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 Replies: 8 / Views: 1,574 |
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Valued Member
United States
180 Posts |
Got a newbie question...anyone have luck buying coins at pawn shops? In some of them I can't even get the clerk to come the counter to sell me anything.
And are you able negotiate prices?
Thanks
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Valued Member
United States
198 Posts |
I used to work in a pawn shop. Most pawn shops: 1) do not know how to grade coins, 2) Used the Red Book for pricing (Usually out dated) 3)Don't reall know that much about coins and 4)hope you don't know anything about coins either. They are there for one thing.... to maximize the amount of money they can get for anything that walks through the door, which means pay very little (about 1/2 the real value)for it and sell it for all it's worth, which they try to get about 4 times real value. Of course you can't judge all pawn shops lkike this and you can use it to your advantage... since most do not know that much about coins, they could be under selling them. Just be extreamly careful. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
524 Posts |
I've had some good luck. Just know what your looking at. Like ragpicker said, they hope you don't know what your doing. One I go to sells a lot of silver for a little over melt but another one doubles the price of every thing.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2424 Posts |
is it still possible to barter with pawn shops? or is their pricing FIRM?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1436 Posts |
is it still possible to barter with pawn shops? or is their pricing FIRM?
Absolutely... It never hurts to make an offer. The worst they can say is no.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
3692 Posts |
Like I always say, pawns shops are hit or miss. Sometimes you get the cool dude, other times you get the old cranky guy who sadly and badly needs to retire. Some are clueless as to what they have and that can go both ways. You can then either get what you want for cheap or they just mark it up and make up prices because they are very uneducated on the topic. Most sell tools and movies and other junk, so depending on the area and the owners you will find that some are awesome and get your repeat business and others you warn your friends and family to take their 50 foot pole when shopping around there.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Basically what has been already stated is sort of the norm. By me most of them are rather on the shady side. By that I mean they deal in items that have been stolen, borrowed, etc. Some have stands at flea markets where they sell such items and occationally there is an article in the newspapers about that. Some will not deal in coins at all. A few I know of appears to never be open but have been there for many years. Kind of just luck if you find one that has coins and sells them for a decent price.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4333 Posts |
The ones I deal with have coins but refuse to sell, makes no sense to me!
When I listen to LED ZEPPELIN...so do my neighbors...
Roll hunting since '77
Dirt fishing since '72
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5854 Posts |
I have gotten a few things at below FMV at pawn shops but most things tend to be priced above FMV. Prices are negotiable a little bit at a couple pawn shops around here but prices are more negotiable when you are dealing with the owner instead an employee.
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Replies: 8 / Views: 1,574 |
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Posted 07/25/2012 07:21 am
