Need information about pawnshops in NYC and Miami.

[[-Sentinel-]]

Hey guys.
So, I've always had a dream about going to NYC, and since I've graduated and have a job, now that is possible. And I'll be there from 23th May to 01 June.
In these few years as a game collector, I've been told about "pawnshops", that they are great places to gather rare games for cheap. Since I'm going to USA, I'm looking for some pawnshops recomendations in New York City.
Can anyone provide some information? Also, any suggestion on places I should visit?
Thanks for the time! :-)

[Aussie2B]

NYC is a pretty lousy place to look for pawn shops or thrift stores to be honest. You'd be better off looking for those in smaller cities. There isn't much of a used goods culture in NYC. People are either too snobby to shop anywhere but fancy retail stores, or the people who do need something cheap go to dollar stores, which are practically on every block. Garage/yard sales are also very rare (most wouldn't have the area to hold one anyway if they're living in apartments or rowhouses).

Anyway, recommendations would vary depending on where you're going. NYC is huge, and I doubt you're going to visit every borough. I guess you can look up what'll be near you with this: http://www.yellowpages.com/New-York-NY

[izarate]

I recall seeing a Salvation Army (or was it a Goodwill?) on the 46th four or five blocks away from the Intrepid.

[Greg2600]

Nothing is sold "cheap" in New York. I also very much doubt there's anything rare either. The suburbs is where people had money back in the day to buy the games in the first place. However, they're probably unreachable for you on your trip.

[NoahsMyBro]

Even disregarding the locale, are pawnshops that good of a deal for anybody anyway?

Sometime around '90 or '91 I worked for a pawnshop chain in Baton Rouge briefly. The chain totaled maybe 4 or 5 locations, and I worked in most of them.

It seemed to me though that the prices were rarely good (for the customer), and many times were even higher than what an informed customer might find on an identical, new product at an ordinary retail store or website. The few times I've visited other pawnshops I've noticed the same thing.

I think the idea that pawnshops offer discounted prices is a myth.

Am I wrong?

[Lerxstnj]

Pawnshop in NYC? Not so much.
Pornshop in NYC? Yes.

[Steve W]

Even disregarding the locale, are pawnshops that good of a deal for anybody anyway?

Sometime around '90 or '91 I worked for a pawnshop chain in Baton Rouge briefly. The chain totaled maybe 4 or 5 locations, and I worked in most of them.

It seemed to me though that the prices were rarely good (for the customer), and many times were even higher than what an informed customer might find on an identical, new product at an ordinary retail store or website. The few times I've visited other pawnshops I've noticed the same thing.

I think the idea that pawnshops offer discounted prices is a myth.

Am I wrong?

I've rarely found anything good in pawn shops. Usually overpriced common games and such, which is why I never check them out anymore. It seems like pawn shops around me don't accept any games and systems older than PS2/Xbox/GameCube era. Maybe the more run down junky shops will carry N64 games, but that's about it.

[Aussie2B]

Yeah, pawn shops tend to suck. They're only really good for the rare find of a semi-expensive game that they're not privy too. Usually their prices are mostly standardized, so, say, every GameCube/Xbox/PS2 game may be $10, as I've often seen, which is too much for most titles, but if they happen to have something worth more than that and they aren't aware of the fact, then you can get a good deal.

[[-Sentinel-]]

Thanks for all the information, guys.
So, as I see, pawnshops aren't a good deal or don't have any in NYC.
I'll also be in Miami. Any suggestion on where I should shop there?

Thanks!

[DefaultGen]

.....

[Steve W]

You might want to re-title this thread to say "Need information about pawnshops in NYC and Miami". That should pull in some of the Miami people here who might not have looked at this thread before.

[[-Sentinel-]]

Videogamesnewyork on 6th street is pretty sweet. Their prices are somewhere between 10 and 20 times market price of things, but they're got a boatload of stuff that's at least fun to see in person rather than pictures online!

If you're looking to buy anything, don't bother with any of the actual game stores. Their prices are outrageous.
Thanks for the information! I'll go there!



You might want to re-title this thread to say "Need information about pawnshops in NYC and Miami". That should pull in some of the Miami people here who might not have looked at this thread before.
Good point. :p

[klausien]

J&L Game Trading Inc.
28 Elizabeth Street
New York, NY 10013

Other than videogamesny, which kinda sucks for the aforementioned reasons (though you CAN even find a deal there if you are persistent enough - at least I did a couple times back when they were on St. Marks), I recommend J&L. Especially if you like imports. I haven't been to the new store, but the couple times I went to the old one it was worthwhile.

[TheDomesticInstitution]

There was a time not too long ago where pawn shops had a nice of last gen games for reasonable prices. Most of these are being liquidated nowadays, and replaced with more expensive current generation games. I could find all kinds of games at Pawn's in Florida- not so much up here in the Carolinas. I would figure Miami would have some decent spots if you knew where to look. Anyone from Miami here want to chime in.

Never having been in New York, you guys confirmed what I always thought anyway... nothing good to find and everything's overpriced.

[[-Sentinel-]]

J&L Game Trading Inc.
28 Elizabeth Street
New York, NY 10013

Other than videogamesny, which kinda sucks for the aforementioned reasons (though you CAN even find a deal there if you are persistent enough - at least I did a couple times back when they were on St. Marks), I recommend J&L. Especially if you like imports. I haven't been to the new store, but the couple times I went to the old one it was worthwhile.

Thanks! I'll take a look at that store!



There was a time not too long ago where pawn shops had a nice of last gen games for reasonable prices. Most of these are being liquidated nowadays, and replaced with more expensive current generation games. I could find all kinds of games at Pawn's in Florida- not so much up here in the Carolinas. I would figure Miami would have some decent spots if you knew where to look. Anyone from Miami here want to chime in.

Never having been in New York, you guys confirmed what I always thought anyway... nothing good to find and everything's overpriced.
Silly me that thought that I would find something cheap in NYC. :P

[Greg2600]

Don't forget the Nintendo Store is in NYC, if you want to visit. 10 Rockefeller Plaza.

The other thing I was going to say is that in the USA, most pawn shops are located in lousy neighborhoods.

[[-Sentinel-]]

Don't forget the Nintendo Store is in NYC, if you want to visit. 10 Rockefeller Plaza.

The other thing I was going to say is that in the USA, most pawn shops are located in lousy neighborhoods.

Already added that to my list!
:-)