Do you have a quality antique and need to make some cash? If so, you might be considering pawning that antique. At South Bay Jewelry & Loan, we have some ideas on how you can get the best price. Check out these five tips and then contact us at (310) 371-4571 or stop by to let us help you get the cash you need.
- Go to the Right Place Some pawnshops only take guns. Others only take jewelry. Whatever you are trying to sell, go to a pawnshop that sells that specific type of antique. You might find a shop that is willing to take it, but if they do not specialize in it, then it will be harder for them to sell – which means its value to them is lower, and you are likely to get less money.
- Know What You Are Selling Yes, an experienced pawn appraiser can figure out what you have, but it is best if you already know. If you have documentation, then make sure you bring that. Any information you have can help the pawnbroker more accurately determine the value of the item – which means a bigger payday for you.
- Know What’s Wrong with It – And Be Honest It is far from unusual for an antique to be in less than pristine shape. This is okay – but you must be honest about it. Tell us about any issues you are aware of, such as damage or discoloring. You can count on the fact that we will find it anyway, but if you do not tell us and we find it on our own, then we might not trust that you are honest in the transaction.
- Do Not Clean It With other types of items you’re planning to sell, it might be obvious that you should clean them. This is not the case with antiques. In fact, cleaning or polishing can be the worst thing to do. Why? Because it is unlikely that you have the expertise to know how to clean it correctly. You could inadvertently ruin marks that identify the piece or that are unique to it. In many cases, age marks are part of the character and can add value. Pack the item safely, put it in your vehicle, and take it to the pawnshop.
- Be Realistic About What You Can Expect Here’s something you should know: if you sell your item directly to a buyer – instead of to a pawnshop who will then sell it to a buyer – then you will make more money. It’s true – the buyer will pay more than we will. But that doesn’t mean you should decide to sell it straight to the buyer. Why? Because it takes time, it can be dangerous, and you could end up spending more in marketing the item than if you had simply sold it to us directly.
