he does, can find the same product elsewhere more much less, etc.

I found it amusing when folks would come in our store and proclaim how they could get the same items elsewhere for less and then get mad when we would not give them the lesser price of the supposed competitor. We were apparently terrible people for making lazy customers purchase items elsewhere for less money. We were also terrible for enjoying having the same customers come back to our store and buy a product they claimed was too high priced.

 

[welldoya]

Next time you are in a pawn shop, take a look around at the customers. I think that will answer your questions. The owner is planning on the uninformed and uneducated customers to pay above MSRP on his junk. I've been in quite a few pawn shops over the years and once bought a nice Remington 1100 mag for $180 and a Poulan chainsaw for $70. Other than that, it's been a joke.

 

[LubeckTech]

I used to spned some spare time at a "Jim's Soprt Supply" in Coshocton, Ohio - a gunshop ran by a cantankerous fellow who really didn't care if he sold stuff or not but ran a succesful business none the less. The business was a "hobby" for him (owned by his wife) as he was getting disability because of kidney replacement which was possible in the early 1980s so his prices were not low but on par with the current market. One day a guy came in to buy some dog food and complained vigorously that it was cheaper elsewere. Jim cudely told the fellow he should buy it elseware and the customer stormed out. About 20 minutes later he returned to buy the dog food as the other vendor was out. Jim informed him that at this time it was not for sale! It was his dog's favorite food and since it was in short supply and his price was too high anyway he decided to keep it. Jim kept a electronic laugh box (he wore several of them out) on his counter so when someone made him an offer he could push the button sparing him the effort of laughing at them himself. One day someone wanted to buy a .458 Remmington bolt action rifle that was in his rack but he decided not to sell it because it was an elephant gun and since he took it on trade not one elephant had tried to come into his shop! Jim did give good deals if he liked you. He passed away in the mid 1990s.

 

[the naked prophet]

I was under the impression that you could only get a good deal at a pawn shop if you knew what you were looking at, and they didn't. As in, they think the gun is worth $ but you happen to know it's worth $$$.

Found a couple deals like that, but it wasn't something I wanted. Mostly it's worn and dinged Glocks for $600, rusted lever action rifles for $500, and things like that. A local shop has a decent condition semiauto Uzi pistol for $1500 and a Century metric/english franken-Cetme for $600.

I check in from time to time, but I've been doing that for 7 years now and haven't bought anything yet. Is that patience?

 

[hemiram]

I would say so. I haven't seen anything I really wanted lately at the one good pawnshop we have left around here. The last thing I remember was a Winchester 1894 .357 carbine in really nice shape, but I couldn't get him down to anything close to what a used one in nice shape should cost. He eventually sold it to some bozo, since it was gone a few months later. As of lately, the only handguns that I was even slightly interested in were in bad shape, rusted, abused, and/or beyond well used, and overpriced.

He has stuff that's been sitting in the store for literally a decade, and he refuses to drop the price. I really don't understand the whole "Sit on it forever, and maybe make $50 more". Logic.

 

[U.S.SFC_RET]

There are deals to be had at pawn shops. Bide your time and visit them often. Find out where they are and know how to check out the guns they have for sale. If it a semi auto make sure that you always check out the chamber because it's the chamber that is the most neglected area in cleaning. The rifling will get cleaned but the chamber will get overlooked, look for rust and or pits. Ask for a "will this rifle function if I shoot it garantee" for a couple of days. If that pawn shop will not do it vote with your feet. I found a beautiful Mossberg chuckster 22 Mag with a scope for 190.00 out the door. 22 single shots galore adorn pawn shops. Always ask with this magic phrase "can you do any better on the price?" It is not offensive.
I found a Schmidt Rubin Swiss 1911 for 110.00 out the door and when I got home I stripped it down and found out that the owner rebarreled it in '66, SWEET!!!

 

[Thernlund]

http://xavierthoughts.blogspot.com/2006/05/pawn-shopping-secrets.html


-T.

 

[littlegator]

I have had very good lick with pawn shops.

Apparently we go to different pawn shops...

My only experience with a pawn shop is when my bike was stolen 16 years ago and the thief sold it to one. Since the pawn shop is considered the "good faith purchaser" and the bike wasn't on the "list" (despite having been reported stolen to the police by me) I couldn't get it back without paying the shop. :banghead: