Do you feel guilty buying from a pawn shop?

Wow, I've never even thought of pawn shops, I don't even know where there are any. Off to the googles to look for one, I want a welder, and pillar drill, and and and..

I couldn't find any relevant Pawn Stars memes.

Like many of you; pre-internet that was my go to, now they all seem sleazy and expensive. My uncle owns some pawn shops in Missouri and I think guns are really where his money comes from although he did take a bad rudge sidecar in one time.

I buy from them on occasion. The trick is to do what Toyman says and offer 25% of their list. You can't go when they are busy or they will just brush you off. Jewelry and guns don't have much wiggle room but those are about the only things that the shop is making money on. Tools and electronics? Get that crap out the door for any price!

I had an old B&D corded drill from back when B&D made quality. Right in the middle of a project, it finally died of old age.

I went into a random Pawn Shop where I found a well-worn DeWalt. It was priced at $29.99. I jumped on my phone and looked up the model on eBay. They were going for $25 w/free shipping. I showed my phone to the guy and offered him $23.50+tax. He took it.

I've only bought guns at pawn shops. Everything else was too high for what it was. Haggled over the guns though. I don't have any qualms. I sold my Sega Genesis plus games to a pawn shop after college (1995).

I've bought at pawn shops. I recognize that some of it might be stolen. I think of it as "getting my stuff back."

But, you really need to know what stuff is worth, and I won't pay more than half retail for used stuff.

The handful of shops I've been in have been the 90% of retail, beat-to-death merchandise types of places. It's not just that the prices were bad, there was absolutely nothing worth buying.

For those of you who do score deals at pawn shops, what's the town/neighborhood like?

The ones I've been to have all been in lower-end "working class" neighborhoods in large-ish cities, or large-for-the-area "cities". I would think they'd have the merchandise I want, plus the sad stories that put the stuff in hoc in the first place. I am quite obviously wrong (and obviously judgmental).

I've had good luck at my local, small-town consignment/pawn shop. These guys actively buy lots from stores selling out inventory in addition to buying and selling from the locals. For example, I got This Lincoln Oxy Acetylene setup that eastwood lists for $430 for $150. The people seem decent and I haven't gotten any shady vibes. I've picked up some other stuff there with good success, like hedge trimmers, etc.

It's no different than a swap meet with a few % overhead for a brick and mortar store, and I've had better luck than with swap meet junk..

Once went into a pawn shop when I saw a nice mixer in the window. Thought it could be a good deal- so I asked about the price. Turned out to be the same retail price I could get it new just a few doors down at a cooking place.

Not bothered to try again based on that.

Do enjoy watching Pawn Stars sometimes- since they actually do some investigation of stuff that is important- kind of a retail version of History Detectives and Antiques Roadshow. But am stunned sometimes that people go THERE to sell some stuff.

No way in heck I would go there with a rare car. Or much of the specialized stuff that has a real market out there. Even amusing that they bring in specialists from rare book, toy, and gun stores when the owners should be going to THOSE stores to sell their stuff. Sell a rare Toy for $100 and they will turn around and sell it to their buddy for $150, who will sell it for $200. Odd.

Never been compelled to go in a pawn shop just to shop. First time ever was to look for my stolen tools after a garage break in. Two area shops both in seedier neighborhoods, maybe they just locate there for the low rent, I dunno. Caught 'that vibe' on a lotta stuff but who really knows. Didn't find any item or real deal there that I couldn't live w/o anyway.

DrBoost wrote: I've rarely bought from a pawn shop since they are selling stuff at 90% of list price, but it's 10 years old and used up. The pawn shops around here are way high for what it is.

This. I've only been in a few of the local shops, but mostly they have junk, and the prices are let's say "optimistic".

I used to be a fan of pawn shops but have gradually decided that they traffic in human misery, and I don't want any part of it. Even the stuff that's not stolen only made it there because for somebody, things turned south in a bad way and they needed to find some cash fast. Pawn shops offer pennies on the actual value, so nobody is going to sell there if they're not hard up.

alfadriver wrote: Once went into a pawn shop when I saw a nice mixer in the window. Thought it could be a good deal- so I asked about the price. Turned out to be the same retail price I could get it new just a few doors down at a cooking place. Not bothered to try again based on that. Do enjoy watching Pawn Stars sometimes- since they actually do some investigation of stuff that is important- kind of a retail version of History Detectives and Antiques Roadshow. But am stunned sometimes that people go THERE to sell some stuff. No way in heck I would go there with a rare car. Or much of the specialized stuff that has a real market out there. Even amusing that they bring in specialists from rare book, toy, and gun stores when the owners should be going to THOSE stores to sell their stuff. Sell a rare Toy for $100 and they will turn around and sell it to their buddy for $150, who will sell it for $200. Odd.

Some people just want to be on TV....and some of that show is staged anyhow.