WHAT is it with PAWN SHOPS!!!!

Thanks oswulf for your perspective. I was on the other side of the counter today, selling a couple of my "safe queen" guns *to* a local pawnshop (Mini 14 and a Buckmark).

I've got no complaints; I asked for a high price up front, he offered a low price as a counter, and we agreed to a middle price and I got my cash on the spot. I'd rather do that and get an immediate sale (with his receipt) than try to place an ad in the paper and try to get that last $50 out of a gun selling to someone I don't know. His shop is well established and in favor with local law enforcement; nothing "low-rent" about it.

I've been in the shop several times buying ammo and small stuff so he kinda knew me by face and I'll go back again in the future. No problems today and I don't begrudge him the markup he'll get when he sells the guns I sold him today. It's a business and we both had our eyes open.

Regards,
K

I do a lot of buying at Pawn Shops. I make a stop once a week at the same three shops just to see what is on the gun shelf. I feel like I get some pretty decent deals. I occasionally go into a few more, but they don't tend to deal the way I do. Two of the ones I stop in regularly have firearms priced to sell, and they do a brisk business. They have a "gun guy" and they make money coming and going. The third tends to have old stuff, but they don't have a "gun guy". It's a bit tougher there, but the selection is worth it.

The thing about Pawn Shops is you cannot go in looking for a particular gun. When you see a particular gun you like though, you must know what it is worth to you. It does not matter what the pawnbroker gave for it. That's his business. If you buy a gun below value and sell it for market value, that is your business. If I see a gun I like but the price is off, I offer what it is worth to me. If the price on the tag is fair, I pay it. Likewise, I don't waste his time dickering if I'm not serious about buying. I pay in cash, but I don't pull it out and wave it around like the pawnbroker is a pauper who will make any deal for a buck.

I treat the pawnbrokers as friends and businessmen. As a result, I get treated like a valued customer. When I state my price, they know I will buy at that price. If they like it, we deal. If they don't, we remain friends and I will be back the next week. I've yet to meet a pawnbroker who will lower a price for someone who treated them rudely.

There you go, XavierBreath has the right idea. All anybody wants is to be treated with respect, a businessman doesn't want to be ridiculed if someone thinks his prices are too high, and a customer doesn't want to be disrespected because the business owner thinks he's a tightwad. Both can think what they like about the other but it would be nice if each could keep it to themselves and treat each other with respect. Now of course if the other guy comes off as a rude ??????? then by all means fire a broadside. One of the hardest things for me is to refrain from laughing out loud when a customer says they want some outrageous amount for their stuff, it works both ways you see.

Oswulf

My experience is that you have bad pawn shops (thieves, lairs, etc..) and good pawn shops (businessman/women trying to make a living).

I highly enjoy "pawn shop window shopping". True, I don't always come out with something but sometimes you find that one thing that you've always wanted (but didn't know at the time that you wanted it ) and it's at a good deal.

The best thing to do if you are looking at guns (and jewely) is to do some research into guns, conditions, what is popular, what is up and coming, etc.. Even though I don't like the caliber, one of the pawn shops in town always has a surplus on them and sells at really cheap prices (oh, 30-30's). Now when they get the .357 or .45 lever action rifles in then they make up with those (as in the prices).

Sometimes you can find some sweet deals, sometimes you don't. Pawn shops get most of their money (sales money) from impulse buyers which is one of the reasons that by military bases there is one on every corner.

Of course, the last time I went pawn shop hoppin', I went to one that had just opened (this was about 3 months ago) and they had marked in the case:

Brand New, Jenning's .22 cal. pistols. Best quality pistols ever made, company out of business so these are rare, only $399.00!!!

I couldn't keep my mouth shut on this one and had to say something. He also had an HK .45 for $1650 (the general USP) and a SA GI for $1000. He is out of business now.

Now, don't get me wrong. If I see someone young that want's such and such and is willing to pay that price then I let them. They soon learn about their mistake and chalk it up to experience, it's not my business to try to save everyone in this world from making mistakes like this.

Most of the people that use pawn shops for loans have done it to themselves (bad financial planning) so I wouldn't feel sorry for them either. The ones that have hit on hard times due to something that they couldn't control do have other options and I would inform them of these options. If they still wanted to go through a pawn shop then I would do the loan.

All in all, I like pawn shops, they are fun to watch people in and to get a good or to make life seem better .

Wayne