No kidding. Well, good on him. I don't have such luck, but that makes me want to keep sticking my nose in...
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Best and Worst Pawn Stories
- Thread starter Martin89
- Start date
No kidding. Well, good on him. I don't have such luck, but that makes me want to keep sticking my nose in...
Yeah, I thought you'd be thrilled at the news...I know I was. All I usually find around here are overpriced Affinities.
and tons of really awful clone basses priced way too high. The good news is that with basses, you see it, see the price, know what it is (usually) right away and you can walk out without having to interface with the Pawn Troll behind the counter.
Doubt it. They will resale the bass he left for twice what they paid that's why their prices are insane. They probably paid $100 or less for the one they sold him. Trust me they are not in the biz to lose money.
Only one pawn shop buy, it was an Epiphone El Capitan acoustic bass for $200.
I've never been in to a pawn shop in Louisville, I may be missing out, I don't know. I usually stop in to a couple of them when I go to Nashville but I rarely see anything that I would call a bargain.
I've never been in to a pawn shop in Louisville, I may be missing out, I don't know. I usually stop in to a couple of them when I go to Nashville but I rarely see anything that I would call a bargain.
YES!! back in the mid 70's ....and the Northside Loan which just closed or moved a while back. If I could only go back in time
Those shops had lots of old Gibson EBO's/2's and 3's and Fender Precision and Jazz basses hanging on the wall
Probably could've picked up an early precision or jazz for $150...nobody wanted them back then...But, alas, that was before the vintage craze and I really only wanted a new bass...got my brand new 76 sb/maple Precision from Metro in Buckhead. My best recent Pawn story was about 6 years ago, a friend in N Georgia called and said they had an Airline pocket bass for $75 at some local shop...told them to grab it for me. Cool little bassHere's one of my own...
Was looking to buy a starter bass years ago and was looking at soemthing for around $150 to see if I liked playing bass. Looked at GC and saw a Yamaha starter bass that listed for $170. I then figured I'd check the local pawn shops to see if they had anything cheaper. Walked into one shop and saw the exact same Yamaha bass in a very used condition with a hang tag that read $175. I asked the guy behind the counter if He'd take $150 for it and he said, "what's the tag say?" I said, "$175." He replied, "then I'll TAKE $175 for it." I mentioned that they sell brand new at Guitar Center for $170. He said, "then go buy it from there." I walked out of his shop and never went back. I have bought a lot of used gear since then but I would not give that guy a dime of my money.
Was looking to buy a starter bass years ago and was looking at soemthing for around $150 to see if I liked playing bass. Looked at GC and saw a Yamaha starter bass that listed for $170. I then figured I'd check the local pawn shops to see if they had anything cheaper. Walked into one shop and saw the exact same Yamaha bass in a very used condition with a hang tag that read $175. I asked the guy behind the counter if He'd take $150 for it and he said, "what's the tag say?" I said, "$175." He replied, "then I'll TAKE $175 for it." I mentioned that they sell brand new at Guitar Center for $170. He said, "then go buy it from there." I walked out of his shop and never went back. I have bought a lot of used gear since then but I would not give that guy a dime of my money.
And BassBully,
How can you say that was a good deal for the Shop? My buddy had no intention of returning to get his bass back. If the Pawn guy had taken the original deal then it would have been an even trade. In the end the Pawn guy gave my buddy $250 for the bass and he turned around and paid the Pawn guy with his own money for the equipment and got to keep 50 bucks. So he walked into the store ready to trade even and walked out with 50 bucks and the peice of gear he wanted. That equals a Pawn fail. If you don't see that, then let me know if you ever open a pawn shop cause I want to do business with you.
How can you say that was a good deal for the Shop? My buddy had no intention of returning to get his bass back. If the Pawn guy had taken the original deal then it would have been an even trade. In the end the Pawn guy gave my buddy $250 for the bass and he turned around and paid the Pawn guy with his own money for the equipment and got to keep 50 bucks. So he walked into the store ready to trade even and walked out with 50 bucks and the peice of gear he wanted. That equals a Pawn fail. If you don't see that, then let me know if you ever open a pawn shop cause I want to do business with you.
Last 3-4 years:
Eden WT400 Traveler- $250
Peavey Unity(passive neck-through)-$150
Squier P-Special with Bartolinis- $110 - sold to a friend of my nephew learning to play for the same price
Peavey Forum(Active Stingray style) loose connnection-$60
94 Peavey Foundations(2) - $99 and $125
Ampeg 15 watt Guitar tube amp-$69 -sold to my Guitarist for the same, then he quits, go figure.
Should have bought and flipped but didn't have the money:
Rick 4003- Bad connections and filthy $699
Late 60's Refinned T-Bird- $599
Eden WT400 Traveler- $250
Peavey Unity(passive neck-through)-$150
Squier P-Special with Bartolinis- $110 - sold to a friend of my nephew learning to play for the same price
Peavey Forum(Active Stingray style) loose connnection-$60
94 Peavey Foundations(2) - $99 and $125
Ampeg 15 watt Guitar tube amp-$69 -sold to my Guitarist for the same, then he quits, go figure.
Should have bought and flipped but didn't have the money:
Rick 4003- Bad connections and filthy $699
Late 60's Refinned T-Bird- $599
pablomigraine
Commercial User
HAhaha I love these threads. I work in a guitar shop that specializes in used gear. We're one of the few places you can go that will take almost anything in trade so long as it's functioning. We will also buy pretty much anything outright so long as it works and functions correctly.
Where we're located in Albany, we have a ton of competition.... we have Guitar Center less than a mile away, and no less than 4 independent retailers within 5 miles in either direction on the main strip. Now, when it comes to trade-ins, GC now has a one-page (half-page) list of what they will accept in trade... and some of the indie stores don't really take trades at all, so we do a very good business in trades and purchases.
I would say that, in the case of at least half the many hundreds of used items we have in inventory, the previous owners spent the day shopping their item around to different stores, and they almost always end up back with me, as we simply pay more than anyone else does, and we'll take stuff no one else will. Nevertheless, we have some folks come in with interesting tactics while attempting to get more money for their trades. Here are some fun examples:
Customer: So, I've been trying for about 6 months to sell this stuff on craigslist for $300, no luck.... (dumps out a box filled with a half dozen broken microphones, some old cables, a broken DI box and non-functioning in-ear monitor set, without the transmitter)
US: Hmmm okay... and how much are you looking to get for it here?
Customer: $500.
US:.... wait so no one else in the world is willing to buy this stuff for $300, but you want us to pay you $500, and try to resell it at a profit for say $600 to the same people who wouldn't pay you $300? Is that right?
Customer: Yes. (blank stare)
-------------------------------------------------------------
Customer: *unloads a a very large, 32ch mixing board from the early 80's.
US: Well, providing everything functions, I can get you $300 for this.
Customer: That's insane, I paid over $5,000 for this! I wont take anything less than $2,000.
US: yeah when.... like 1983? Shoulda put your money in savings account we wouldn't be having this conversation... this isn't exactly what we call "investment-grade" gear...
Customer: But it's a classic! Its a vintage piece!
US: Its completely obsolete. Today you can buy a piece of software and interface for a laptop that's quieter, more precise, infinitely more adjustable, weighs 2 lbs and costs $195 brand new. There's a very small market for this stuff, and they're bargain hunters.... music gear's equivalent of garage sale ladies... no matter what I price this at the interested customers will want a discount out of hand...
Customer: Guitar center said they'll give me $2,000.
US: No they didnt.
Customer:: Yes they did! And I'll just go right back there!
US: No you wont.... they wont take it. *pulling out the acceptable trades sheet for GC* This is the only stuff they will take and they pay roughly half what we do across the board... so even if they would take it, they'd only give you $150. Besides, a second ago you said you wouldn't take less than $2,000.
Customer: Okay okay fine how about $500?
US: How about $300?
Customer: How about $475?
US: How about $250?
Customer: Fine $300 but I want an extra hundred for the power supply.
Where we're located in Albany, we have a ton of competition.... we have Guitar Center less than a mile away, and no less than 4 independent retailers within 5 miles in either direction on the main strip. Now, when it comes to trade-ins, GC now has a one-page (half-page) list of what they will accept in trade... and some of the indie stores don't really take trades at all, so we do a very good business in trades and purchases.
I would say that, in the case of at least half the many hundreds of used items we have in inventory, the previous owners spent the day shopping their item around to different stores, and they almost always end up back with me, as we simply pay more than anyone else does, and we'll take stuff no one else will. Nevertheless, we have some folks come in with interesting tactics while attempting to get more money for their trades. Here are some fun examples:
Customer: So, I've been trying for about 6 months to sell this stuff on craigslist for $300, no luck.... (dumps out a box filled with a half dozen broken microphones, some old cables, a broken DI box and non-functioning in-ear monitor set, without the transmitter)
US: Hmmm okay... and how much are you looking to get for it here?
Customer: $500.
US:.... wait so no one else in the world is willing to buy this stuff for $300, but you want us to pay you $500, and try to resell it at a profit for say $600 to the same people who wouldn't pay you $300? Is that right?
Customer: Yes. (blank stare)
-------------------------------------------------------------
Customer: *unloads a a very large, 32ch mixing board from the early 80's.
US: Well, providing everything functions, I can get you $300 for this.
Customer: That's insane, I paid over $5,000 for this! I wont take anything less than $2,000.
US: yeah when.... like 1983? Shoulda put your money in savings account we wouldn't be having this conversation... this isn't exactly what we call "investment-grade" gear...
Customer: But it's a classic! Its a vintage piece!
US: Its completely obsolete. Today you can buy a piece of software and interface for a laptop that's quieter, more precise, infinitely more adjustable, weighs 2 lbs and costs $195 brand new. There's a very small market for this stuff, and they're bargain hunters.... music gear's equivalent of garage sale ladies... no matter what I price this at the interested customers will want a discount out of hand...
Customer: Guitar center said they'll give me $2,000.
US: No they didnt.
Customer:: Yes they did! And I'll just go right back there!
US: No you wont.... they wont take it. *pulling out the acceptable trades sheet for GC* This is the only stuff they will take and they pay roughly half what we do across the board... so even if they would take it, they'd only give you $150. Besides, a second ago you said you wouldn't take less than $2,000.
Customer: Okay okay fine how about $500?
US: How about $300?
Customer: How about $475?
US: How about $250?
Customer: Fine $300 but I want an extra hundred for the power supply.
The way I see it is they let him out the door with an extra $50.00 bucks which they recovered in the $200 bass markup. They take a chance on recovering that if he would get the bass out of pawn (wont) so they will mark it up for a profit and make double on it. I know what your saying but a profit was made on the markup and sale of the other bass in the future. Lets say they bought the $200 bass they sold him for $100 and sold it for $200 -the $50 they gave him back. The shop a $50.00 profit. He now has the other bass to recover his money plus the $50 he gave him in fee's if he gets it out of Pawn. If he leaves it they will mark it up to say double $500 makes another $250 profit total $300.00. Thats $100 more than he started the deal with. I checked with a local shop who agreed and said any shop would recover the $50 in the item's markup and or pawn fee's or resale.
The police used to make the rounds at the pawn shops looking for stolen gear but not anymore. If they found something hot they offer it to the owner at the price the pawn shop paid for it. ..... Some people would say no and go the insurance route, others without insurance would buy their gear back. ...... But now with all the Chinese junk they just don't bother. .... So, if you get ripped off don't expect the cops to do any leg work to find it, you have to do your own.
And I see that..the gamble was made on the person returning to take it out of pawn and recoverig the money in fees's.
Understood, but thats the chance they take and why it's is called a pawn shop...did the guy who did they deal know this..doubful. Reguardless they will cover the loss and make a profit..they always do. We agree to disagree.
I got an 1820 cabinet for 120.00 once. LIke new-Roarbox.
Got a 3620 (Dual 18- 2-10) and Mark IV head for 300.00 at another store.
Thats enuf firepower for about any occasion for under $500.00
Got a 3620 (Dual 18- 2-10) and Mark IV head for 300.00 at another store.
Thats enuf firepower for about any occasion for under $500.00
