Going to the pawn shop has a negative association in many people’s minds. It doesn’t have to be that way! Pawn shops are normal and legitimate businesses that provide a very valuable service to local communities. Negotiating at pawn shops can actually be a lot of fun if you go into it with the right mindset. There really aren’t that many businesses these days that allow the customers to actually dictate the prices. Whenever you go to the pawnshop with the intent of pawning or selling something, you want to make sure you can maximize your profits. This is easier said than done, as many pawn shop owners are experts at negotiating. Keep reading on to learn how you can maximize your profits the next time you head to the pawn shop!
Research. Research. Research.
One way to make sure you head into a pawn shop transaction with the best chances of success is to do your research beforehand. This tip cannot be underestimated enough. If you know the market value of your item before negotiating, you will understand what’s fair and what is not. It can also pay off to do research on the actual pawn shop that you are heading too. Just because you need quick cash doesn’t mean you should neglect doing a little bit of work before the transaction so that you can make the most out of the exchange.
Be Honest and Upfront
As we mentioned earlier, pawn shop owners are experts at negotiating. That means they will easily pick up on any dishonesty or attempts to take advantage of them. It pays to be honest with pawn shop owners about exactly what you are looking for. It can even help to let them know how much you paid for it and what you have found the market price to be in the area. Tell them the history of the item and anything that might impact the price, for better or for worse, and they will be much more willing to negotiate with you in your favor.
Go to Multiple Pawn Shops
The great thing about pawning items is that every pawn shop has a different style of negotiating and a different value for certain items. That’s why if you really want to get the maximum amount of money for your item that you will pawn, you should hit the streets and head to a few different shops before agreeing to anything. One shop might offer you hundreds for an item while another offers you thousands. It’s a little extra work, but it can pay off in a big way.
Understand that you Can Always Walk
Just because you have researched an item, done the work to go to different pawn shops, and negotiated extensively, it doesn’t mean you have to pawn or sell your item. Understand that you can always walk away from a deal if you aren’t getting what you expected.