So, I’ve never been to a pawn shop before. I’m curious what’s there, but TV makes them seem shady and odd. What should I know before I visit? I’m sort of expecting a cross between an antique and a thrift store, that sort of vibe.
I’m in the USA and don’t intend to pawn anything.
Why should you visit a store that concept roots in scam? I don’t mean fraud, just buying cheap from desperate people and selling high. That’s a scam imo. Just don’t. There’s nothing to find there, no treasure, no unique stuff for borderline reasonable price. Maybe a gun. You need a gun from a pawn shop?
Where I’m from they’re mostly used as alternatives to online marketplaces like Craigslist and Facebook marketplace for people who can’t be bothered to respond to a slew of messages.
You can typically find last generation consoles and games pretty cheap.
TBF you just described most of capitalism.
I don’t need a gun, but the pawn shop on my commute has some musical instruments in the window which intrigue me. I’m a serial hobby-starter, and prefer gently used hobby tools over new, because used items have less of an environmental impact than new items.
Musical instruments are one of the better things you can find, and usually you can try them in store.