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Is a Pawn Shop a Good Place to Buy or Sell Electronics?

Is a Pawn Shop a Good Place to Buy or Sell Electronics?

Pawn shops are most commonly known as places to buy or sell things like gold, sporting goods or jewelry. However, they are also a great resource when it comes to buying and selling electronics.

At Central Mega Pawn, located in Ontario, California, we have the size and resources to be your #1 choice in buying or selling your electronics.

Buying

Local pawnshops, like Central Mega Pawn, are one of the last places around where you can get more for less. You can find high-quality items, such as TVs, smartphones, laptops, and video game consoles, for around 30-50% off retail prices. Plus, pawnshops will only buy in-demand items for resale. That means that you’ll find only popular items, brands, and models for sale at your local pawnshop.

When you buy retail, you are paying a premium to have the latest item. When you buy used from places like Craigslist or eBay, or one of the numerous person-to-person apps, you are taking a significant risk that your items are non-functional, or worse, stolen.

Central Mega Pawn thoroughly tests every electronic item in stock for functionality and legitimacy; when you buy from us, you are purchasing quality. Here is just a sampling of the electronics you’ll find when you visit us:

  • Smartphones: Smartphones are increasingly becoming a necessity for everyday life, despite their high price tags at retail. As a result, there is a robust market for pre-owned smartphones. Central Mega Pawn is a leader in this market; we stock all the latest smartphones from popular brands like Apple, Samsung, and Google.
  • Video Games & Consoles: Central Mega Pawn has a vast inventory of the latest consoles and games. We are an excellent resource for building your game library, or to give some new games a try without having to use a subscription service. We also stock accessories like controllers and keyboards. We can set you up with an entire gaming system in one visit!
  • TVs: Most pawn shops carry televisions of all sizes and models, as well as vital peripherals like soundbars, subwoofers, and DVRs. We also have Smart TVs on hand. If you are looking to future-proof your television system, Smart TVs are a good investment. They look as sleek and modern as the latest models, but thanks to being connected to the internet, they will be able to handle updates for years and support the same essential apps.
  • Computers: Your local pawnshop is actually a great place to buy a quality, pre-owned machine for a great price. If you are looking to avoid paying retail and want to ensure that you’re getting a functional, quality product, the worst thing you could do is to trust online sales sites or apps, because you never truly know what you’re getting. By buying your next computer from your local pawnbroker, you know that they’ve done the work for you to ensure that your item works as it should and is in good condition.

Selling

Alternately, if you are selling your electronics, or if you need some quick cash and have some electronics lying around and gathering dust, you are in luck. In fact, electronics are one of the top four items that are always in demand at pawn shops. Some specific items that are generally in demand include:

  • TVs: especially top brands like Samsung, Vizio, Hitachi, and Panasonic
  • Smartphones: recent models, or even a few previous generations, are always in demand
  • Video Games: expect to have a bundle of at least five or more popular or recent games to get a good offer
  • Video Game Consoles and Accessories: the more current the model, the better, such as Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 4
  • Computers: especially recent models by Apple, Microsoft, and Asus
  • Recording equipment: video cameras, microphones, editing decks, etc.
  • Media Players: DVD and Blu-Ray players, recent model MP3 players
  • Home security systems, such as video doorbells and security cameras

However, to get the best price possible, and to ensure that you have a good experience, you can’t just pop into your local pawnshop and ask what they can do for you. Here are some tips for selling your electronics at your local pawn shop. Keeping these things in mind can help you get a higher price for your item.

Appearances Matter

Your local pawnbroker has seen a lot and knows that if an item presented to them is caked in dust and grime, it will be harder to sell without having to take the time themselves to clean it. Clean your item as much as possible before bringing it in.

It Has to Work

While this is true for every item that comes through a pawn shop’s doors, this is especially important for electronics. An electronic item that doesn’t work the way it should is essentially an expensive paperweight. Ease your pawnbroker’s mind by being prepared to demonstrate that your item works. Take the time to show them all the features, and not just the power button.

It Should Have All the Parts

If your pawnbroker can sell your item or items as a complete set or as a bundle, you will get a better price. Instruction manuals, cables, remotes, controllers, you name it: the more complete your item is, the easier it will be to resell. Anything useful and relevant you can add to the deal will increase its perceived value and will get you a higher price.

It Should be in Demand

Don’t show up with an original Palm Pilot from 1997 and expect big money. While vintage electronics like that may be appealing to collectors, your pawnbroker has to be able to resell everything that they buy. Even if you have a current model, your pawnbroker is an expert on their market and may not make you an offer. If you are ever unsure, visit your local pawnshop ahead of time to see what they have on hand.

Whether buying or selling, it’s your job to keep yourself informed. The more homework you do, the more pleasant your experience will be. Come visit us today to see how we can meet all your electronics buying and selling needs.

Buying the Perfect Engagement Ring

Buying the Perfect Engagement Ring

If you’re one of the lucky individuals out there who has found “the one”, you may be thinking about taking the next step and proposing marriage. However, before you go and plan the perfect proposal, you will need one vital component: the ring.

For such a small item, there is a tremendous amount of pressure that goes along with this purchase. Luckily, we are here to help. Keep reading to learn all about how to find and buy the perfect engagement ring, and how Central Mega Pawn can help in your search. That’s right: your local pawnshop should be at the top of the list when it comes to finding your perfect ring. Buying from a pawnshop sends a powerful message that not only are you committed to loving your partner forever, but that you are committed to making smart financial choices with them for the long haul.

Establish Your Budget

The first thing you will need to do before visiting any shops or websites is to establish your budget for the ring. In the past, the rule of thumb was to count on spending two months’ salary on the ring, but that is no longer the case, so don’t worry if your ring budget turns out smaller than you would like.

However, you will still need to know how much you plan on spending; this number will help your pawnbroker show you items within your price range and will help you when it comes time to negotiate price.

Although most people will throw out the “two months’ salary” advice, it is likely that you will still need to save for a few months to buy the ring outright. To that end:

Make a savings plan

Once you know how much you intend on spending on your ring, make a plan to reach your savings goal within a few months. Even a little saved here and there will add up. You can also sell things you no longer need, which is another way that Central Mega Pawn can help: you can pawn items to help save for your ring so that you can avoid financing and possibly going into debt to start off your engagement.

When all is said and done, it’s not the amount of money you spend on the ring that will matter, but the thought that went into selecting, buying and presenting the ring, so don’t delay proposing for the sake of not being able to afford a “better” ring. You can always get them a big fancy ring or other piece of jewelry later on, for a significant birthday, anniversary, or other celebration.

Find Out Ring Size

Proposing with a ring that fits will make the proposal even more special; just imagine that they say “yes”, and you can slip on a ring that fits perfectly. It’s as close to a fairytale ending to a special moment as you can get.

While some people opt to bring their partner to a jewelry store to learn their partner’s ring size, you can still get that information without spoiling the surprise. The easiest way to get your partner’s ring size is to discreetly take a ring she isn’t wearing into your local pawn shop and ask them to measure it, then return the ring to its rightful place as soon as possible.

Research Their Style

This is arguably the hardest part for most people. To choose a ring on your own that your partner will love and cherish can seem daunting, but here are some tips to help you with your search:

  • Current Jewelry: Look at what they wear on a regular basis – is it bold? Subtle? Gold, rose gold, or silver? You may have paid attention to what they wear before, but when you are planning to propose, you will pick up on small details that will guide you to the perfect piece.
  • Use Social Media: Does your partner maintain a Pinterest page or follow jewelers or designers on apps like Twitter or Instagram? Exploring these pages can give you some helpful hints on the style of ring your partner might love.

If you arrive at Central Mega Pawn with not only your partner’s ring size but with some photos of pieces that they might enjoy, our expert jewelers will help you find the perfect item to propose with.

What you need to know about diamonds

When picking a diamond, as long as you know the four Cs, you’ll be in a good position to make a good decision. But remember, the higher a diamond ranks on the four C’s, the more expensive it will be.

  • Carat: Sometimes referred to as weight, carat refers to the size of the diamond. Many people choose to allocate the majority of the budget to a ring with a higher carat diamond.
  • Clarity: Clarity refers to the lack of visible flaws in a diamond. All diamonds have flaws, but in many cases, they are only visible through a scope. You may be able to get a great deal on a ring with an eye-clean diamond, which is a diamond that lacks flaws visible to the naked eye.
  • Color: Diamonds have a letter grade to indicate their color. A clear diamond is the rarest and has the highest grade of D. A yellow diamond has the lowest grade of Z. If you don’t mind a yellowish tint in a diamond, you can save a lot of money. Diamonds with a yellow-ish hue are generally less expensive than clearer diamonds.
  • Cut: Cut has the biggest influence over how much sparkle a diamond has and has a big impact on the beauty and perceived size of the diamond. Cut may rival carat as the aspect to splurge on.

Central Mega Pawn is committed to helping its community at every stage of life, and we are honored to be considered as you take a big step with your loved one. Visit us today to learn about our vast selection, helpful payment plans, and the numerous other ways we can help you get the perfect ring.