The mystique of a Pawn Store has always been something that fascinates many people. Thanks to a plethora of popular television show that highlight the pawn industry such shops are becoming more accessible than they have ever been before. Even though there are a larger number of pawn shops in the Chicago area than there may have been at any point in the past, a lot of people still feel hesitant when it comes to dealing with pawnbrokers today. Below, learn the top tips for dealing with the pawn store in Chicago area successfully.
Tip One: Know The Value
Any Pawn Store in Chicago will be happy to make an offer on the items that are brought in for sale or pawn, but people are in the best position to field these offers if they have an idea of the item’s value. Do some research on the Internet, focusing on sale sites like eBay, to find out what the most recent sale prices for the item in question are. Be sure to count only the items that were successfully sold, not the items that had no bids. Learning these current prices is a good way to find out what people in the market are willing to pay for an item, and will give a good general idea of what to ask for at a pawn shop. Keep in mind that the pawn shop has to make money, too. Therefore, they won’t generally offer quite as much as an online buyer might pay. However, once you figure out how much shipping and insurance would cost, the money may be roughly the same.
Tip Two: Negotiate Reasonably
Most pawn shops do expect their customers to attempt negotiations. However, it is important to know that negotiations are more likely to meet with success if they are approached in a certain way. Asking for three times as much as the original offer is almost certain to be a losing proposition. However, asking for a modest 10 percent increase over the original offer will often be considered a reasonable request. Approach negotiations with a spirit of fairness and it is highly likely that both you and the pawn shop owner will be very happy in the end!
