Think pawning isn’t popular? This age-old business practice is so universal that a TV show about it on the History Channel turned into an international hit – with a lot of lessons to learn for anyone tuning in.
The most valuable pearls of wisdom viewers got from the show could apply to any exceptional pawn service. To name a few:
1. Pawning Is Universally Popular
Since launching in 2009, the reality TV show Pawn Stars has kept millions of viewers around the globe enthralled with everything pawn-related. It’s taught us what to look for when exploring the different services our neighborhood pawn shop is offering. Also, about the kind of relationship you can build with an honest, expert pawner once you find them.
2. Pawn Shops Are Fascinating – You Never Know What You’ll Find
On TV, people who tune into the show are treated to more than haggling. Those scenes are part of the entertainment and may be partly scripted. But you also get to listen in on interesting conversations about the history of artifacts like a nineteenth century navy pistol or a poker cheating device. With an inventory in the thousands, the pawn shop in question chooses a few items to focus on in each episode, delving into the history behind each one.
3. How Much Is It Worth? Customers Want Accurate Appraisals of Goods
Other than some fun family dynamics, the main attraction of the show is often the recurring segments showcasing product appraisals. When folks bring in valuables from their attics, they want to know how much they are worth. This aspect of the show is a chance to display experts discussing what the market value of goods might be and why, which is why the show was often compared to Antiques Roadshow. Watch enough episodes and you’ll get a sense for how your own family heirlooms might be appraised.
4. Good Pawn Shop Brokers Tell It to You Straight
What stands out about Rick, the co-owner of the shop behind the show, is that he is a straight shooter who tells it like it is. If he doesn’t know the value of an item brought into his store, he takes his time to find out.
Granted, this kind of plot makes for good TV and doesn’t necessarily reflect how the average exchange goes in real life. One highlight of the show is that numerous experts are introduced to offer up insights into the objects that will indicate what their market value would be today. All of this gives these segments an air of authenticity – a quality you too should expect from any service you would consider.
5. Honest Pawners Gain a Trusting Clientele
Perhaps the central lesson in Pawn Stars is that shoppers need to trust the person they’re considering doing business with. Remember, there are multiple services that consumers could potentially take advantage of at a reputable pawn shop:
- Selling antiquities
- Taking out small loans
- Using personal valuables as collateral
- Assessing the value of merchandise
- Shopping for unique items
Every good business must earn the confidence of its customers. At the end of the day, Rick and the other characters know their stuff. They know when not to take the advice of certain appraisers, as well as when to learn from them.
6. Some Pawn Shops Can Repair Valuable Items for You, Too
Some episodes involve the Pawn Stars offering to repair items to determine their potential worth (or because something needs fixing). Need a piece of electronics equipment checked out for a possible repair? At Fullerton Pawners on Chicago’s north side, we also restore merchandise for customers, depending on the item and its condition. Give us a call or stop by to discuss your request.
Fullerton Pawners in Chicago Has the Best Reputation Around
Need a loan on short notice, or just want to browse some pretty cool inventory? There won’t be any TV cameras. Just a highly experienced and knowledgeable staff that gives clients an honest assessment of their goods, as well as loans when they need them.
Contact Fullerton Pawners by calling us at 773-637-9999, or stop by today to have your own merchandise evaluated.
