How to file a complaint with your state pawn regulator
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 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.
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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