Pawn shops are a good way to get some extra cash, as long as what you are selling has some value. And there are specific things pawn shops love, along with things that might get you shown the door the moment you pull them out. It helps to know what sells and what doesn’t. The general rule is that pawn shops will buy anything of value. But value alone isn’t enough to guarantee a sale.
There are rules and these shops care about their reputation and their right to keep operating. They won’t buy anything stolen or any valuable item you can’t prove is yours. If there were one rule to follow when you want to pawn something, it would be this: make sure it’s valuable, authentic, and that you have proof of ownership. Follow that rule and you can sell almost anything at a pawn shop. On top of that, apart from jewelry, most pawn shops only accept items in good working condition. So here are some of the best items you can get some extra bucks for at a pawn shop in 2018.
Jewelry
According to Chapes-JPL, jewelry is one of the things pawn shops can’t resist. The most valuable jewelry is made of gold. Even a broken but authentic gold necklace will sell. Silver is the next material to consider, valued right after gold. Precious stones like diamonds and gems are worth money too.
Luxury watches like Rolex, Breitling, Cartier, Piaget, or Chanel will also get you good money. If your watch is one of these brands and it doesn’t look great to you, don’t try to service or refurbish it. You may not know this, but pawn shops prefer luxury watches of these brands exactly as they are. Collectors of these watches like them untouched. The natural wear and tear actually adds to their appeal. And even if the watch isn’t working, as long as it’s one of these brands, sell it as is, but to a pawn shop that specializes in these watches. That kind of shop will have its own specialists and equipment to service them and bring them back to life.
Electronics
Flat Screen TVs, Smart TVs, Smartphones, Digital Cameras, Computers, Computer Accessories, Power Tools, Video Games, DVD systems
Plenty of people want the latest smart TVs, smartphones, and computers, and not everyone can afford them at their original prices. That’s where pawn shops come in. You can sell your screen if you don’t need it anymore, or your smartphone if you need the money for something else, or your computer and its accessories.
There is one rule of thumb for selling these electronics: make sure they run recent technology and that you have the receipts to prove you own them. Trust me, even if it’s still new, almost no one now will buy an outdated computer running Windows 9x.
Electronics get stolen all the time. Pawn shops know that many people with electronics to sell are likely trying to move stolen goods. Unless you stumble onto a pawn shop that accepts stolen items, most of the pawn shops you’ll find run a legitimate business and will only accept items you can prove you own. You can also sell your iPad, tablets, and digital cameras (valued brands are Nikon, Canon, or any DSLR camera).
Other electronics that fetch good cash are power tools. Power drills, saws, compressors, impact wrenches, and generators are all worth money.
But remember, they have to be in good working condition, and you must have proof of ownership. The trick to how much a tool is worth comes down to its brand name. If you have something like DeWalt, Milwaukee, Bosch, Mac, KoBalt, Craftsman, or Snap-On, you should get good money.
Video game consoles like PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Wii are also worth money, as long as they work and you have proof of ownership.
Firearms
If you decide you don’t really need a gun for some reason, and it’s genuinely yours, you can trade it for some cash at a pawn shop. Selling firearms is a bit tricky, though. Some pawn shops accept them and others won’t. To find out whether a pawn shop takes firearms, don’t just walk in and pull out a gun. You will not like the reaction. It’s better to get the pawn shop’s contact details first and ask, or visit in person without the firearm and inquire. If all goes well, you should be able to trade the firearm for good cash. Almost any firearm in good working condition should sell.
Coins & Currency
Not many people have these anymore, but if you happen to come across old currency and coins, or you know where to get them, you may get good money for them at a pawn shop. Something a century old or older is even better. Of course, it has to be authentic.
Antiques & Collectibles
Like coins and currency, any item so old that you rarely see anything like it today will be considered valuable. If you have items from granny, grandpa, or your great-grandparents that actually date from their time, chances are they are worth something.
I’m not promising anything, just suggesting it wouldn’t hurt to check whether they’re worth something at a pawn shop. You can have them appraised, find out their true worth, and decide whether you’d like to trade them for that kind of money.
Also, if you have been collecting comic books, action figures, stamps, combs, or anything else, and you think you have a good collection, you could find a good price for it at a pawn shop.
There are other collectors out there, and if you feel you’ve had your fair share of fun collecting, they are willing to pay well for the collection you’re ready to part with. If you’re at the point where you can let go of a precious collection, a pawn shop can take it off your hands in exchange for good, easy money.
If you have any of the items above, it’s only a matter of time before you have some spare cash in your pockets. If you were thinking of pawning something and didn’t know how much it might get you, I hope this article has helped.
