Pawn Shop Savvy

[PinnedandRecessed]

I tell ya, I've had better experiences haggling with my local pawn than trying to deal with the old coots at gun shows lately. Half of them aren't aware that people have instant access to the internet and even if you showed them they wouldn't give a shit. I swear some of them just go to show off what they have and/or get away from the battle axe at home.

 

[Glenn B]

Just make sure you have a BOS. Gotta protect yourself. And if you do go the BOS route, make sure you are wearing a mask when you drive alone and wear a condom when yanking off. To protect yourself.

You hate bills of sale so much I guess it is possible that you never have bought a non-C&R gun gun at a local gun shop, a pawn shop, from an online dealer, from a dealer at a gun show or anything like those since (unless a C&R firearm) you would be required to fill out one of these:

It requires you to put down a lot more info than does any bill of sale. It is pretty much the same as using a credit card to purchase a firearm from a commercial establishment. I also imagine you have never bought a C&R eligible firearm from someone with a C&R FFL since they are required to get your identifying data for their record book. With any of the types of firearms purchases just mentioned all your info is easily retrievable by the government much more easily than from a BOS that the government would likely have to acquire by way of a warrant.

 

[PinnedandRecessed]

 

[Hoji]

You hate bills of sale so much I guess it is possible that you never have bought a non-C&R gun gun at a local gun shop, a pawn shop, from an online dealer, from a dealer at a gun show or anything like those since (unless a C&R firearm) you would be required to fill out one of these:

View attachment 474252

It requires you to put down a lot more info than does any bill of sale. It is pretty much the same as using a credit card to purchase a firearm from a commercial establishment. I also imagine you have never bought a C&R eligible firearm from someone with a C&R FFL since they are required to get your identifying data for their record book. With any of the types of firearms purchases just mentioned all your info is easily retrievable by the government much more easily than from a BOS that the government would likely have to acquire by way of a warrant.

So, do you wear a mask while driving alone?

 

[Tblack89]

So, do you wear a mask while driving alone?

Of course not, he wears a respirator and a pair of dishwashing gloves.

 

[General Zod]

So, do you wear a mask while driving alone?

 

[mm54943]

I’ve never been interested in buying guns from pawnshops. Typically the rices are damn near retail, and people seldom seem to pawn their lower end pieces. I always see Hi Points, and entry level models from other brands.

I never “haggle”, if I saw something I wanted. I’d make a cash out the door offer and commit to buy if they could do it. If they can’t, no biggie.

 

[Tnhawk]

You hate bills of sale so much I guess it is possible that you never have bought a non-C&R gun gun at a local gun shop, a pawn shop, from an online dealer, from a dealer at a gun show or anything like those since (unless a C&R firearm) you would be required to fill out one of these:

View attachment 474252

It requires you to put down a lot more info than does any bill of sale. It is pretty much the same as using a credit card to purchase a firearm from a commercial establishment. I also imagine you have never bought a C&R eligible firearm from someone with a C&R FFL since they are required to get your identifying data for their record book. With any of the types of firearms purchases just mentioned all your info is easily retrievable by the government much more easily than from a BOS that the government would likely have to acquire by way of a warrant.

Unless I'm dealing with a FFL dealer, I won't be filling out any paperwork in a transaction. No BOS, credit check or covid test either. I'm not in CA, IL or NY!

 

[Lonesome Dove]

My M48A was and still is a mystery. The "A" models weren't suppose to be exported.
The PS said it was a Mitchel Mauser and was price accordingly.
To me it was obviously not a MM. The MM import stamp is very noticeable yet wasn't there.
This one had no import stamp at all ?!

Lots of Mitchel Mausers were said to be fakes.

 

[benenglish]

I've had better experiences haggling with my local pawn than trying to deal with the old coots at gun shows

Most of my best buys from businesses have been from gun shops that purchase entire estates. They know what they know and purchase based on that. Then the weird shit is just leftovers they want to move.

Well, the weird shit is where I live. I've picked up some wonderful things for low prices at gun stores that just don't want to deal with firearms they consider too odd to be worth the effort.

 

[RaySendero]

Lots of Mitchel Mausers were said to be fakes.

 

[Glenn B]

Unless I'm dealing with a FFL dealer, I won't be filling out any paperwork in a transaction. No BOS, credit check or covid test either. I'm not in CA, IL or NY!

You obviously missed my point.

 

[Tnhawk]

You obviously missed my point.

My point isn't difficult for most to understand -NO BOS, NO paperwork if not an FFL transaction!

 

[Glenn B]

So, do you wear a mask while driving alone?

Keep your day job as a Walmart checker. Your comedic efforts get you nowhere.

 

[The4th]

I've worked in some pawn shops and gun shops over the years in-between IT gigs. Even did weekend gun shows on the regular to move used firearm stock out. (Always had a glut of shotguns!) Some pawn shops and dealers use codes on the tag to indicate what they paid or the lowest price the staff can accept without calling in the manager. It's a real time saver because the staff doesn't have to go dig through the system to see what they paid for something and they don't have to find and bother the boss. It also helps the staff build rapport with the clients by having the juice to give someone a good deal.

I have seen some use the price they paid written into what looks like a stock number. Usually at the end and sometimes backwards. #3347937051 could be a stock number or a stock number and a note that they paid $150 for the item. If you see codes like BKE or MPT, they may be using the ten-letter words BLACKSTONE or MAKEPROFIT. Each letter corresponds with 123456890. Sometimes there is an offset so that the starting letter is 0. In the first example, BKE and MPT would be $150. XX is usually just a placeholder BKEXX is still 150. If you figure it out, don't let on.

Many pawn shops are working "storage and bother" into their fees. If you walk into a gun shop and sell them your gun and I'm standing in line behind you, the gun shop can turn around and sell the gun to me before you leave the store. If you sell your firearm to a pawn shop, they can't sell the gun for a minimum of 21 days. Copies of the receipts are checked by the local sheriff's office during that time for stolen property. If you pawn it, it's 90 days if you don't try to redeem it. We would usually loan 1/3 sale value of an item and try to buy around half selling value. It kept people from over-extending in high-interest loans since redemption was "easier" on the wallet. Of course, it gave us a lot of profit and/or wiggle room in either case.

The best deals will come if you build rapport with the staff and don't be a nosey nell. If you like to hang out at the counter and chat, walk away when they are doing business with someone else. Never engage the other customer and try to do business with them, even if they don't accept the shop's offer. If you see a great deal and hope to get it, follow through if the staff calls you in 90 days. "Hey, if they don't pick that up, call me! I guarantee I'll buy it!" Even if the shop is pricing something high, it is in their goal to have CASH to put back out on the street. Money tied up on the shelf is not making money for them, so don't be afraid to offer quite a bit under what they are asking. And have the money on hand. Don't pull that, "Well, I have to run to the bank." or "Let me see what the wife says." after the staff accepts your offer.

 

[Paul Saver]

I've worked in some pawn shops and gun shops over the years in-between IT gigs. Even did weekend gun shows on the regular to move used firearm stock out. (Always had a glut of shotguns!) Some pawn shops and dealers use codes on the tag to indicate what they paid or the lowest price the staff can accept without calling in the manager. It's a real time saver because the staff doesn't have to go dig through the system to see what they paid for something and they don't have to find and bother the boss. It also helps the staff build rapport with the clients by having the juice to give someone a good deal.

I have seen some use the price they paid written into what looks like a stock number. Usually at the end and sometimes backwards. #3347937051 could be a stock number or a stock number and a note that they paid $150 for the item. If you see codes like BKE or MPT, they may be using the ten-letter words BLACKSTONE or MAKEPROFIT. Each letter corresponds with 123456890. Sometimes there is an offset so that the starting letter is 0. In the first example, BKE and MPT would be $150. XX is usually just a placeholder BKEXX is still 150. If you figure it out, don't let on.

Many pawn shops are working "storage and bother" into their fees. If you walk into a gun shop and sell them your gun and I'm standing in line behind you, the gun shop can turn around and sell the gun to me before you leave the store. If you sell your firearm to a pawn shop, they can't sell the gun for a minimum of 21 days. Copies of the receipts are checked by the local sheriff's office during that time for stolen property. If you pawn it, it's 90 days if you don't try to redeem it. We would usually loan 1/3 sale value of an item and try to buy around half selling value. It kept people from over-extending in high-interest loans since redemption was "easier" on the wallet. Of course, it gave us a lot of profit and/or wiggle room in either case.

The best deals will come if you build rapport with the staff and don't be a nosey nell. If you like to hang out at the counter and chat, walk away when they are doing business with someone else. Never engage the other customer and try to do business with them, even if they don't accept the shop's offer. If you see a great deal and hope to get it, follow through if the staff calls you in 90 days. "Hey, if they don't pick that up, call me! I guarantee I'll buy it!" Even if the shop is pricing something high, it is in their goal to have CASH to put back out on the street. Money tied up on the shelf is not making money for them, so don't be afraid to offer quite a bit under what they are asking. And have the money on hand. Don't pull that, "Well, I have to run to the bank." or "Let me see what the wife says." after the staff accepts your offer.

I appreciate you sharing your experience, it was very educational for me.

 

[Polkwright]

I walk into a pawnshop every once in a while, but it's either because I'm killing time waiting on the missus nearby or I'm looking for something else other than guns. They just aren't what they used to be. The internet did that. The last one I went into didn't even have any guns. It was mostly designer handbags! I found that odd. Must be a niche for them.

I used to hit up Bayou Pawn fairly frequently. Looks like he's sold out to a chain. They had a lot of crap, but a sprinkle of quality stuff. I went weeks negotiating with them on the last pawnshop gun I bought. During that the manager told me he thought the only reason the owner had pawnshops was because he liked to go through the guns. He would take the good stuff and keep it. Later he would recycle some of them back through the pawnshops. The one I wanted came from his stash. It had to sit a while before they could get to my price.

They know what stuff is worth and will gunbroker stuff they don't think they can sell. Not a lot of customers in pawnshops are looking for expensive firearms. I think their market is sub $350 handguns. But in Houston pawnshops are mostly in the 'hood so that is to be expected.

 

[DD130]

I rarely buy new guns, and seldom sell private-party. My first stop for either is one of many local pawn shops. Been going this this same one for 7+ years now. Tried all the others, poor service, poor selection, ragged / trashed guns... but for some reason this one has not sold me and duds, everything is nice, well maintained with rare exception and priced accordingly.

For me, I can save about 20% off a new run at the PS, and almost every one of them I've bought has been a safe queen, and they get interesting stuff. I picked up a sweet SIG Scorpion from them, and well as an LTT 92Compact with RDO, streamlight and all mags have aluminum bottoms.

They also do $20 transfers (for which I've used them any times). They also have me on speed-dial for interesting things coming in, like the Beretta. I've also consistenly gotten the best sell/trade prices for my gently used guns.

As a point of reference, they have used stuff ranging from Taurus G3s to Stacctos (I've see a few go though). It def. depends on the shop but not all of them are moving Saturday Night Specials.

If you find a good one, build a relationship with them and you'll probably get well served.

YLGSMV