Need some advice on how to handle a pawn shop guy

[Cow Bell Man]

For about a year now I have been geting all my games from this one pawn shop. This guy has about over 100 nes games in stock until I started buying them up. He also has about 70 saga games, 40 Atari, 100 snes, 50 ps1...etc. He been selling the nes/Atari/saga games for $3 a pop. I have been hitting him up hard I have been buying about 20 games a months.

It wasn't until a few weeks ago that I started to get some guff from him. I was buying my usually 20$ worth of games (nes/saga) and he told me "Rember that you can trade some games once in a while". Then I handed him the cash and he said, "well you got all my good ones". (This isn't intialy true, I buy a lot of his sucky nes ones as well as some rare game and fun ones). I told him I just like to play them.

I also have reason to blevie that he thinks that I trying to make money off him. I think that he thinks that I have been buying his games and sell them on ebay. Which isn't true be cusase I'm colection them. Those games are never seeing the light of day agian. (except when I playing them of course )

My question is how can keep both of us happy. I under stand that he needs the games to keep people trading game (He makes $3 a trade btw). But I need to get the games for my colection.

Any advice on the subject would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
CBM

[omnedon]

Sounds to me like the pawn owner is a dink. Expect the prices to go up, at least for you anyway.

[Shady Smurf]

I get the same reaction from Cash Converters Employes, just ignore it I go thier 1-2 times a week and usaully buy 2-3 or more games and I always get a semi dirty look

[dsullo]

You have cash convertors in PA? I have them in Jersey and I visit them weekly and buy frequently. Every now and then they ask me what I do with all the games and I tell them that i collect and trade them .

Honestly - they are there to be sold and I never haggle. If a pawn shop worker has a problem with that then they do not know how to run a business. They should be kissing your ass everytime you walk in the door.

[Cow Bell Man]

Sounds to me like the pawn owner is a dink. Expect the prices to go up, at least for you anyway.

Well, that might not be that bad. I just hope that he doesn't bar me from the store. I don't know... I'm giving him cash. I don't know what his problem is.

[Shady Smurf]

I have 2 cash converters within driving distance, one is about 5mins away, and one is about 20-30mins away actually. Thier usaully a good source for games, but the second of the two currently has a sega master system priced at $80.00 and an Atari 7800 at $75.00, it used to be the same thing with Jaguar I waited and after 2months it went from $70.00 to $25.00 and I bought it. One thing about them is, thier is no set pricing, one time I asked them how they price thier cd's/games and the cashier told me price increases with release date x_x

[anagrama]

Cash Convertors have made it across the Atlantic aswell.
I've had a bunch of good scores there in the past (Shenmue II for £5, Streets of Rage 3 for £2.50, Shinobi X/Winter Heat/Z (all Saturn) £2.50 each...)
I made out like a bandit when they dropped all Megadrive/SNES/Master System/Saturn games to £1 a couple of months back, but since then they've only had the same scuzzy sports games that have been sat there for 4-5 years. :(

[Kejoriv]

there is one cash converter near me and it sucks hardcore

[Masco73]

I don't know what the guys problem is. You are paying what he asks for games and your a good customer. Isn't that the idea behind owning a store??
I can't stand when people bring up theusual ebay lines,"What, are you going to sell it on ebay" or " It goes for x much on ebay". :angry: :angry: Then why don't you sell it on ebay is my thought. Tell him that next time or kick him in the nuts. Whatever you prefer.

[-hellvin-]

I guess it's hard to believe for some people that games are ACTUALLY fun to play and even more fun sometimes to collect. Whateva. Just keep buying them and tell him, if you are so worried about getting jipped on your games make an ebay account and sell them there, you're just buying the games for you. I just can never bother with pawn shops, I have mostly Easy Money Pawns (VERY shitty chain) and a semi good place (A-Z Pawns), but most of their stuff they price way too high. Only place I ever scored out here in AZ was a place around 140th avenue off Grand that had a bunch of master system games and intellivision games complete for 2 a piece. That be IT.

[Raedon]

pawn shops make money off everything they sell. they usually pay .25-.50 cents a NES cart or less.

If you acted all doofy and started saying things like "OMG! now I don't have to pay $80 for that top loader! online!" then you dug your own hole.

There is nothing wrong with making money off people who don't know what they have. You both will leave feeling that you made out good, even if you just got a Neo-Geo system for $20.

[sabre2922]

get this
a few years back I used to frequent a local pawnshop in TX and this a$$ that I never really liked anyway that owns the store used to sell PSX and older Nintendo games anyway I go in one day and ask him were all the games are and this is a direct quote from him "I dont sell them video games and stuff no more, cause nobody buys em" LOL LOL LOL

[Bratwurst]

I'm surprised nobody has suggested showing the pawn guy a picture yet. Take a picture of all your crap in one place! Stick it in your wallet like it were your dearly beloved baby and flash it in pride. Then point out how so much of your collection was built up with his 'help'.

Then again he'd probably question why you'd want to hold onto so much and not trade anything in. That's when you kill him, skin him and assume his identity.

[swlovinist]

There are two options to handle this jerkoff. First this is coming from someone who worked at a game pawn shop for over a year. I kind of know how they operate, and it does not like me like them very much. If they know you are easy money the prices will go up. Your first option is to 1) Let the guy know that his place is not the only place you shop and that you can always go elsewhere for your games. I would do this if he raises his prices. 2) Tell him that what you do with a game is your business and the fact that he questions your partronage to his store you can can tell him to piss off. I am sorry I have no love for pawn shop owners, for they are have little love for games, only the $$$$$$ that it makes them!

[Flack]

I've been "caught" with price lists before, both with videogames and Star Wars stuff. If the seller asks me what I'm doing I usually tell them that my collection is so big that I have a list of what all I own and what I'm looking for. That keeps most of them happy.

Whenever people bring up the eBay thing, the best response I've found is, "why don't you do it then?" I had a guy giving me a hard time about an arcade cabinet price. After a while he said, "I could get twice that on eBay." That's when I started asking him about how much shipping would be on a video game, how would you pallet and ship one, etc. I think after a while the guy caught my drift and sold me the game. At flea markets when people tell me "that's the going price on eBay", I always go, "oh yeah? Wow, I hadn't thought of checking there, thanks!" and start walking away. You would be surprised how often the yell at me to come back and then start talking price a little more seriously.

The thing to keep in mind (and to remind that pawn shop owner) is there's always another deal. There's always another game, another seller, another auction, another pawn shop, another sale. If that guy knows you, then he knows how much you spend there. He also knows how many other pawn shops and thrift stores there are in town. If he gives you a hard time, be sure to give him the link to your future website which is about to explain how the guy is a jerk and turns away customers who want to spend money. Maybe even make up some flyers for your school and let other gamers know that they're not welcome there as well. Pretty soon he will feel stupid over turning you away for a $2 NES cart.

[wberdan]

you have to understand those pawn shop dudes.... they always want the upper hand in their store.
act like an idiot- thats what i do when i deal with pawn shops.
they like idiots- they do not like people that have quick comebacks and stuff like that.
just put up a fake front- dress poor, do whatever it takes.
try to trade in a hairdryer for a videogame- then the dude will know you are desperate.

willie

[Raedon]

try to trade in a hairdryer for a videogame- then the dude will know you are desperate.

Hahaha! Oh.. That is my quote of the day..

[§ Gideon §]

I don't frequent pawn shops, but wberdan's advice seems sound.

[hu6800]

For about a year now I have been geting all my games from this one pawn shop. This guy has about over 100 nes games in stock until I started buying them up. He also has about 70 saga games, 40 Atari, 100 snes, 50 ps1...etc. He been selling the nes/Atari/saga games for $3 a pop. I have been hitting him up hard I have been buying about 20 games a months.

It wasn't until a few weeks ago that I started to get some guff from him. I was buying my usually 20$ worth of games (nes/saga) and he told me "Rember that you can trade some games once in a while". Then I handed him the cash and he said, "well you got all my good ones". (This isn't intialy true, I buy a lot of his sucky nes ones as well as some rare game and fun ones). I told him I just like to play them.

I also have reason to blevie that he thinks that I trying to make money off him. I think that he thinks that I have been buying his games and sell them on ebay. Which isn't true be cusase I'm colection them. Those games are never seeing the light of day agian. (except when I playing them of course )

My question is how can keep both of us happy. I under stand that he needs the games to keep people trading game (He makes $3 a trade btw). But I need to get the games for my colection.

Any advice on the subject would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
CBM


Dude fuck that pawnshop guy, if he wanted to sell them on ebay he woulda already did so.
I had a run in with an asshole like that once , but it wasnt a pawn shop..
It was DIE HARD game club.
He started pulling the same shit with me on turboduo games, so i said fuck it and bought them all at once, charged $1.500 to my master card and made the bastard pull everything off the shelves and load my car up.

Now the pawn shops near me are much more flexible, because im personal
friends with the owner i get hooked up with cheaper prices.
and this shop has neo geo carts and shit too.

[hu6800]

you have to understand those pawn shop dudes.... they always want the upper hand in their store.
act like an idiot- thats what i do when i deal with pawn shops.
they like idiots- they do not like people that have quick comebacks and stuff like that.
just put up a fake front- dress poor, do whatever it takes.
try to trade in a hairdryer for a videogame- then the dude will know you are desperate.

willie

Do not act desperate...
If you do, they will think you will pay a higher price or screw with your head more.

[§ Gideon §]

Have you talked to the pawn shop owner about this?

[drwily008]

Everyone is reading into this too much. He is a business owner just trying to get you to bring back some of your stuff so he can sell it twice for a profit. Be cool and nice to keep him happy. If you do and DONT ACT EXCITED he will always treat you descent. If not...kick him in the nuts for sure :evil:

[wberdan]

you have to understand those pawn shop dudes.... they always want the upper hand in their store.
act like an idiot- thats what i do when i deal with pawn shops.
they like idiots- they do not like people that have quick comebacks and stuff like that.
just put up a fake front- dress poor, do whatever it takes.
try to trade in a hairdryer for a videogame- then the dude will know you are desperate.

willie

Do not act desperate...
If you do, they will think you will pay a higher price or screw with your head more.

i meant desperate as in wanting a game to PLAY...
if you try and trade in a hairdryer for a videogame, then pawnshop dudes will probably not try to jack up prices on you.
they will know that you have next to nothing, and probably will be ever so slightly nicer, and may even give you a small deal.

probably/maybe.

willie

[rbudrick]

What these guys say is true.

There is nothing more annoying nowadays than pawn shop owners and flea marketeers saying, "ot goes for this much on ebay."

It get's real fucking tiring, real fucking fast. All DPers pay attention:

DO NOT BE AFRAID TO SAY, "Well, why didn't you sell iut there, then?," and "Thanks for the tip. I'll go look for it there as soon as I get home."
Seriously, don't be afraid to say it. This'll fuck em every time. It's never failed for me. Not once. They WILL start talking reasonbly after that.

Pawn owners and flea marketeers are the most belligerant salespeople ever, and if they think they are gonna lose a source of $, they will usually wise up, especially if they realize they just accidentally gave you the tip!

This'll fuck em every time. It's never failed for me. Not once. They WILL start talking reasonbly after that.

-Rob

[Classicgamesdepot]

I agree with one of the last posts here, although the many tips people have given out are right on, you can't knock the store owner for wanting to make some money, your average pawn dealer isn't making big bucks, expect to have to haggle with em', I some times Tell the guys I resell, usually stating well I wouldn't make any at that price, that's twice what I normally pay, etc. etc., how long can you hide the "I just play games thing" Especially when you start buying duplicate copies of games.... anyhow, just keep doin' what your doin with the pawn guy, you should be fine

[Cow Bell Man]

Have you talked to the pawn shop owner about this?

No I haven't. I could tell him that I'm collecting video games. But I worry that he may jack the prices up. He could take it up to $5 I guess, but it doesn't seem like him. I enjoy paying $3 a game. (not to say that I wouldn't pay $5). Right now I think I have the better card.

Having said that, It may be a good idea to talk to this guy. He then would probably understand why I keep buying the games. The games are never going to leave my sight again. It could also clear up any misunderstanding on how I'm never going to make money off him (ie. Ebay).

(btw: thanks guys for your help and support. ^_^)

[Cow Bell Man]

I'm surprised nobody has suggested showing the pawn guy a picture yet. Take a picture of all your crap in one place! Stick it in your wallet like it were your dearly beloved baby and flash it in pride. Then point out how so much of your collection was built up with his 'help'.

Then again he'd probably question why you'd want to hold onto so much and not trade anything in. That's when you kill him, skin him and assume his identity.

That's a good idea. Use a picture to back up my clam if it comes to that. It may make him know that I'm a strong cusmermer and will stay that way. I'm not into killing, so that plan is out. :)

(Sorry for the double post)

[Cow Bell Man]

I had an Idea. I could start buying up his old Atari games and up a few nes/saga games once in a while. He's got a good section of Atari games and I have been putting it off to buy them. (It seems that they are never going to leave his shelf any ways. The way I see it,there are very few game collectors in my area)(Oh he has an old Atari for $40. a bit over price if you ask me but it would keep him and me happy ^_^)

[Cmosfm]

Flack and Wberdan have the best advice on here. You just have to know who to use it with and who not to.

Use Flacks advice with jerks, people who say stuff like "eBay price" and such. The people who seem to not want your money as bad.

Use Wberdans advice with unknowing sellers, people who seem to not know what they have. Nothing like making a unkowing seller rethink the price hes asking for a game if you get excited over it or act like you know too much. Gotta use words like "tapes" instead of "cartridges" and "Nintendo" instead of "NES". Gotta step down a notch and make them think you're "average joe game player" instead of "viewtiful joe game collector".

But once those sellers start getting cocky, flip to flacks advice. Once they start going "well, this Contra game is rare" etc. etc....tell em how it isn't. Let them know that you've seen 4 or 5 at 1.00 each. Sometimes even a white lie helps, if you pick up a game and they say "oh, this ones hard to find"...and it is...say "nah, I've seen em go for 2-3.00 each on eBay"....thats a good way to flip the eBay advice around by the way. Most of the time Pawn Shops wont deal unless your a regular, Thrift Stores rarely never (once had a thrift store tell me they wouldn't cut me a deal on about 100 games priced at 1.50 each) and flea markets are the best places for haggling. Just remember that if you can't get the game at a good price, at least leave em wondering if there price is too high.

Just remember when to push a deal and when to give up also. Sometimes you get those sellers who just WONT go down in price, no matter how long they've had an item. Usually you can tell, there the people who have been at the same space/lot/store forever, usually older people, and they have really quick snappy answers. For example..."will you take 5.00 for these 2 3.00 games?"...."no"...."I have 5.00 cash right here, that's all I can spare"..."no, sorry, 6.00". Usually the thing is about the older regulars at the flea market, money means nothing to them anymore, just having enough to sell at the flea market to be able to just GO is enough for them. Sorta like Mall Walkers and Hardees early morning customers...they just like to be there because they have nothing better to do.

Gotta learn how to deal with people, also, in your case why not pick up some cheap games you find at flea markets and take them up there to trade and make him happy. I know he's a jerk, I don't see why he wants games instead of cash. But just pick up a few cheap ones to trade him and keep him happy. Or be a smart ass and bring in 5 copies of SMB/DH and tell him its all you have to trade right now. :D

[Shady Smurf]

Speaking of selling Hairdryer for a video game... I once took a pair of beatup old roller skates to trade in, so I could buy a pile of nes games, from a cash converters LOL

[Flack]

One other "trick" I use is, let's say I see a pile of Atari games and they're marked $2 each and they have 6 of them, that's $12. Round that down to $10. Now, this only works if you have a $10 bill. Basically what I do is walk up the first time, that's when I see the merchandise. Then I walk away and just put the $10 in my wallet (pull everything else out). Then I go back to the table and say, "would you take $10 for these? All I've got is a $10". It really works well if they see your wallet open and see you only have one bill in there. If they say "how about $11?" I just say, "all I've got is a $10". Then all of a sudden, if they say no, now they're turning down $10 instead of $2. It works for me almost every time. If they say, "just pick 5" or whatever I linger for a minute and go, "nah ..." and put the $10 back in my wallet and start walking away. They almost always call me back.

[ManekiNeko]

Hey Cow Bell Man, who drew your avatar? It's cute.

Anyway, I've dealt with my share of pawn shop employees in the past, but it's never gotten to the point where they've actively discouraged me from buying their games. They always seem happy just to get rid of them.

However, if you think that your demand for the games may eventually raise their price, you may want to slow down a little and buy only the games you want the most. Of course, as your collection grows, you'll need fewer and fewer games, so this could just happen naturally.

JR