What are pawnshops and how do they work?

Ever seen a TV show about a pawn shop or walked past one? Pawning is so popular because people can get fast cash, but why do they do it? Is it possible to pawn an item quickly and easily or do you have to wait as long as getting a bank loan? The main source of income for pawn shops is the exchange of goods for cash. Pawn loans are an example of this. Paying off debts and going on vacation are hard tasks when you don't have extra cash. What does a pawn shop do? This article shall help you understand the basics of pawning, pawn shops and pawn loans.

Pawn loans: what are they?

What you need to know about Pawnshops

Pawnshops act as recycling systems for valuables, collecting old, used, and sometimes new items and helping them find new homes. If you're interested in getting your item back, all you have to do is get a pawn loan. Pawnshops are the best because you can get fast and easy cash for items. If you use a pawn loan, you can use your item as collateral to borrow money from a pawnbroker. Afterwards, he will collect your item (collateral) and in return, will give you cashback. That's how it works.

 As soon as you do trade in your item as collateral, the pawnshop will issue you a pawn ticket in which you can see your receipt for the item, along with the description, your fees, and its expiration date. If you wish to obtain your item back from the pawnshop, you receive your money as a loan, and you will pay interest on the loan of 15% for the following months until you receive your item. In the same way as with a regular loan, the longer you wait, the higher your interest payment will be. The pawnshop can resell your item or do as they please with it if you decide you don't want to retrieve your item. The majority of pawnshops are not able to accept items that require larger loans because they lack space, but Xtreme Pawn specializes in larger loans, and we can accept collateral such as trucks, boats, and tractors. Title loans are not accepted by Pawnshops.

Repayment of the loan

Paying off the loan involves going back to the pawnshop and repaying the original loan payment plus interest. You will need to present proof that the item belongs to you, such as a pawn ticket or other form of identification. You can leave an item at the pawnbroker if you don't desire to pay back the loan and no longer care for it, but the pawnbroker will have the legal right to resell it for an income. 

Comparison of bank loans and pawnshop loans

Borrowing money is scary. Getting someone else to trust you with their money is not easy because you have to convince them that you will be able to repay all of it and more. As soon as you receive your loan, you will have to make enough money to repay your loans and interest. Consequently, you won't be able to improve your credit score. The first difference between bank loans and pawnshop loans is this: They are secured by collateral. Pawnshop loans are the exact opposite of bank loans since they are a hassle and a burden to pay back. It is stress-free to get a loan from a pawn shop, and there are no commitments. Your credit score will not suffer if you can't make your payment, and you won't have to keep working to keep the bank happy. Pawnshops won't look at your credit score when you get a loan from them since, from their perspective, it doesn't matter what your credit score is. You can get your item pawned when you can't make your payment; the pawnshop sells the item to make money. There is no need to worry. 

What are the most pawned items?

Pawn Shops sell power tools for a pretty good price, so these are very popular items in the pawn industry. There is such high demand for power tools these days that they are making a lot of money. In addition to gaming systems like Nintendo Switch, Xbox-1X, and PlayStation 4 Pro, there are also many gaming systems. The only exception may be rare or vintage games, as pawnshops tend not to buy systems or electronics older than five years. The number of golf clubs is also on the rise. You can find a lot of golf club equipment and tools in the pawnshop making it a lucrative sector to tap on when pawning any items and materials. 

In other areas, appliances can also be pawned since it is fast-moving, and there are a lot of buyers who wait for the marked down prices of these items and appliances. In general, any items of value can be pawned. An appraiser is always present to assess the value of the item, giving you an idea of the value of your item and the potential money you can get out of it. 

Can stolen items be pawned?

There's a rule at every pawn shop about making sure the item belonged to the person pawning it. Pawnbrokers will ask multiple questions about the item to determine whether it's legitimate before accepting it. A government-issued ID is also required by anyone selling items to a pawn shop. Pawnbrokers will then check serial numbers on the objects and enter them into databases. After the item has been recovered, the police can track down the thief and return the item to the owner if it has been stolen. 


Final Thoughts

Pawn Shops help a lot of people, especially those who need fast, clean, and reliable money. With reasonable interest rates and pawn policy, pawners can always get back the items they pawned provided they remain diligent in paying their monthly dues. If you are looking for a place to pawn and get expert advice, do not hesitate to drop us a call