Buying from Pawn Shops?

[Thalia]

Does anyone do this?

I'm guessing that they must have some good deals on some things, but I've never really wanted to buy from a pawn shop because I just feel sad about someone else losing their stuff. And I guess there's a possibility that some stolen stuff finds its way there, too.

Do you buy from pawn shops? Why or why not?

[mightymoo]

Honestly they don't seem very inviting, most of the ones I've seen have bars over the windows. I understand why of course, just doesn't give me a warm fuzzy as a shopper.

We had one near where I used to live called 'yuppie pawn' - I did go there once, but it just wasn't the kind of stuff I tend to look for - a lot of electronics and CDs and stuff, all priced pretty high for my taste.

[xmysticprincessx]

we got my dh a graphing calculator at a pawn shop. (he needed it that night for class.) i called ahead to see if they had the one he needed and for how much, so i just ran in and out. it wasnt in a bad neighborhood or anything, but i wouldnt go there often. i think the employees smoking inside kinda skeeved me out.

[Sharlla]

I've checked them out but all the ones here charge too much and they usually smoke in them. I went to one and some lady lit up like 3 feet away from my baby and m.. It really pissed me off. We have a ton of flea markets around here, I just prefer to go to those.

[lmonter]

Only hubby's been to the local pawn shops. I don't dare go in - I have a feeling everything's out for the grabbing right at kid level and I'm not down with that.

But. Around here, it's a ripoff. The used chainsaws they have? You can buy a brand new one for like $10-$50 more and get the manufacturer's 2-5 year warranty (I'm talking about like a $600 Husquvarna). Bikes? Same thing - $20 less than a brand new one from the local bike shop that actually does have some good deals. Warranties don't necessarily transfer over when you sell items, especially through a pawn shop.

[ShaggyDaddy]

if I am going to buy 1 tool, the pawnshop is the place to go... but generally they earn money through impossible collateral loans, and do not care/need to sell the merchandise, so in my experience it is generally not "priced to move"

[annethcz]

There is a nicer chain of pawn shops in my area. I've been a few times, and although the store was nice, clean, well-lit and in a good area, I didn't buy anything because the prices were high.

[jessiemom]

There are a lot of pawn shops here, but I have only been a few times. We bought our wedding rings at a pawn shop. I found a gorgeous one after looking for months at jewlery store for $50 and Dh was $200, his had a large diamond in it. Plus they threw in a free ring for me as well. We had someone look at them and they were real diamonds. Our house was broken in to a couple years later and both our rings were stolen. We have also bought video games but don't go regularly.
Jessie