A selection of essays and explainers from the PawnGuru founding team, originally published 2014–2016 and re-issued here with minor edits. The industry is opaque; these pieces try to make it less so.
Ranked by real customer reviews. We pulled Google review data across every pawn shop in our Texas directory and identified nine that have earned something rare in this business: deep, sustained customer trust.
Read essay →From a Newark storefront opened in 1890 to a downtown Mobridge family business founded in 1941, twelve historic pawn shops that have outlasted depressions, wars, and the rise and fall of an entire retail era.
Read essay →If a pawn shop treats you unfairly, you have real options — from contacting the shop directly to filing with state regulators or consumer protection bureaus.
Read essay →A pawnbroker looks at brand, condition, and resale demand before making an offer on your Android device — here is how those factors play out.
Read essay →Whether you are selling, pawning, or buying, knowing a few negotiation basics can meaningfully change the price you walk out with.
Read essay →Model, condition, carrier status, blacklist check, completeness, and iCloud lock — the six factors that determine what a pawn shop will pay for your iPhone.
Read essay →Experience, online databases, expert consultations, and the item itself all feed into the price a pawnbroker will offer — here is how the process works.
Read essay →As corporate pawn chains grow and small independents worry about their future, the real challenge for the 30 million Americans who rely on pawn shops is price transparency.
Read essay →Why you won't get spot price for your gold, what dealers deduct and why, and three practical steps to get the best offer before you sell.
Read essay →Why pawn shops offer wildly different prices for the same item — a founder's first-hand study of the Detroit pawn market, and what it revealed about an industry serving 30 million Americans.
Read essay →What to check — appearance, modifications, barrel, and action — when examining a used firearm at a pawn shop, and why licensed shops are the only place to start.
Read essay →Brand reputation, visible condition, and age are the three factors that drive a pawn shop's laptop offer — here is how they weigh each one.
Read essay →Three steps — calling ahead, researching your coins' value, and leaving them uncleaned — can make a meaningful difference in the offer you receive at a pawn shop.
Read essay →Brand, screen size, technology type, and completeness are the four things that drive a pawn shop's TV offer — and size alone won't save a weak brand.
Read essay →Before you hand over your item or your money, two checks — comfort with the people and confirmation of a valid license — will protect you in nearly every situation.
Read essay →Brand and condition are the two things pawnbrokers check first when evaluating used golf clubs — and knowing both puts you in a stronger position at the counter.
Read essay →Pawn shops don't have a uniform return policy — most offer something between 3 and 30 days, but the only way to know is to ask before you buy.
Read essay →The six things a pawnbroker checks before making an offer on your old iPhone — and what you can do in advance to earn a higher one.
Read essay →From Buddhist monks in ancient China to Renaissance monarchs pledging jewels, pawn shops have served as an economic lifeline across three millennia — and the basic model has barely changed.
Read essay →Federal laws govern lending disclosure, privacy, and firearm sales; state laws add licensing, rate caps, and police reporting requirements — here is the full picture.
Read essay →Detailed descriptions, clear photos, and knowing the resale value of your item before you walk in are the foundations of getting a strong offer at a pawn shop.
Read essay →What a pawn loan actually is, what it costs, what happens if you can't pay it back, and how to tell if you're being treated fairly.
Read essay →Pawn shops buy a wider range of items than most people expect — from jewelry and electronics to tools, instruments, and antiques — as long as the item has resale value.
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