I went to a pawn shop for the first time in about 10 years last week. Typically, I stay far away, but Steph’s recent loss of property lead us there to investigate what kind of goods they had.
Well, that adventure lead us to a measly two pawn shops and it reminded me why I hate going to them. I can’t say that I’ve ever bought anything at a pawn shop, or sold anything to one. I typically do goodwill or sell on craigslist. Before craigslist, I’m not sure what I did…garage sales maybe? Either way, these trips solidified my distaste for the shops and I don’t plan on going back unless absolutely necessary.
It amazes me that such a strange establishment, that was once actually used to make loans on the items, is now so shady. Car radios that were obviously ripped from their mounts were everywhere (sorry Bjorn), subwoofers, PSP’s, and an ungodly amount of cell phones were all present. The place smelled like a 10 year old pet store and we were immediately overwhelmed by how….stolen everything looked. I could obviously go on about the unpleasantries associated with pawn shops, but my biggest beef is the fact that most people and most proprietors know these things are “hot.” I understand the necessity to sometimes sell things that you no longer need. I’ve definitely sold my fair share of old CDs and DVDs before, but when does it become unsafe and as I said earlier, “shady.” Pawn shops HAVE to be skating some sort of thin line between being legit and being a black market right? What makes them different from some random dude who bought a stolen iPod on street? I’m sure there is a ton of legalese on the matter, but I feel like some sort of proof of ownership should be necessary, right? I just can’t believe how easy it is to hock something that’s been obviously ripped from someone else. Does anyone else have this problem with pawn shops? I’m really looking for some feedback here. I hate them. I hope I never have to go in one again, but maybe they are worthwhile? Somehow?
Or maybe I’m taking crazy pills and pawn shops are completely legit and deserve none of the flak I’m giving them? Doubtful…
yeah...pawn shops...I think I used to go to one when I lived in Cheyenne, but that was mostly because we did all sorts of weird things for fun in Cheyenne--go to Sam's Club on sundays after church to get all the free samples, hang out at the western wear shop because there was no where else open, go to the pawn shop to see if there was any new depression era glass...
thebluebird
I will forever associate strippers with the word Cheyenne...even when it references the fabled capital of Wyoming.
s
i looked for a used bike at a pawn shop once. the one over on guadalupe and 34th-ish had a number of sweet bicycles out front but was not selling any of them at the time. pawn shops always sort of intrigued me until my recent encounter with breaking, entering, theft and general assholery. now i think they are fucking terrible.
When I was a kid I'd go to pawn shops to pick up nes games. Haven't been to one since.
Peter
I'm a fan of pawn shops. You can usually get some cool shtuff and/or find some weirdness. Just don't expect to get much cash when you do want to sell your goodies. Pawn shops are the resort of the desperate, poor, and/or uneducated. The people who run them know that. If you walk into a pawn shop to sell something, 99% of the time you are in a serious bind.
There are two types of pawn shops, those that make money and those that don't. Interestingly enough, those that make money are always shady as shit. Take for instance, a former co-worker named "Perry." He once related to me, rather proudly I should add, that, given the chance to run a pawn shop, he could clear SIX figures in profit in year one. That's a lot of dough. Perry wasn't much upstairs (I'll save his Commodore v. Condor conundrum for a later date), so I was forced to presume that those six figures would be obtained via some shady back door dealings.
Monday Thoughts: Pawn Shops
Ah, the pawn shop.
I went to a pawn shop for the first time in about 10 years last week. Typically, I stay far away, but Steph’s recent loss of property lead us there to investigate what kind of goods they had.
Well, that adventure lead us to a measly two pawn shops and it reminded me why I hate going to them. I can’t say that I’ve ever bought anything at a pawn shop, or sold anything to one. I typically do goodwill or sell on craigslist. Before craigslist, I’m not sure what I did…garage sales maybe? Either way, these trips solidified my distaste for the shops and I don’t plan on going back unless absolutely necessary.
It amazes me that such a strange establishment, that was once actually used to make loans on the items, is now so shady. Car radios that were obviously ripped from their mounts were everywhere (sorry Bjorn), subwoofers, PSP’s, and an ungodly amount of cell phones were all present. The place smelled like a 10 year old pet store and we were immediately overwhelmed by how….stolen everything looked. I could obviously go on about the unpleasantries associated with pawn shops, but my biggest beef is the fact that most people and most proprietors know these things are “hot.” I understand the necessity to sometimes sell things that you no longer need. I’ve definitely sold my fair share of old CDs and DVDs before, but when does it become unsafe and as I said earlier, “shady.” Pawn shops HAVE to be skating some sort of thin line between being legit and being a black market right? What makes them different from some random dude who bought a stolen iPod on street? I’m sure there is a ton of legalese on the matter, but I feel like some sort of proof of ownership should be necessary, right? I just can’t believe how easy it is to hock something that’s been obviously ripped from someone else. Does anyone else have this problem with pawn shops? I’m really looking for some feedback here. I hate them. I hope I never have to go in one again, but maybe they are worthwhile? Somehow?
Or maybe I’m taking crazy pills and pawn shops are completely legit and deserve none of the flak I’m giving them? Doubtful…