How do LV pawnshops sell anything ?

[postaldoug]

This is inspired by OMT's thread about US players and books, and Robfunk's reference to pawning stuff to gamble.

When I lived in Vegas, one of the more prominent "brokers" was Al-jays, or something like that, near LM BLVD and N LV BLVD. I was a construction worker ( mostly ) back then.

If I needed a drill or something, Al-Jays wanted like $110 for it used, I could buy the thing new at Home Depot for $89. They'd never barter with me. $50 might be fair. I'd even see them in Northtown at Broadacres swapmeet, trying to sell used stuff, at over retail. They probably only loaned $15-20 on the item, but wouldn't budge !

What do they do with it ?

 

[Dante]

Good thread Doug....after all the people going INTO the pawn shops in vegas to sell there last things they own of any value are doing it to try to get that money they lost at the BJ or poker table back....9/10 times they go flat ass broke anyway so no one has money to buy anything.


The ones that do win are buying there stuff from the belligio gift shops...good point

 

[postaldoug]

Dante: I was more referring to locals. I knew a carpet-layer, named, Mike. His power-stretcher was at Al-Jays ( sp ?) more often than in his van ! I swear the dude pawned that thing 50 times, at least !, while I knew him. It may be there now !... 10 years later !

The thing I don't get is... How they try to sell used stuff , at over retail... boogles my mind !

 

[Fishhead]

I have found just the opposite to be true, as I have found some great deals at the Vegas pawnshops on occassion.

But then again, I wasnt shopping for drills.

 

[Dante]

Ok I got ya doug....thanks for clarifing

 

[buddyboy]

www.superpawn.com

 

[Marco]

Funny you should mention this as I was out there a few years back.....visited the pawn shops and found the prices about equal to buying it new somewhere else.....

...I was on vacation at the time....I rarely drive across 3 or 4 states just to go see what's at a pawnshop....not big on seeing the shows and it was early in the day so I took a cruise around to see the shops....

....there is a place or two where I live that if you watch what comes in, maybe you can get a good deal on something before someone else snatches it up.....

 

[Frankie5angels]

Pawn shops are for losers.

 

[Marco]

Loser if you go there to pawn something, cuz you're getting raped by the interest rate...

If you go there to buy, it's like anywhere else...shop around and pick your spots...

 

[postaldoug]

Frank: Agree, but my point was,their prices on stuff out of pawn. It's probably a good business to be in in Vegas, not to be a client of one.

 

[BaseballGuy]

Ok here is your answer.

The wierd stuff like power drills, and computer hardware will probably be priced over retail. This is mainly because the idiot pawnbrokers do not know anything about these items thus cannot accurately price them.

That being said, the real values can be found in jewelry

You can probably get a rolex or diamond ring at a pawn shop for nearly half the price you would pay retail.

One other interesting factoid about Vegas pawnshops.....

Ever notice all the music equipment these pawnshops have? Apparently lots of struggling music artists come to Vegas to make it big, and end up losing all their money gambling.

 

[Fishhead]

Your right, jewelery can be found at great value.