For as long as humans have valued certain items over others, there have been pawnshops and pawnshops. And, for as long as there have been pawnshops, people have made pawning mistakes.
When handled correctly, pawning can be an excellent way to get the cash you need and to transfer inconvenient assets into creditworthy currency. Most of us would probably admit that we have too much stuff at home. Since the concept of what is valuable is relative to some extent (what might seem old and useless to you might be extremely sought after by someone else, for example), anything that gives us the opportunity to turn this “junk” into “gold” is always a good thing. This means that, with an astute eye and a tactical approach, pawning certain items can result in a healthy cash injection.
The reality is that unless you have experience pawning your things, you may not get as much value as you could get for your items. Instead, it’s easy to make common pawning mistakes, resulting in disappointment or failure to meet your expectations.
Fortunately, our team is available to provide you with the advice and guidance you need to achieve your pawning goals. We have spent many years in this business and understand the mistakes people can make and what clients can do to have a more fruitful experience. Here are our top five pawn mistakes, as well as five solutions that can help you avoid these mistakes in the future. Don’t forget to contact the team if you need further advice or guidance.
Do not clean the article well
Pawning, like any other transaction, is somewhat a matter of perception. If your pawn shop thinks the item you provide looks great and is ready to resell, this will be reflected in the price you offer. While you don’t know the specific items people are looking for, you know that quality and value are important when people make buying decisions. When the item you bring is in excellent condition, it is likely to be worth more.
Of course, no one expects you to be an expert in repair and maintenance, and there are some jobs that will be too difficult to do on your own. In these cases, you may have no choice but to deliver the item as is and pay for the repair with the money you receive for the item. However, we can all roll up our sleeves and give our items a good cleaning before taking them in for pawn. This will likely increase the price you receive.
The solution:
Spend some time cleaning the item before you enter the store! Just as you would comb your hair and put on a tie or a nice blouse before a job interview, you should make sure your item looks its best so that the lender and customers place the highest value on it.
It’s also a good idea to make sure the item is complete. Take a look at instruction manuals, power cords and any other appropriate accessories before you take it to pawn.
