You have to love the absurdity of pawn shops

Best thing about pawnshops are cheap FFL transfers. $20 for my preferred one.

But yeah, sometimes I've come across a good deal. I've found that they'll take 20-25% off the sticker price of a gun just by you looking it over.

My only experience with pawn shops and guns was at Fort Knox in the early '80s. Every time I went to one, I felt dirty when I left.

There's nothing like watching somebody lie BADLY to another customer to give you real confidence in them as a business.

What I find absurd about pawn shops are the customers who come in to a given store, find a given item, nitpick about why it is somehow not to their liking, and then make broad sweeping proclamations about the profession in general without really having a clue as to the complexity of the job. It sort of reminds me of the pimple-faced comic book experts wanting to argue with the author of a series about why a given super hero held his super weapon in the wrong hand in frame 6, page 15 of issue 62.

To run a pawn shop, you have to be the jack of all trade wares and general merchandise. You have to know high to low quality, multitudes of types, countless brands, sizes, attachments, and fittings. You have to know consumer trends (if you are good). You have to know your customer base and a huge percentage of your customer base thinks you are an idiot who paid nothing for the stuff for sale (sounds genius to me, but that isn't how it works) and who should sell it for just about nothing as well.

Pawn shops are heavily regulated in Texas, the location of the OP, subject to being audited by at least 4 different government agencies (-1 if you don't sell guns).

Suffice it to say, there isn't a broker alive who knows all values about all grades of all variants of all models of all types of product that may come through the front door. However, I will say this. Compared to most other industries, pawn shops are one of the most lucrative businesses around. You see a lot of banks, eateries, retails stores, etc. folding up shop, but not pawn shops. Contrary to the generalizations of the OP, people running pawn shops (not necessarily the clerks, but managers and owners) are some of the most diverse thinking people you will find who have to control a tremendous amount of variable information on a daily basis that changes on a daily basis. It is truly an amazing business.

For instance, the "Portuguese Mauser" I bought for 50 bucks out the door turned out to be a Finnish Mosin Nagant.

Click to expand...

Oh lawdie mercy, thanks for the good belly laugh!

When I was living in Jackson Mississippi, I bought a Marlin 336 with scope, rings, leather sling and soft case fo $200.00. It was in great condition, and I was very pleased. After moving back to VA, I was at a pawnshop, and spied a Remington 870 super magnum. I had purchased one about a year before, and thought I would just take a look-see at this one. Used, they wanted $500.00 for it. I told the guy that Wal Mart had the same thing, brand new, for about $375. He said I was full of ****, and that the "book value" for this used gun was more than the $500 he was asking. I have not set foot in that shop again.

Pawn shops would seem to have to have a good idea what they can net for things. Otherwise they would go out of business pretty quick.

A fair number of them are selling on eBay. Not many deals from those kind of pawn dealers would be my guess.

Used to be pawn shops were great places to get deals on coins and bullion. No more. The Internet has made it very easy to get market pricing and has eliminated a lot of the deals that used to be out there.

I would be real surrpised if pawn dealers that sold used guns did not take a peek at gunbroker now and then to keep them up to date on what stuff might really be worth, even if they have no desire to sell there.

I would be real surrpised if pawn dealers that sold used guns did not take a peek at gunbroker now and then to keep them up to date on what stuff might really be worth, even if they have no desire to sell there.

Click to expand...

Only the smart ones that want to stay in business.

In southern Maine local gunshops are worse the pawn shops. I was missing my .357 I sold, and I was just looking yesterday... they wanted $600 for a rossi with a 2" bbl....

Everything was outragous. Ammo was even worse... $40 for a box of PMC crap...

Angers me...

The pawn shops down here on my side of town are worthless. The prices on almost all of their merchandise is equal to or sometimes over the 'new' retail price.

You can find some good deals in some pawn shops... but for the most part they are just trying to shaft you.

Example: Local shop had a small saw for $49.95... I paid $39.95 NEW for it @ Lowes.

I managed to score a Norinco, pre-ban, Model 84s from a pawn shop here in Cottonwood, Az. for 300.00 out the door. Guy said they were notorious for improper feeding and not worth the metal they were made from. That was 3 years ago. I got the proper mags for it and I've never had a feeding or cycling problem yet. Also got an old Norinco 1911 from him for 250.00. It also works perfect. I guess it's like anywhere else, you have to know the product your buying.(or selling)

You can find some good deals in some pawn shops... but for the most part they are just trying to shaft you.

Click to expand...

Ah yes, the pawn shop with no good deals. Picked up an almost new Kimber Classic S/S for $400, yup never a good deal.

BTW that was with the box and all the papers and warrenty card.

Two

Bought two guns in pawn shops over the years. One a Ruger 10/22 with scope for $50. Replaced the scope for another $50 and have never looked back. Shoots like a dream. The second pawn shop purchase was a Norinco model 99 Coach gun in 12 gauge 3" mag. I paid $65 for that one. Still have it as well. The bargins are there if you search for them and are willing to bicker a little bit.

You can find some good deals in some pawn shops... but for the most part they are just trying to shaft you.

Click to expand...

Just like you are trying to shaft them by finding something especially valuable priced for far less than it is "worth".

Bought two guns in pawn shops over the years. One a Ruger 10/22 with scope for $50. Replaced the scope for another $50 and have never looked back. Shoots like a dream. The second pawn shop purchase was a Norinco model 99 Coach gun in 12 gauge 3" mag. I paid $65 for that one. Still have it as well. The bargins are there if you search for them and are willing to bicker a little bit.

Click to expand...

I bet that was a ways back. Not much chance of finding a 10/22 for $50 these days.

Sure you did not mean dicker?

The Pawn Shop I use for FFL Transfers......

charges $10.00. Why? Because the proprietor wants to make it easy for folks to buy guns. I've found their prices for used guns fair, but not steals. They do have to make a living. Not all pawn shop owners are losers.

Most of mine are way over priced on Guns.

Example: Local shop had a small saw for $49.95... I paid $39.95 NEW for it @ Lowes.

Click to expand...

That's been my experience.

One would have to be completely stoned to buy anything in most pawn shops.

Still, I look at guns for a good deal. If I don't find at least a good value, why would I buy from a pawn shop?

Oh, how about a 1953 Marlin 39a for $180? Or a near perfect Browning B-78 single shot Win 1885 replica by Mirouku topped with a Leupold 6-20 for $640?

Still, I look at guns for a good deal. If I don't find at least a good value, why would I buy from a pawn shop?

Click to expand...

That sort of should go without saying regardless of where you are shopping, be it from a local gun store, a chain sporting goods store, gunbroker, or an individual.

I find it ironic that folks are happy to pay inflated prices to the local gun store but claim they are getting screwed if they see a price they consider high at a pawn shop.

We have some rediculous pawn shops in town ecspecially the place right around the corner who sells highpoint 9mm's for $329.95 and a new keltec pf-9 will cost you around $400....
There is also a real deal pawn shop in rocky mount nc if your close any and everyone should stop in and check out what they have. I have bought 3 guns from them and will eventually buy more. I got a new ruger p95 with an extra mag and a box of bullets for $300 out the door, A slightly used Remington 700 adl .270 with a box of bullets for $300 out the door and my last trip there landed me with a walther p22 with a extra mag and 100 cci stingers for you guessed it $300 out the door. So go there with 300 bucks and your guaranteed to get a good deal!

have 3 pawn shops i frequent all within 2 miles of each other.. deals are there if you look.. prices are most of the time high, but very negotiable.. i have found probably 75% of my collection between the 3

Gun/Pawn Shops

In the Middle Ga area there are several reasonable Pawn/gun shops:

In Macon . . . . Howard's Pawn, Macon Gun and Pawn, Arvin's

A full up Class III gun shop in Macon run by Harry DeHart is Firearms

Traders Warehouse 478-747-0254. If you want/need it, they have it.



In Warner Robins . . . Wellston Pawn.

Remember, everyone is happy if he will sell it for less than the most you are willing to pay and if you will pay more than the least he is willing to sell it for.

depending on what you want, you can find some good deals, but I'd assume that finding a good price on stuff like SKS, AK-type, Mini-xx, etc. rifles in pawn shops - especially now - is going to be a diamond in the rough. The last time I saw an evil rifle at a pawn shop was a $700 Mini-30

Pawn Shops Vs Gun Shops

I have gotten many good deals at the local pawn shops, more than at the local gun shops. I recently bought a Russian Makarov that is 95% and a like new Stevens Model 200 .270 as a package deal of $500 for both OTD at a local pawn shop. He said he doesn't like to keep weapons on inventory. The shop does keep a 26" double barrel loaded behind the counter at all times just in case the BG's pay a visit.