BARGAIN HUNTING AT PAWN SHOPS: FIND OUT HOW IT'S DONE

Find out how much this wedding ring set will fetch.

This morning, I was just speaking to the detective who will be on our Pawnshop tour on March 21, 2013.  He was informing me of how the "fencing" process works, from theft to sale.

If you have ever had jewelry stolen, most likely it has wound up in a pawn shop like mine has.  Believe me, it's almost unrecognizable when it is placed with several of the same style of items. 

Many things in a pawnshop are not stolen goods. They are traded by people who either no longer need or want them, or need a very quick loan.  They are very interesting places and our speakers are ready to tell you how pawn shops operate.

Nothing new, pawnshops actually started in antiquity as a precursor to banks.  People would trade their belongings for cash or items that they needed. The premise has always remained the same, a way to get a loan very quickly without having to file the arduous paperwork process with a  bank.

Please diss the image of the shady pawn shop filled with druggies, or dark places where you will get $2 for a gold ring. Most pawn shops are very clean and all are regulated by the State. 

It's like going to several garage sales at one time. Naturally, the benefit using a pawn shop is a great way to get rid of things in your house that won't sell at on-line auctions or a garage sale for cash.  They are a great place to bargain shop and you will see how it's done.

Our tour will feature two pawn shops, an upscale antique dealer, a diamond broker and a detective who will explain where jewelry winds up once it is stolen from your house. Lunch of course, is always a given.


The experience is very interesting especially for those who are hesitant about going into a pawn shop alone.