Pawn shops FTL!
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Joined: May 2006
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From: Calgary
Back when I was in high school I worked for a government company in computer training. We upgraded labs of computers on a regular basis, roughly 1-2 times/year.
I kept my eyes open for this and took all the old stuff on it's way out (destined for the garbage) and started assembling decent machines. I had probably 10-30 computer cases at my house at any time, and from time to time would head to a local store called Cash Converters (slightly upscale pawn shop chain) and sold off 5-10 PCs at a time, sometimes with a keyboard, monitor and mouse, sometimes without. I got $40-60 per machine, and I believe they sold them for roughly $150.
It wasn't a bad little business for both of us, I enjoyed working on computers and making an extra $500/month or so and they got good working systems that they priced 100-150% above cost to them.
I spent the money on blackjack, crack, alcohol, and poontang. Actually, it bought me my first car! :0
I kept my eyes open for this and took all the old stuff on it's way out (destined for the garbage) and started assembling decent machines. I had probably 10-30 computer cases at my house at any time, and from time to time would head to a local store called Cash Converters (slightly upscale pawn shop chain) and sold off 5-10 PCs at a time, sometimes with a keyboard, monitor and mouse, sometimes without. I got $40-60 per machine, and I believe they sold them for roughly $150.
It wasn't a bad little business for both of us, I enjoyed working on computers and making an extra $500/month or so and they got good working systems that they priced 100-150% above cost to them.
I spent the money on blackjack, crack, alcohol, and poontang. Actually, it bought me my first car! :0
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Land of Cincinnati Chili
I've purchased an item or two in a pawn shop that caught my eye. Anyone who doesn't understand that prices are negotiable is a sucker.
Prices on many many items in many types of stores are negotiable. When was the last time you paid asking price on a TV or an appliance?
Prices on many many items in many types of stores are negotiable. When was the last time you paid asking price on a TV or an appliance?
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[QUOTE=PrimoGen,Oct 11 2007, 02:39 AM] That 199 scratched iPod I could walk out of there for probably 50-100. If I tested it and it worked fine and it retailed for 300.00 or so then who is complaining. A fully functioning iPod with some scratches on it....big deal!!! I got it for less than 100.00. What? Are you going to walk around and tell people you bought it at a pawn shop with the scratches on it?? No! Use the scratches as a bargaining tool if it
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From: Sun★Works
well ok the ipod is a bad item to start dealing with then.
the outcome of this thread from some of our standpoints is probably this then:
what you describe is Par for the course concerning pawn shops. Sorry you were so shocked but I did not read anything too shocking from what you described.
I hope you take our advice and not sign off on pawn shops. Obviously I have no ties to any of the shops in your area so me telling you to go there is not going to benefit me in any way.
they really do have good deals if you can sift through all the physical and mental minutia.
the outcome of this thread from some of our standpoints is probably this then:
what you describe is Par for the course concerning pawn shops. Sorry you were so shocked but I did not read anything too shocking from what you described.
I hope you take our advice and not sign off on pawn shops. Obviously I have no ties to any of the shops in your area so me telling you to go there is not going to benefit me in any way.
they really do have good deals if you can sift through all the physical and mental minutia.
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From: Dallas, TX
[QUOTE=PrimoGen,Oct 11 2007, 06:29 PM] well ok the ipod is a bad item to start dealing with then.
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Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Sun★Works
the 25% thing is a good variable to start with but sometimes they will have much less invested than 25%
here is a really inside thing: Look at the price tag on the item, you will see the price they are asking for obviously and sometimes a bar code, but sometimes you will see a series of letters BHD or DL or some other random letters usualy two to four letters long.
that is a code they put on the tag to instantly recall how much cash they have invested in the item. it will be totally different per store and obviously I do not know the code or even the base for the code but it does exist. it will be noted either in letters as I described or coded into the barcode itself. if they take the item up to the desk and scan it, that is the information they are looking for.
the funny part of this courtship is the calculator, most of the time they are just hitting buttons. Once they see that code they already know what price they are going to offer and how low they are willing to go. Some will even knock off a percentage right off the top to make you fell special from the get go.
all of this wont give you an edge, it is more just trivia
just remember to bargain, sometimes they wont go low enough for you or wont go high enough for them....its all just a game
here is a really inside thing: Look at the price tag on the item, you will see the price they are asking for obviously and sometimes a bar code, but sometimes you will see a series of letters BHD or DL or some other random letters usualy two to four letters long.
that is a code they put on the tag to instantly recall how much cash they have invested in the item. it will be totally different per store and obviously I do not know the code or even the base for the code but it does exist. it will be noted either in letters as I described or coded into the barcode itself. if they take the item up to the desk and scan it, that is the information they are looking for.
the funny part of this courtship is the calculator, most of the time they are just hitting buttons. Once they see that code they already know what price they are going to offer and how low they are willing to go. Some will even knock off a percentage right off the top to make you fell special from the get go.
all of this wont give you an edge, it is more just trivia
just remember to bargain, sometimes they wont go low enough for you or wont go high enough for them....its all just a game
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I guess it all depends on what items you look at and where you go. Imo, the electronics at the pawn shop I went to were not even worth bargaining because the starting prices were so ridiculous. Electronics can be had brand new for relatively cheap these days, if you know where to look.
Tools and other stuff may be good to bargain on, but it all depends on the shops too.
Tools and other stuff may be good to bargain on, but it all depends on the shops too.
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