Pawn Shops

[A930Rocket]

I've been to several, but must be looking at the wrong ones. Seems all they ever have is worn out junk that's overpriced.

My wife did buy me a Rolex Submariner 11 years ago at one. Got a good deal. Gave it to my dad a few years ago.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Bought a great Ariens snowblower for less than 1/3 of what it would have cost new. It had been used I think once and looked/ran virtually brand new.

Stolen? Maybe. Dunno. They claimed it was pawned by a "down-on-his-luck" house-flipper who got burned in the RE crash but was it just a line? Don't know and don't care.

[lgb240]

About 17 years ago, I traded a 'lightly used' engagement ring for a 27" sony trinitron - great deal for me!

[nynor]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

Damn fine cue! Huebler, you mean? Paul Huebler, Linn, Missouri. Now in his late 70's, (if still alive). Even his stained maple forearm sticks in 70% condition are worth $110 according to the 3rd edition of the blue book of pool cues. Some of the fancier ones in 100% condition are worth maybe $1,000. That's not a lot in the cue world.

So, keep playing with it, and enjoy...they're a good players cue...I mean that as a compliment.

thanks. it is nothing fancy, but has great action and has held up to my abuse very well. i'd bet that this cue is 30 years old, or close to it.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by nynor

thanks. it is nothing fancy, but has great action and has held up to my abuse very well. i'd bet that this cue is 30 years old, or close to it.

30 years old could mean good old growth shaft wood...treat it kindly, and enjoy knowing you have a well made (in the USA) stick!

[nynor]

thanks for the kind words. i treat it well. it is straight (although it wasn't when i got it). i love the balance of this cue.

[LWJ]

I love pawn shops! Sort of like a concentrated garage sale. Shop em all the time. Don't buy too much however. What does that say about me?

Larry

[pwd72s]

That's really the key...liking the hit. That is very subjective from player to player.
Shane Van Boening, on anybody's list of the top ten pros in the world, plays with a cheap "cuetec" stick. A stick most turn their nose up at.

But hell, if a broom handle maker paid me to play with their handle as much as he gets paid to use an off the shelf Cuetec? Damned if I wouldn't play with a broom handle!

[mikesride]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

That's really the key...liking the hit. That is very subjective from player to player.
Shane Van Boening, on anybody's list of the top ten pros in the world, plays with a cheap "cuetec" stick. A stick most turn their nose up at.

But hell, if a broom handle maker paid me to play with their handle as much as he gets paid to use an off the shelf Cuetec? Damned if I wouldn't play with a broom handle!

Like other pro sports the "economy" cue you are buying is nothing like the "economy" cue that Van Boening is hitting!

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by Gogar

I bought a pair of Sony C37-A microphones at a pawn shop in Colorado Springs in 1996 for $350. I'm about $7650 ahead of the game right about now.

I'm not familiar.... $8000 pair of microphones?? What's the story? Is this normal?

[dhoward]

Tube condener mic.

[lane912]

Originally Posted by kaisen

I'm not familiar.... $8000 pair of microphones?? What's the story? Is this normal?

Sony Model C-37A


yes, not made like this anymore-

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by kaisen

I'm not familiar.... $8000 pair of microphones?? What's the story? Is this normal?

I've never been in a pawn shop as I hate to "shop", and if I need some new pawns, I'm gonna probably order them online. I do know the answer to this one though...not unusual at all. I used to do a lot of taping (live shows), and some of the "serious tapers" had rigs with $10K mics...like vintage stuff from the 60s, and man did they sound sweet. Me, I had a cheap $500 Sony mic, so I usually daisy-chained into their setups whenever possible .

[12own911]

When picking up my son's games that were pawned by a sister, I bought a ring that I am wearing right now. Love it and it only cost me $50. This was 6 years ago.

[nynor]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

That's really the key...liking the hit. That is very subjective from player to player.
Shane Van Boening, on anybody's list of the top ten pros in the world, plays with a cheap "cuetec" stick. A stick most turn their nose up at.

But hell, if a broom handle maker paid me to play with their handle as much as he gets paid to use an off the shelf Cuetec? Damned if I wouldn't play with a broom handle!

the hit.... very astute. i've noticed that my huebler responds best to a controlled/light hit. a heavy or heavy-handed hit will result in a poor result, every time. its all about 'touch' with this cue. if a shot requires 'power', i am better off going to a different cue.

[Joe Bob]

Guns are overpriced. I bought a new Ruger cheaper at Wally World.

[sammyg2]

At work we use computerized laser alignment systems to align motors to pumps etc.
Pretty darned accurate, cost is around $30k each and we have 6.

Years ago one came up missing.
Dumazz pawn shop guy bought it and called the manufacturer to see what it was worth. The manufacturer said they needed the serial number to determine the value. These things need to get calibrated often so the manufacturer knows who has what and they keep track.

The next morning we got a call, saying one of our alignment systems was in a pawn shop somewhere.

A little digging around and we found it. The goober actually wanted us to buy it from him!

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by mikesride

Like other pro sports the "economy" cue you are buying is nothing like the "economy" cue that Van Boening is hitting!

In this case, I believe you are wrong...according to the chat on pool boards, it is an off the shelf cuetec... Not their cheapest, but still a pretty cheap cue. R360 is the model...also used by a lady who shoots pretty good...Allison Fisher.

[Scuba Steve]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

I've been to several, but must be looking at the wrong ones. Seems all they ever have is worn out junk that's overpriced.

My wife did buy me a Rolex Submariner 11 years ago at one. Got a good deal. Gave it to my dad a few years ago.

Money Man downtown has pretty good deals on tools, at least the couple of times I've visited the place. The one on Hwy 17 heading out towards Savannah had a lot more inventory, but a lot more junk as well. A few clean tools though.

I've scored great deals on a mountain bike and a cordless drill. Both were like new and cost about 1/4 of retail. I go in with cash, offer about 60% of what's on the tag. The counter guy talks to the "boss" and they say ok if I cover the sales tax.

I may go there for a miter saw, but Craigslist has also been pretty solid around here. It's nice to have choices.

[on2wheels52]

"who are the usual clients for purchases?"

Not to over-simplify, but it's people looking for a bargain. Locals from all sorts of occupations, plus travelers who say they stop in every pawn shop they see.

"Sort of like a concentrated garage sale."

I don't know about the 'concentrated' part but thats exactly how I look at selling the un-redeemed stuff. It's tough selling used items. Someone walks in and looks interested in something I have for sale I'll do my best to make sure he walks out with it. It's not like Lowes where there's a stedy stream of buyers walking in every day. The only things I put price tags on are the long guns, if someone wants to buy something they have to engage me to find out what it will cost. That's my opportunity to feel them out as to what kind of buyer they are, so my opening price may vary somewhat.

"Guns are overpriced. I bought a new Ruger cheaper at Wally World."

I'm sorry there are shops like that. Nobody will make a statement like that about my place. There's no point in buying used unless it's a good deal.

Jim