Inflation may be down, but prices still seem high to a lot of Americans. If you feel like you’re spending too much on, well, a lot of things, you’re not alone. According to Bankrate, prices of basic goods are still 21.2% higher than they were four years ago – the reason more people are making use of their local pawn shops.
If you’re looking for ways to offset the crazy price of meat, milk and eggs in your neighborhood, take a moment to consider the various ways that a trustworthy and reliable pawn shop might be able to aid your financial situation.
Pawn Shops Are Helping Americans Access Cash When They Need It
Let’s say you inherited a coin collection but were never interested in coins, so they sat in a drawer for years. Until the day your car dies or work dries up, and you’re not sure whether you can cover this month’s rent. You get in touch with your local pawner to assess their worth, bring them in, and watch as the person sorts through the different kinds of coins, assesses their value, and explains the differences so that you can understand. These are signs you’ve found someone you can trust.
Things to look for in a pawner:
- Educational. They’re good at explaining unfamiliar information.
- Show proof of resale values. They have charts that demonstrate where they source the market value of items.
- Offer good deals. They might add a premium to assess the value of items, but it’s still a win-win for both sides in the transaction.
- Patience with customers. You want to work with a businessperson who is patient and accessible, not someone who talks down to you or pressures you to cave to their demands.
Fast Cash Payments and Short-Term Loans Help Pay for Unexpected Expenses
If that antique watch you’re thinking of selling might have a significant resale value, a pawn shop is probably the quickest way to get some much-needed cash in hand. Pawning has done just that for countless Americans in recent years, when prices strained their ability to cover medical expenses and other unexpected bills. During the most recent period of inflation, the pawning industry saw a spike in visits from residents bringing in gently used televisions, laptops, gaming systems, and, of course, gems and jewelry to make ends meet.
For a variety of reasons, more Americans have been turning to pawn shops to help pay their bills. Reports show that over half (56 percent) of people in the U.S. would struggle to afford a $1,000 medical bill if they had to. For those folks, it can be a relief to know there may be an alternative to bank loans (which require a lot of personal information) and uncomfortable conversations with family members. It doesn’t matter whether the item in question is new or was purchased long ago. If you think something of yours made of precious metal would bring in a favorable amount in today’s market, and you need the money soon, then it is worth seeing what you can get at your local pawn shop.
A Great Alternative for Low-Cost Goods
The other reason families come to pawn shops in hard times? Great deals on goods, of course. If your kid needs a laptop for school, why pay full price when you can find something that operates fine for half the price? What makes computers so expensive lately is the bandwidth they provide for things like gaming and web design, capabilities that kids don’t need when they head to school.
Clothing, purses, guitars and other musical instruments also cost a pretty penny these days. So why pay full price? When you save a little cash here and there, it eventually adds up.
Chicago North Side’s Fullerton Pawners Helps Residents Save Money on Deals
We can’t offer you cheap produce or a better mortgage deal. But you might be surprised at what Fulltertion Pawners has stored within our walls. Make a habit of stopping by to see what we have. Inventory is changing all the time. Plus, we’re really friendly and like to hear from Chicagoans and other nearby residents so we know what it is you would like to see on our shelves.
Contact Fullerton Pawners online or call us at 773-637-9999 to get your questions answered today!