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DEL.ICIO.USPawn shops thrive in hard times
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
He walked into the pawn shop clutching a guitar.
William Bones had hoped to exchange the instrument for cash.
No dice.
“We can’t take it,” said Tony Papandrea, co-owner of The Pawn Shop in Norcross. “See. It’s warped.”
No worries.
Bones took the guitar and returned with a .38-caliber revolver - to pawn, not shoot up the joint. Shop co-owner James Peacook recorded the revolver’s serial number and model number, required information on all pawned items, which is given to Gwinnett County police. He checked Bones’ identification, took his fingerprint and his photo.
Bones left with $100 cash. He has to repay $125 or forfeit the gun.
“I’ll get it back,” the laborer told me before leaving the shop. “Things have got to get better. Somebody has got to get in the White House and help the people who are hurting, man.”
When it comes to the economy, here’s what Papandrea and Peacook have seen in recent months: a notable increase in the number of people who can’t make ends meet. They want to take out loans or hock something to buy gas and food. Familiar customers want bigger loan amounts; new ones want to trade something for cash.
It’s not just residents on the lower economic rungs who are finding their way to the shop on Buford Highway. Think electricians, mortgage brokers and investors. Everybody.
“They want money for their stuff, their jewelry and Rolexes,” Papandrea told me Wednesday during the Badie Tour. “I just got a truckload of furniture from a lady. She had to make a payment on something by 6 p.m. that day.”
For William Carroll, working at The Pawn Shop has been an eye-opener. He’s seen people looking to pawn drive up in a Mercedes Benz or Jaguar. They needed money for gas.
“I’m surprised,” Carroll said.
Apparently, some first-time customers are humbled to the point of embarrassment. In a pickle, they turn to what many consider a sleazy type of business that charges sky-high interest rates. One day, a struggling electrician brought in some tools.
“He had to have $400,” Peacook recalled. “He was so embarrassed. He couldn’t believe he was standing here. But he left here with a completely different view of pawn shops.”
In a dour economy, pawn shops write more loans, but the retail end of the business flutters. So in-store stock isn’t moving, but many pawnbrokers are processing more loans for larger amounts, said Jackie Kinlaw, president of the Pawnbrokers Association of Georgia.
Every customer I talked to at The Pawn Shop promised they’d be back for whatever they gave up to get a loan. In reality, though, Papandrea said about 50 to 65 percent of them never do.
Bones, the laborer, said he was happy he’d pawned his gun. Otherwise, he might do something crazy.
“I don’t want to be out robbing and mobbing,” he told me. “But money is tight.”
Rick Badie’s column appears on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Contact him at 770-263-3875 or e-mail: rbadie@ajc.com.
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By LT5000
March 27, 2008 10:31 AM | Link to this
At least Badie didn’t (falsely) use the term depression. Even though it’s another slanted article to claim the economy is soooooo Bad.
i.e. elect Obama he will fix everything.
By the way, the GA unemployment rate is 5.2%. Below the national average.
Basically, pawn shops are for people who can’t manage their money, usually due to a drug/alcohol addiction.
Am I really supposed to believe someone drove up in a Jaguar to pawn something to buy gas. If they did, then their financial acumen is nil.
Maybe they should buy a radio and listen to Dave Ramsey.
LT5000
By Katie
March 27, 2008 11:08 AM | Link to this
I am not a Georgia native. I’ve never seen so many pawn shops as I’ve seen here. It’s sad. I don’t feel sorry for people who complain about not having enough money for food and clothes yet they are driving cars, have state of the art cell phones and the highest cable package possible. Seems to me there is a confusion between what are basic needs and what are luxury items. Basic needs are basic needs. You can survive without a cell phone, blue tooth and 250 cable channels. Sometimes times get tough for even the strictest money managers, for those people my heart goes out to them.
I also don’t feel sorry for the women who have multiple children that they can’t afford. I also don’t want to hear about the cost of birth control, keeping your legs closed doesn’t cost a cent. If you can’t afford your one child, please don’t have the 2nd, 3rd or 4th and expect my tax dollars to cover your expenses. I would prefer my tax dollars to go to people who haven’t already shown irresponsibility—like the electrican who had to sell his tools, for example.
By Cindy
March 27, 2008 11:13 AM | Link to this
LT5000,
I tend to agree with what you said from Basically on…
Have you ever been in a pawn shop and watched the people come in to get a loan? They get the money in their hand and customarily begin looking at the other stuff there to purchase. They were so desperate a minute ago for money but now are actively shopping.
Maybe it was an old Jaguar?
By LT5000
March 27, 2008 11:13 AM | Link to this
http://www.dol.state.ga.us/pdf/pr/lf_atlanta-reg.pdf
Some reference material for you Rick. In the Gwinnett area the unemployment rate is closer to 5.0%.
Anybody remember the Carter years? 7.5%
Funny. I don’t remember you writing any articles about how great the economy was a year and a half ago.
Oh right, Obama hadn’t announced his candidacy. Rick’s got the Obama kneepads on. Deluxe model.
LT5000
By Am I wrong?
March 27, 2008 11:34 AM | Link to this
On another monitary note, no pun intended. Do you all think that people realize that the money the Government plans to ‘give’ us this June we will have to pay taxes on next year??? The government will earn the money right back and it will end up costing us tax payers more. I wish people would realize this and return their checks.
By LT5000
March 27, 2008 11:43 AM | Link to this
Am I wrong,
You would return a check just because you have to pay taxes on it.
Does that mean you return every State income tax check every year?
Do you also return your paycheck?
LT5000
By Mark
March 27, 2008 11:58 AM | Link to this
I wonder if we could pawn Badie for an intelligent black journalist.
By Cindy
March 27, 2008 12:02 PM | Link to this
Yeah, I think I’ll keep the check and take my chances of it blowing the roof off of my income level. I’ll try not to chew my fingernails off in anticipation though.
Seriously, a few hundred bucks isn’t going to make you fall into some astronical earning bracket. If it does, you’re probably not due the upcoming check anyway.
By Cindy
March 27, 2008 12:06 PM | Link to this
I really need to learn to proofread before I click post.
I meant astronomical.
By Katie
March 27, 2008 1:51 PM | Link to this
I suppose, depending on your income, if you receive a check from the government exceeding $1,000, it may mean you have to pay taxes the next year when normally you get a few bucks back. That wouldn’t apply to everyone though. It would depend on your income, tax bracket, deductions etc.. I’m no CPA though. I plan to put my money in the bank and not spend it at all.
By Lee
March 28, 2008 5:42 AM | Link to this
There is an ad on TV for a used car dealership that shows a lot of high end cars - used BMWs, Mercedes, Escalades, etc. Then they say “No credit, no problem. We finance (at 14.9%).” But the kicker is the hook line “We will get you into the luxury car you deserve.”
Okay, if you have credit problems, the last thing you need to do is to buy a luxury car, used or otherwise. And 14.9% is almost three times the going rate.
Oh well. As comedian Ron White says, “You cant fix stupid.”
By Cindy
March 28, 2008 7:17 AM | Link to this
You’re right Lee. Know what though…there’s so many people who refuse to live withing their means. That’s why there’s all this talk about “recession”. Interest-only loans, $800 a month car payments for a $300 a month car…but when we drop off little Johnny at school, we look very successful…does he need shoes? oh that’s ok, we’ll charge it…honey you don’t feel like cooking tonight? that’s ok we’ll go out to eat…and charge it…that way we’ll look like we can afford everything…the American Dream. And next year we’ll just file bankruptcy…pay cash for 2 years, then start all over. Makes us feel like failures if our car isn’t shiny and new like the neighbors car. NOT. People always try to be something they’re not and it’s not even to fulfill their own dreams and meet their own goals…it’s to “appear” to be successful.
Thank God I’m in a good mood or I might really get on my soap box…hahahahaaha. grrr. :)
By Katie
March 28, 2008 9:17 AM | Link to this
Cindy, no soap box needed, you said the truth. If people can’t handle that, oh well.
By reader
March 28, 2008 9:26 AM | Link to this
Lee—-That’s right, you can’t fix stupid, but you certainly can fix the predatory lenders who prey upon the less savvy consumers. That is not to disregard those people who are risk-takers. Sometimes, the risks simply did not pay off and they now find themselves in dire financial situations. That’s their own fault.
So, if you can’t fix stupid, fix those who prey upon the stupid. It used to be that borrowers had to qualify for loans, mortgages, etc., and have a large enough downpayment—-savings of their own funds. Then came along the new breed of greedy slimeballs who “gave” everyone and anyone a loan…no income/no asset verification or no credit, no problem loans. All of the sudden, anyone could buy a house, expensive car, etc. But, what happens when the borrower can’t afford to pay the money back? Hello 2008. Has the law changed so that the guy who closed shop on Wednesday cannot open up on Thursday, under a different name, conducting the same sleazy practices?
In this article, the guy traded a gun for $100. If he wants to buy it back, he’s got to pay $125…that’s a 25% interest rate, higher than the interest on a credit card. Does this man understand that? Now, that does not mean to borrow cash against a credit card. Of course, the credit card co. would charge for a cash withdrawal, technically increasing the interest rate or cost of borrowing money. Too many people do not understand annual percentage rates/yields. Maybe schools should be teaching basic finances to students rather than how to take standardized tests. Common sense, as well as common decency, seem to be lacking.
By Cindy
March 28, 2008 10:32 AM | Link to this
And reader, guess what else? The guy who now owes $125 in a month, when that month is up, he’s still gonna be broke…so he’ll strut in with the $25 interest payment to refinance it for another month…perhaps do that 3 or 4 times until he’s paid the pawn shop $100 for loaning him the $100, but he still owes the $125 to get the gun out of hock.
pawn shops have no shortage of customers either.
By LT5000
March 28, 2008 11:29 AM | Link to this
Reader,
People’s finances are their business and they are responsible. No one is forcing people to take items to a pawn shop, get a credit card or a title loan.
Recently, laws have been passed to reduce the interest rates these places can charge. And that’s a good thing.
If people couldn’t get money from these places. Then they will turn to loan sharks. The mafia is much less flexible and understanding than a pawn shop.
LT5000
By Michael H. Smith
March 28, 2008 11:30 AM | Link to this
The poor or financially unwise individuals fallen upon hard times go to pawn shops. The Banks and financially unwise Wall Street securities firms go to the Federal Reserve.
Moral of the story: If you owe enough money that you cannot repay, too enough people to scare the hell out of the world, then you deserve a taxpayer (government) bailout.
I know, it was a cheap shot, smart-A-comment, but you can’t deny the painful irony of it all.
By LT5000
March 28, 2008 11:35 AM | Link to this
Reader,
People’s finances are their business and they are responsible. No one is forcing people to take items to a pawn shop, get a credit card or a title loan.
Recently, laws have been passed to reduce the interest rates these places can charge. And that’s a good thing.
If people couldn’t get money from these places. Then they will turn to loan sharks. The mafia is much less flexible and understanding than a pawn shop.
LT5000
By Bruce Wilcox
March 28, 2008 12:02 PM | Link to this
A pawn shop is a legit business, better than a loan shark who charges even higher interest and will break your legs as a reminder to pay.
You can get great deals at pawn shops, high end tools, guns, stereo equipment, jewerly it’s there.
The unemployment in Georgia is a wee bit higher than the national level, ours is 5.3% and national average is 5.2%.
http://www.ajc.com/search/content/business/stories/2008/03/20/jobs0321web1.html
By reader
March 28, 2008 12:47 PM | Link to this
In the ideal world, people would take care of their responsibilities and finances. However, we don’t live in an ideal world. If peoples’ finances were truly their own business and responsibility, why is the gov’t now involved in the bailout of the mortgage industry? It should be a matter between the defaulted borrower and the bank, yes? Oh, but wait…the lenders have gone under. Why? Bad loans.
If financial institutions had made good loans, or at least less questionable ones in the first place, perhaps they would not have gone under, and then maybe we’d not be in the predicament we’re in now. It’s a vicious cycle…the housing market affects everything from manufacturing to banking to retail, etc.
LT, if you think your n’hood has issues now, wait until the foreclosure signs go up because the owner can’t afford the payments on the bad loans. That does not make for a pretty n’hood. We’ve experienced vacant homes in our community. They are attractive nuisances and are magnets for trouble.
When the tenants do not pay their rents, the absentee landlords with little or no investment, find it easier to abandon the properties rather than to proceed with the eviction process, etc. Time is money, and if they don’t have it, they walk. Or worse, they take in extra tenants and create boarding houses. You know, people do what they have to do to keep up. Afterall, their finances are their personal business. They’re trying to meet their personal responsibilities.
Regarding the pawn business, I just pointed out the high interest rate. That’s all.
By Cindy
March 28, 2008 1:03 PM | Link to this
Right now, I can’t think of anything else to say about this topic. I wonder what Sunday’s blog will be about?
By LT5000
March 28, 2008 1:15 PM | Link to this
Reader,
I can’t wait for the foreclosure signs. Add another investment property to my portfolio.
By the way, only 1% of homes end up in forclosure. Just a fact for you, not the end of the world.
Of course, I tend to screen applicants a little bit better than most and make sure they understand no criminal activity will be tolerated.
Also, I’m glad to see, despite the politics, the BOE is moving forward with immigration screens at the Gwinnett County Jail. Better late than never for Sheriff Butchie to actually do his job.
LT5000
By Cindy
March 28, 2008 1:31 PM | Link to this
LT5000, what is BOE? Not BOC?
By reader
March 28, 2008 1:51 PM | Link to this
LT—-Where did you get that 1% foreclosure rate statistic? Apparently, where I’m at, the foreclosure rate is higher…we’ve had 4 of 160 homes (2.5%) in foreclosure in our n’hood. There are an additional two that have been in and out of foreclosure in the last year as well. So, in my case, the foreclosure rate is not 1%, but could climb closer to 3.75%.
Good for you for being a diligent, concerned and interested investment owner.
By Fulton
March 28, 2008 2:06 PM | Link to this
Mr. Badie, no matter the topic, it seems it will still always come back to the very same issue with ‘those people’…
By Cindy
March 28, 2008 2:26 PM | Link to this
“those people?” who???
I don’t think I am guilty of it…but tell me what people, so I’ll be able to make an accurate determination. Thanks.
By Cindy
March 28, 2008 2:45 PM | Link to this
Sheriff Conway does a mighty fine job, despite the constant opposition he gets to make it appear otherwise.
It’s all smoke and mirrors LT5000, kinda like all those cool tricks the magic guy does with his rabbits and coins and all. Not that I don’t enjoy a good magic show…I do. Especially with the little miniature rabbits, they’re especially cute.
But Bannisters same ol mumbo jumbo to confuse the issue is just getting old and boring me to tears.
He’s going to quickly need to come up with some new material…as I, a regular person, can pretty much recite verbatim what he’ll say in his next little letter. It’s not that I have such great talent or county leadership abilities, rather that he says the same thing over and over…remember how records used to skip? Like that.
Right now though I’m on the edge of my seat waiting to see what he reports from his field trip to learn what a sheriff’s office actually does and how they go about it.
I’d bet $$$ that he’s never toured the facilities in his own county, but then he would be observed locally and there’d be no saving-face.
It’s a give and take thing I guess. He gives a bunch of crap, all the while taking us for a ride.
I’m carrying that water again, ain’t I? But…You’ve got to stand for something or you’ll fall for anything.
Is anyone even running against Sheriff Conway this year? I guess we’ll know in April…but how funny would it be if nobody thought they could do a better job? Hey! Maybe Bannister will run against Conway!!! He has to be qualified…to hear him tell it…I bet he’s in the process of being certified, right this very minute.
Come on April…
By Michael H. Smith
March 29, 2008 11:15 AM | Link to this
Hold the fort a moment Cindy. Back this cart up to the horse. Put things in the prospective that agrees with reality.
How long has the 287g program been in existence and when did the 287g program go into effect?
When was Sheriff Conway “elected” as Sheriff of Gwinnett County and how many years has he served as the Sheriff of Gwinnett County?
Do keep that word ELECTED in mind, Butch does not answer to the BOE or the BOC, he [Butch] is ELECTED by we citizen voters of this county, he answers to us.
When these two questions are answered, it becomes apparent Sheriff Conway’s efforts to date speak less than favorable on enforcing the law to the extent within his means, particularly and specifically in regards to illegal immigration.
I have no problem with your stand Cindy but make sure you know what you are standing on. Sheriff Conway was elected in 1996 and the federal program 287g went into effect that very same year.
I’ve only one question to ask Sheriff Conway: Why have you only now shown any interest in pursuing the federal program 287g, when this federal program and you share mutual years in effectual authority?
By Michael H. Smith
March 29, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this
True to course or to the course of capitalism per se, when life gives you lemons you make lemonade.
Here in lovely Lawrenceville we enjoy an abundance of pawn shops to the extent it grieves a number of the citizenry of the city. Of course, pawn shops are not the full extent of the citizenry’s commercial grief. In this discomfit is a mix of used cars lots, title loan establishments and other alternative financial institutions. Yours truly would add, nail salons and fast food joints.
Where some will argue on the side of Adam Smith’s invisible hand and the fundamental law of supply and demand governing capitalism to make any necessary corrections, others duly note the unwieldy manner in which these corrections occur relying solely upon an unfettered capitalism.
Far be it from anyone to defile capitalism that pursues making an honest buck; however, further be it from anyone to deny “sanity” a proper place in the resolve of free-market commerce pursuing that almighty dollar. Suffice to say, balance is absent and enough is enough.
Hard times demand even harder solutions, where prosperity lacks diversity.
By Cindy
March 29, 2008 4:09 PM | Link to this
HI Michael,
Glad you posted today…I was beginning to think that I’d broken the blog…after my comment nobody else said anything. :)
What you say makes absolutely perfect sense. And I of course can’t answer for the sheriff. You should ask him personally though. I know on the website, his email address is there, you should send him a message.
His constituents want the program implemented. And like you said, he’s an elected official, but there’s more to it than just the desire. The jail has to meet certain criteria and currently doesn’t. In order to meet the goals, he’s officially and without pretense, laid out what he needs to make it happen.
In an effort to undermine others and make himself shine bright in an election year, Bannister is throwing up every roadblock he possibly can…know why?
He’s not alone in the election…and people are passionate about illegal immigrants…it’s his attempt to ascertain his greatest foothold where we have the biggest issue.
It’s rather ingenuios of him, if you ask me…but only the ones of us who keep up with what’s going on, truly understand it, and can see the forest for the trees can look at the political undercurrent and discern what is actually truth-bearing, and what’s left remaining is simply hype.
I think if we continue to look hard enough we’ll see what’s fact and what’s fiction. Sometimes it’s not always evident. I think I read somewhere that they’re meeting Tuesday. We’ll see what results come from that, but I’m still pretty dang anxious to see what Bannister reports from his field trip.
:)
By Michael H. Smith
March 30, 2008 2:09 AM | Link to this
I’m sure Butch would use the criteria argument. I’m not buying into it though (by the way I emailed both Conway and Bannister on this issue and their obvious disingenuous posturing on it… uh, no reply of course). Both Conway and Bannister are up for election and they are very vulnerable on this illegal immigration issue. In fact, the immigration issue will come up again in the presidential election for reasons far beyond passions, all across this nation in nearly every state.
Cindy, not meaning to offend you, but I don’t need to look any further than I have to ascertain fact from fiction. I’ve lived with this illegal immigration issue far too long to be duped by either Conway or Bannister, or for that matter any other local politicians you may want to discuss.
Take this for what it is worth: 287g is one of the most effectual law enforcement tools available for local law enforcement to use in combating a problem they otherwise could never touch that constantly is touching them daily. 287g removes the barriers that exist between federal, state and local law enforcement in combating illegal immigration, acting very effectually as a “force multiplier” in manpower numbers and areas policed that I.C.E. shall never match or duplicate, alone and unassisted (by the way, I also emailed Commissioner Green basically this same comment I do believe and certainly recall vividly commenting to her the reason 287g faces so much opposition is because it actually works). If you could get the numbers of illegal aliens processed for deportation from Cobb County since last July when they began 287g and compare them to the numbers from Gwinnett County of illegal aliens processed for deportation at the jail by the I.C.E. agents to date, I do believe the empirical evidence of the difference alone would be conclusive without assessing many other important factors – i.e. attrition in the numbers of illegal aliens residing in the county, lowering of county jail population, overall improvement in public safety and decline in drug and gang related crime (by the way, Cindy, in case you are unaware 27% of the federal prison population in this country is non-citizen. So as you might ascertain, Butch may not need those additional deputies for long, once 287g is implemented and he depletes the county jail population of deportable illegal aliens, now under his tender loving care).
By Fred
March 30, 2008 4:51 AM | Link to this
reader? You are an idiot. The so called “predatory lenders and loans” came about because people who couldn’t qualify for loans were crying the tired cry of “discrimination.” The Gov’t in it’s usual role of appeasing the masses to get re elected leaned on the banks to lend money to folks who shouldn’t be lent a nickle enough to buy houses they lacked the funds or character to repay. Gee, what happened? They couldn’t or wouldn’t repay.
Let me clue you in a a little secret, I say little because people with intelligence know it already, banks don’t WANT your house. They are BANKS not real estate agents. They want the interest on the money they loaned. Banks ESPECIALLY don’t want your damn house at a time when there are a brazzilion other houses on the market dragging the price of houses down.
Pull your head out of your butt long enough to breath, your brain has asphyxiated and is no longer capable of rational thought.
I can see YOU have managed to keep most of the money YOU have earned……….. NOT.
Hi Cindy, never saw you HERE before lol.
By reader
March 30, 2008 1:27 PM | Link to this
Fred,
Well, you certainly sound like an angry “man”. When you go spewing your angry venom at people you don’t know, it makes you look like you have a serious inferiority complex, you know, the name calling and all. If you want to make an argument, do it like an adult. The gov’t did not force banks to give people $500K loans. That is the most ridiculous conspiracy I’ve heard in quite a while. How is the bank going to collect interest on a loan that will not be repaid? Think your argument thru, otherwise, you’re going to sound really stupid.
By Cindy
March 30, 2008 3:23 PM | Link to this
Hi Fred…I am here too, yep.
Michael H Smith…you said you didn’t mean to offend me. You didn’t. If you meant to, I missed it. haha.
I don’t really have anything else to say about it right now. I’ll refrain until after Tuesday…well, probably. :) There’s always a chance I could change my mind.
By Michael H. Smith
March 30, 2008 4:20 PM | Link to this
Nope. Absolutely did not mean any offense, which was the very reason I used the extra keystrokes to avoid any appearance of a hostility on my part.
By Cindy
March 30, 2008 5:34 PM | Link to this
And I appreciate it.
By Lia
April 1, 2008 3:16 PM | Link to this
My company’s home office (Primerica) is right outside of Atlanta. Our business is booming. Anyone who wants to start their own business or make a career change can come in, on the platform and support of Citigroup, and do that. You don’t need to have financial experience or training—they train you! All we do is help people get out of debt, help people make more money, and help people make more money. It’s a great time to be in this business—financial services.
By Lia
April 1, 2008 3:17 PM | Link to this
My company’s home office (Primerica) is right outside of Atlanta. Our business is booming. Anyone who wants to start their own business or make a career change can come in, on the platform and support of Citigroup, and do that. You don’t need to have financial experience or training—they train you! All we do is help people get out of debt, help people make more money, and help people make more money. It’s a great time to be in this business—financial services.
By john
April 13, 2008 7:27 PM | Link to this
I’m sure there may be some honest citizens out there who are just trying to get by. For the MOST part, these pawn shops are dealing in stolen items they hope slips through the cracks. They know if a 21 year old little girl who looks dope sick, is pawning carpenter tools or mechanics tools, or expensive items every other day or week, that it’s stolen. They’re relying on the fact that the girl is a good enough theif, that it won’t lead the cops back to their shop and they can mark it up. I’ve been on every end of this type of situation. Don’t blow smoke up our butts and say it’s high dollar lawyers trying to make a cable bill payment. They are enabling these addicts to continue to rob and steal from the honest working man, and making it harder for the addict to realize his/her addiction problem. Pawn shops are not a far cry from a drug dealer.
By Jason
April 16, 2008 9:34 AM | Link to this
Yes the economy is bad, coming from another pawnshop you see Mercedes, Hummers etc. trying to pay their car payment. The main problem is not Pawnshops or who is president it is simply people do not “SAVE” their money at all and of course when we are out of money we blame Bush!
By Jason
April 16, 2008 9:36 AM | Link to this
Yes the economy is bad, coming from another pawnshop you see Mercedes, Hummers etc. trying to pay their car payment. The main problem is not Pawnshops or who is president it is simply people do not “SAVE” their money at all and of course when we are out of money we blame Bush! Also for the comment that pawnshops are only drug dealers. You have no idea what you are talking about. We have to turn in serial numbers every night to the Police department and if an item seems to good to be true you let if go. The American public in general is so quick to blame everyone else for the problems. You are your own nightmare. Again, Save your money!!
By Alicia Pinkney
April 18, 2008 12:17 PM | Link to this
Save what MONEY!!! You must have someone in your corner, helping you financially like a husband, a parent, or a really good job. It’s not the president’s fault, however, it would help if the minimum wage wasn’t so low. If you save your money, you will ultimately spend it on GAS GAS GAS!!! Trust me, everybody is hurting on that one. Pawn shops are not the worst business, it’s just materials that you exchange for money. If you think about it, not having a Rolex is better than getting evicted out of your home.
By blake
May 11, 2008 10:03 PM | Link to this
I was in the pawn shop biz for over 4 years. Yes, I’ve seen my share of addicts come and go. Yes, we all knew that they were stolen items when they arrived. Like the one who commented earlier, you do have to turn in the serial numbers and all that. That’s to cover our asses. The long story short is, anyone who’s down on their luck can hock anything just about. Sadly, a good portion of our biz comes from addicts. I turned quite a few away, but my boss told me too many times about letting good deals go out the door. I’ve seen the dopesick kids coming in hocking stuff they couldn’t afford in a lifetime, for pennies. I had to get out of the biz to clear my own conceious. Hope I splelled that right. As long as there is addicts, the pawn shops will always survive. Anyone who disputes that is lieing.
By Pawn Shop
May 15, 2008 6:18 PM | Link to this
This is a great article about pawn shops. Here’s a great website I found that focuses a lot on pawn shops.
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August 5, 2008 4:26 AM | Link to this
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By Nik
August 7, 2008 8:34 PM | Link to this
I think pawn shops are great if they are fair to the people they are dealing with. I am only 17 but just bought a 28,000 dollar Chevy 1 Ton Truck for cash. I make money by buying old watches to resell them but i am fair to the seller and will not offer them less than half of what it is worth i am getting better more valueable watches just being fair to people. In the end of it only God can judge peoples actions and reactions. You can only decide for yourself if you can’t have the pride to make your own money and apply at Mcdonalds then im sorry you should just starve to death.
By james
September 5, 2008 11:26 PM | Link to this
Hello, I am Mr James Fredrick, I am a Financial Loan Lender, I Offerf financial Loan To those Who are financially In Need of Financial Help. We Offer Financial Loan At the Rate of 3%. We Offer Financial Loan for Bills, And For Business Start Up. We will be glad to Offer You The Loan. We Offer From 1,000 to 100,000 USD For More Information About The Loan Programmes Contact us via E-mail address jamesloaninvestors@yahoo.com FIRST INFORMATION NEEDED Name: Country: Phone: Country: Amount needed: Duration Period:jamesloaninvestors@yahoo.com We’ll be waiting for your immediate response.
By james
September 5, 2008 11:27 PM | Link to this
Hello, I am Mr James Fredrick, I am a Financial Loan Lender, I Offerf financial Loan To those Who are financially In Need of Financial Help. We Offer Financial Loan At the Rate of 3%. We Offer Financial Loan for Bills, And For Business Start Up. We will be glad to Offer You The Loan. We Offer From 1,000 to 100,000 USD For More Information About The Loan Programmes Contact us via E-mail address jamesloaninvestors@yahoo.com FIRST INFORMATION NEEDED Name: Country: Phone: Country: Amount needed: Duration Period:jamesloaninvestors@yahoo.com We’ll be waiting for your immediate response.
By Twynn
September 6, 2008 12:07 AM | Link to this
SPAM Alert! SPAM Alert! Dey See Us Trollin…dey hatin’…
By Me
October 30, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this
You people are all idiots. the unemployment rate in my city is at 8.9%. It is a little hard to manage your money when you lose your job and there are no jobs to replace the one you had. That has nothing to do with being a drug addict.. I have never read posts by so many morons before.
By Cindy
October 30, 2008 10:56 AM | Link to this
Me …keep reading, all of us idiots have said alot more since that blog. Oughta keep you more than entertained for a while…
By Tyrone
December 10, 2008 10:24 PM | Link to this
I lost my job. I’ve used many pawn shops. So far all but one has ripped me off. I had my daddy’s ring that was appraised at $4,000.00 They told me it wasn’t worth more than $50.00 I showed them the appraisal that was about 8 months old and they gave me 300.00 for it and when n I went back to get it out of hock, they said that I never gave them such a ring and gave me a peice of s** ring and told me to take it or leave it and when I showed them the paper they gave me, the took it and ripped it up and said that I have no proof now. This isn’t the first time this has happenned to me. They all rip offs!! Yeah, I was an addict and used them pawn shops back in da day. They all knew what I was doing and they even helped me get around the law alot too. I don’t steal no more, but it getting hard now. I don’t want to go back to that lifestyle. They know when your down on your luck and they attack like vultures when they do.