How do you feel about pawn shops?

Having grown up in the pawn business, working in 4 shops in 3 counties of North Texas from the 1970s to the 1990s, I find some of the gross opinions to be a bit amusing in that they either show some interesting prejudice (potentially stereotypical historical) or they reflect some downright ignorance (lack of knowledge) about the profession.

I don't feel right taking advantage of someone else's misery/stupidity/misfortune....

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So I guess you have never purchased anything from anyone or any business that sold an item at a lower price because they were in need of money. You have never taken more money for an item or a job than you were due. You would never buy items from an estate or closeout auction.

Pawn shops don't just deal in items procured as a result of the criteria you suggest. People dump unwanted items there, make trades for items, etc. Some items are brand new.

The only time I would step foot in a pawn shop is when I'm looking for a tool that was recently stolen.(I have recovered stolen tools more then once.) I think they are nothing more then legal fences.

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Then so are banks and many lending institutions. Laws vary from state to state, but in all the states in which I am familiar, pawn shops are heavily regulated. If you have found stolen merchandise that belonged to you in a pawn shop, then either you didn't give the police enough information to recover said item when they checked pawn tickets or they didn't do their job. Pawn shops operating within the law will have an extremely low amount of merchandise that ever comes through that is stolen. Why? Because of the information required to make loans or purchases. Just about any place else is better for selling stolen goods than a pawn shop and likely more profitable.

It seems that here in the Denver area, pawn shops are nothing more than fencing operations for the thieving junkies to sell their stolen goods at. That's my main gripe about them.

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Great example. Last I recall, a government issue picture ID is required for pawning or selling items in pawn shops in Colorado. This makes pawn shops a very bad place to fence goods as it makes it very easy to track down the person who pawned the items.

Pawn Shops are like people. They're either good, bad or somewhere in between.

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BINGO!

And very nicely said weisse52.
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I buy quite a few at pawn shops. You have to be better informed than the guy at the shop or you'll get stuck, but I've gotten some nice guns.

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And being better informed is your first step to not making a bad purchase, ANYWHERE, but the tactic is especially applicable to buying used items, be they from your buddies, gun shops, pawn shops, gun shows, or anywhere.

I have spent a lot of time in pawn shops and not just the ones I worked in over the years. As noted they are made up of all kinds of people with all kinds of ideas on how they should run their businesses. Some pawnbrokers are really pretty poor business people...sort of like a lot of gun shop proprietors we have discussed on this board. That wasn't how I was taught to conduct business, but many pawn shops and gun stops manage to stay in business in spite of very poor customer relations.

JMOFartO:

Hey folks, a pawn shop is just a pawn shop... Just like any business you will find good ones, bad ones, and some in the middle.

I don't think a pawn shop is a bad thing, in that apparently it serves a purpose for those folks who simply have no other way to get money in a crunch. I'm not saying pawn shops are all run by straight arrows just looking to provide a service, but neither are all pawn shops run by folks trying to take advantage of the down and out.

In the past few years I have made a friend of a fellow who owns a local pawn shop. I had bought several firearms through him as my ffl transfer dealer, and he's just trying to make a living like the rest of us.

Hey, you want to point a finger at crooks, how about the car "title" loan places?

I enjoy perusing pawn shops that sell firearms, new or used, and most of the pawn shops here in Ga. do that. Here's a photo of a nickle model 49 J-frame Smith that I bought in a pawn shop in SE Ga. several years ago for (I think) around $250.00. The pawn shop owner told me that the story behind this Bodyguard was that a retired gentleman, with an obvious fondness for firewater, came in late each month like clockwork and pawned several firearms. This J-frame had been pawned in this manner several times. For whatever reason when that persons "check" came at the first of the month he redeemed all BUT this old revolver.. After the "hold time" elapsed it was put in the glass case, and I happened by shortly thereafter.


My opinion is that for whatever reason things get pawned... The person doing the pawning gets a value for whatever it is that he/she is pawning, the pawn shop person is hoping for a profit by charging interest on that item he's taking in pawn, and both parties are doing the deal with eyes open and no one is forcing a deal on the other.

IF that person does not redeem the pawned item then obviously the pawn shop person will put it out for sale, and here ya go.

Just personal opinion/no offense intended to contrary opinions.

Jesse

You really have to go into a pawn shop with an open mind. If you do that, it will curb the frustration. Most are horribly overpriced and most won't deal on the price, but every once in a while you'll find one that's on the level.

Another thing is, if you're looking for something particular, set a price limit with yourself before you enter the store and stick to it once your in there.

The pawn shop that I use for firearm transfers also has a selection of firearms, some of which were from an estate sale (darned cash-flow would not allow the acquisition of some of the very nice S&W revolvers).

They run the gamut. Visit National Pawn in Arlington, VA or Jim's Pawn in Fayettenam, NC for top of the line with a good array of used and new guns.

Here in the Nashville, TN, area, they suck. Limited selection of firearms, high prices, surly staff etc. I guess the shops are a reflection of the community they reside in.

Pawn shops that sell guns have an incredible overhead of regulations to comply with. They must be FFLs and comply with volumes of state and local laws. I would worry more about catching something contagious from the staff than buying a stolen gun.

Know what you are buying before you buy it. Research price and condition before you make an offer. Most shops will negotiate a bit. If the place is ridiculous, just leave, don't waste your time.

It was at a pawn shop that I found my NIB saiga 12 for 438 when they were selling for $700+. I felt really good about that pawn shop.

Generaly speaking I dislike pawn shops.

I passed on a really nice 1903 yesterday at the local pawn shop here, they want $799 OTD and wouldn't budge.

I have purchased many guns from pawn shops. Main thing as has been stated, know the value of the guns your considering buying.

Many thanks to xavierbreath's and his blog on pawnshops. There are nice guns to be found at reasonable prices if you do your homework.

Well, my favorite gun shop is a pawn shop, but they bummed me out Friday. The gun counter manager showed me a 6" Colt King Cobra and then informed me that he was putting it in the back for himself.:banghead: The really nice guns in my neck of the woods never get put out because there is always someone there cherry picking everything.

Here in fayettville we have quite a mix, Both good and Bad,

You need to do your homework, take time to get to know the pawnbroker,

The one I deal with is willing to haggle,(fun for me!) and will layaway for 10% down and as long as you make a payment every 30 days their willing to hold the peice untill it's payed for, ( I currently have a AR15 on hold, 700.00, )

Yes, there are some criminals out there, But they are there in every bussiness, ( been to a gunshow lately?) you just have to be carefull .

never get put out because there is always someone there cherry picking everything.

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I hate to tell you this, but employees in FFLs always get 1st dibs... most of the cool stuff never makes the shelf.

I haven't had much luck at pawn shops in the last 7-8 years. I haven't seen much, and for what I've seen, the prices were out of line. I know friends of mine in other states have had good luck, but here in Minnesota I haven't seen much.

I hate to tell you this, but employees in FFLs always get 1st dibs... most of the cool stuff never makes the shelf.

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Then those would be poorly run businesses. I know it happens, but that isn't the way to run a good business. We never did that. We found there was much more profit in selling the cool stuff.

We only have a couple of pawn shops in driving distance.

They have both been open for years and years, and i have no idea how they stay open; everything they sell is trashy. I stop in from time to time hoping to get lucky, but i always leave empty handed and disappointed.

The vast majority of their business comes from re-selling beat up low to mid range guitars, 14 carrot gold jewelery, and power tools with the initials of local businesses scratched into them...

The only pawn shop around me has a proprietor that's a crooked piece of garbage. I'd NEVER set foot in his place.

How do I feel? To be honest, I feel like pawn shops keep thieves in business.

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Thats right!....pawn shops are responsible for thieves and burglars. Just like guns are responsible for maiming and murder.

I've bought dozens of guns from pawnshops, and have never felt like I got screwed. Some of the salespeople and owners don't know much about guns, and sometimes I've taken shameless advantage of that. I got a 99+% Marlin 336 in 35 Remington for under $200 by convincing them it was a totally obsolete caliber, and was not good for anything but a wallhanger. It shoots into an inch at 100 yards, repeatedly. I'm not even sure it had ever been fired before I got it.

Another one I still giggle over was a plain Marlin 336 in 30-30, not much wear, but the wood was dull and plain as a mud fence. The store owner knew I liked leverguns, and kept shoving it in my face, every time I went in there. I finally decided to pay the $225 price tag, and when I went in to get it, he waved it at me again. I finally said, "Jeez, what'll it take to get you to shut up about that ugly-ass rifle?" He thought for a minute, then shrugged and said, "$160......and I'll pay the sales tax."

It's the best shooting levergun I've ever SEEN, let alone owned! Oh, and I've also found a near-mint Bersa 380 for $125, a Savage M-67 20 gauge for $100, a Ruger Redhawk in 44 for $300.......I LOVE pawn shops!

PJ

jaysouth Jim's Pawn in Fayettenam, NC for top of the line with a good array of used and new guns.

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Jims has lots of guns , But he is overly expensive!!!

National Pawn in Arlington

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I stopped looking there a while ago.
Prices always seemed high.

I am a big fan of pawnshops, although it seems like it gets harder and harder to find a good deal in one. I have never been burned, in part because I know what to look for when inspecting a gun and in part because I have a reasonable expectation of something not being quite right, and thus plan for the repair. If it's something I can't handle, I don't buy it. If it's something I can, and the investment in time and money for the repair added to the purchase price still equal out to a bargain, I do.

They run the gamut. Visit National Pawn in Arlington, VA or Jim's Pawn in Fayettenam, NC for top of the line with a good array of used and new guns.

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I think in areas where there are many places to buy guns (Virginia) you have a better chance of getting a good deal. I skimmed this thread and read some very good bargains.

Here in the People's Republic of Maryland, where guns are very strictly regulated, the pawn shops have lousy prices. I transferred a pistol from gunbroker.com through a pawnshop and the total fee wasn't bad, but all the guns I looked at in the shop were priced very high. I suppose I could have haggled but wasn't that interested at the time. All the employees are very nice to deal with though. Didn't feel like I needed a shower when I left.

One issue about "Deals" is that all have access to gun auction sites, and can price accordingly.

Gun X is selling for $350 on "Egun"... put it on the shelf for $450 and do not go below $375....

If I had a piece that tdidn't perform well I might dump it at a pawn shop. I consider pawn shops graveyards. Hey, send me your money and save yourself all the aggrevation of a crocked barrel?

I will FREQUENT the pawn shops right before deer season. Hunter will pawn all kinds of goodies to purchase the latest, greatest rifle/scope combo.

Seems like in Fayetteville, most all the gun shops are pawn shops. The only one gun shop I've visited that wasn't (Guns Plus) was LAME & had very a limited selection. Seems like many of the pawn shops' primary business is guns (new & used) & the "pawn shop" aspect is secondary.

Jims has a HUGE selection & while their prices are steep, they do have a "try before you buy" deal, where you rent whichever gun for $10 (includes 10 rounds of ammo) & fire it at their indoor range & if you buy that model gun, they give you $10 off the price. I just go there to ogle & see what's "out there".

Carolina has a smaller, but decent, selection, fair prices & a friendly, helpful staff. It's where I picked up my SA/Wilson 1911 mutt for a sweet price.

Shooter's has a decent selection & okay prices, but some of the staff are d**kweeds. Either mall-ninja's, former/retired SF who are too cool too deal with anyone who isn't a snake eater, or jerk offs who know nothing, but think they know it all. But.... they have Greg, their 'smith who specializes in 1911s. Nice guy, happily answers all yer stupid questions & is beyond fair. Took my 1911 to him, 'cos the rear sight was loose & the front sight looked off-center. He tightened/straightened 'er all out & wouldn't take any money!?!?! I know, it was a piddly job, but how cool is that? He just chuckled & said to come see him again sometime if/when I had an expensive job.