The question of whether or not pawn shops buy or make loans against antique furniture is actually a difficult one to answer. While most pawnshops deal with antiques generally, antique furniture is a whole different topic. Unlike other, more popular items that find their ways in and out of pawnshops, such as electronics and tools, antique furniture is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. Keep reading to find out more about pawning or selling your antique furniture to your local pawnshop.
First, why consider your local pawn shop?
If you’ve got some antique furniture lying around that you no longer want, you might be thinking of selling it. But, then you might think of all the work that will go into selling it on your own, such as listing it online or arranging to have a yard sale, or dealing with low-balling customers, not to mention shipping and waiting for payment. Selling your antique furniture to your local pawnshop can be fast and easy and will get you cash in hand immediately.
Or, if you need some quick cash and believe that your antique furniture may have some value, pawning it can get you the money you need in a matter of minutes: no bank applications, no predatory payday loans, no risk to your credit score.
Unique factors that affect if a pawn shop will buy or pawn antique furniture
Your pawnbroker has to consider a particular set of factors when they are deciding if they will buy or loan against the value of your antique furniture, including:
- Size of the item – large pieces of furniture take up a lot of room and forces your pawnbroker to get creative about where they will keep your furniture protected until you repay your loan or when it comes time to resell.
- Size of the shop – shops with small salesfloors must carefully consider where and how they will present your item.
- Difficult to price – unlike small electronics or collectible, or basically anything whose value can be researched online, antique furniture is difficult to price. Price may come down to your pawnbroker’s experience with antique furniture, and what they feel might be the demand for your item.
- Difficult to buy – generally, one of the things that make pawnshops so consumer-friendly is that they are easy to work with. You can walk out with a loan or cool item in minutes. With furniture, however, a customer may need to consider how they will get it home and where it will fit.
Should you sell or pawn your antique furniture?
It all comes down to what you need. You may get a little more money if you decide to sell outright as opposed to pawning. However, if your pawn your antique furniture, you will get your item back when you repay your loan. If you want the thing out of your home quickly and easily and don’t mind not getting it back, selling to your pawnshop might be the way to go. However, if you need some quick cash and aren’t ready to let go of your piece of antique furniture, possibly forever, your pawnshop can help you get the funds you need without making such a sacrifice.
How to pawn or sell your antique furniture to your local pawnshop
If you believe that your pawnshop may be interested in buying or loaning against the value of your antique furniture, here’s what you can do to help attract the highest offer:
- Call around – even if your item is small, lugging it around and taking it to various shops in search of an offer can get cumbersome, and may also result in damaging it. Call your local shops and ask if they might be interested in seeing your item.
- Clean it up, but carefully – give your items a thorough dusting, but be careful not to use any cleaning products or tools that may damage any part of the furniture. Be extra careful with upholstered items, as antique stitching and seams can be extremely delicate.
- Do your homework – if your item has a particular provenance, which can be proved by tool marks or other identifying factors, find where they are on your furniture and learn about them. Being able to tell your pawnbroker about your item will give you leverage.
- Find any paperwork or certification – bring in any certification or paperwork having to do with your antique furniture. Your pawnbroker will have an easier time of reselling if they can verify its authenticity and history with certification.
- Be prepared to negotiate – your pawnbroker will be open to negotiation. The more you know about your item, the more leverage you will have.
- But, have realistic expectations – keep in mind that pawn shops have to profit on every item in their shop. For most items, sellers or borrowers can expect an offer of around 40% of its value.
Does Central Mega Pawn buy or pawn antique furniture?
We love antiques! However, everything we buy or pawn is considered on a case-by-case basis. We know that large or unwieldy pieces can be hard to transport, so if you have some antique furniture that you’d like to sell or pawn, give us a call first. We know what questions to ask to provide us with an idea of if we will be able to buy or pawn your antique furniture. We will do our best to help you, but we will also be honest about what we can do. Giving us a call will save you time and effort.
Bottom line: because every pawn shop must consider the needs of the community it serves, not every pawn shop will buy or pawn antique furniture. Your best bet is to call around to the pawn shops in your city and visit them to see if they might be interested in your furniture. At Central Mega Pawn, we are always happy to help, so be sure to come and visit us if you are in the Inland Empire or Southern California area!
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