What Do Pawn Shops Buy? – The 10 Best Things To Pawn
If you ever need money in a pinch, pawning stuff for cash is always one option you can consider.
And if it's been a long time since you've done some Spring cleaning, you might have plenty of valuables laying around the house that you can potentially pawn.
However, that last thing you want is to get ripped off by undervaluing your items or simply pawning the wrong thing.
But what do pawn shops buy? And how can you get the most out of what you’re selling?
In this post, I'm covering some things that pawn shops always buy so you can make quick cash and declutter your home at the same time.
Let's get to it.
What Do Pawn Shops Buy?
I've covered the best things to pawn before on WebMonkey in our guide on things you can pawn for $500 or more, as well as our guide on surprising things you can pawn.
But in this post, I'm covering some high demand pawn items you can pretty much always take in to pawn or sell.
Just remember, pawning something means you're using it as collateral to borrow money, and you need to return the money to get the item you're pawning. If you don't, the pawn shop keeps the item you've pawned and then sells it to recoup its loss.
With that in mind, these 10 specific categories do extremely well in pawn shops.
1. Jewelry
Jewelry is amongst the most popular things that are sold at pawn shops. In fact, quality jewelry is in such high demand at most shops, that you should go around to a few different ones to get the best offer you can.
And, jewelry is a category that can easily get you $500 or more if you have something of quality.
Some popular pieces of jewelry that pawn easily include:
- Rings
- Necklaces
- Wedding rings
- Diamonds
- Braceletes
The reason pawn shops almost always buy jewelry is because they can resell pieces fairly quickly and for a decent markup. However, this means you're definitely not getting full price for your pieces.
If you have something that you know is worth thousands, definitely get it appraised by a professional to give it a fair value.
So, while jewelry is one of the easiest things you can pawn, it’s also just as easy to get ripped off, so do your research.
2. Electronics
Another one of the best things to pawn are electronics. And if you're bringing in the right pieces, you can easily earn a few hundred bucks from pawning or selling various electronics.
Here are a few electronics that pawn shops always buy:
- Home entertainments systems
- Relatively new laptops
- Expensive sound systems
- Televisions
- Headphones
- Keyboards
- Speakers and stereo systems
- Old gaming systems
- New gaming systems like an XBox or PS5
If you’ve got one of these items lying around, and it’s still in good quality, consider bringing it over to a pawn shop for some extra cash.
When you’re selling electronics you have to think to yourself – “If I was a pawn shop, would I find value in an item like this?”
In other words, does it work, is it valuable, and will it resell in the future?
3. Gold & Silver
Gold and silver are timeless precious metals that are sought after by collectors and investors alike. So, unsurprisingly, this demand makes them one of the best things to pawn!
Like jewelry, pawn shops are almost always willing to buy gold or silver since they can resell it quickly for a nice profit.
You'll have to do some negotiating, and it's important to have a general idea of how much your gold or silver is worth so you get a fair price.
Also note that if you want to sell bullion bars or coins, you might be better off selling them to a more specialized buyer. But gold and silver jewelry is definitely one popular thing to pawn.
And at the end of the day, you might be able to get a bit more money out of a specialized jewelry buyer, but pawn shops offer the fastest way to sell it.
4. Watches
Another thing that pawn shops always buy are watches. And this is especially true for designer brands like Rolex, Cartier, and Piaget.
Like precious metals and jewelry, pawn shops can resell watches quickly, so they're usually willing to buy them from you or let you pawn them for some extra cash.
And if you have a luxury watch in good condition, you can probably get $1,000+ if your watch was worth a few thousand dollars originally.
Again, make sure you know the actual value of your watch before using it as collateral or offering it up for sale. The last thing you want is to get ripped off trying to sell a watch that’s worth way more than you were offered.
Side note: If your watch is only worth between $100-$500, you’re better off selling it on a marketplace like eBay or Mercari instead. Most pawn shops aren’t interested in lower value watches.
You can also checkout companies like Worthy.com if you have a higher-end watch you want to sell for cash instead of pawning it. And our guide on the best places to sell watches has even more options for how you can sell.
5. Instruments
Pawn shops buy instruments all the time, especially ones that are worth hundreds or thousands of dollars and are somewhat antique and are in very good condition.
Take a look at a few common instruments that are sold to pawn shops:
- Guitars
- Bass Guitars
- Violins
- Pianos
- Cellos
- Trumpets
Since instruments like these are already expensive, it's easy to get a decent value on them when you’re pawning them.
Of course, price varies depending on factors like condition, playability, history, and more. The most popular instrument to sell is easily the guitar. You see them getting sold to pawn shops all the time.
In fact, one of the highest sold guitars at a pawn shop was a 1941 Gibson SJ-200 Guitar that sold for $85,000 dollars!
6. Cars
Not every pawn shop deals with cars and motorcycles, especially if you live in a smaller town or city where the pawn shops are pretty small. But in larger cities, pawn shops often buy cars and motorcycles, so you can make some pretty fast money with your vehicle.
Selling your car outright to a pawn shop is probably easier than pawning it, so keep this in mind.
And, some of the best things to do before selling a car include:
- Having it cleaned and detailed
- Researching how much your car is actually worth
- Repairing parts that are damaged or broken
- Writing down important information (miles on the car, oil change history, etc.)
Because cars are much higher priced items compared to others on this list, pawn shop owners will likely give you a tough time negotiating.
That’s why you have to do your research and know your car inside and out before dealing with a pawn shop.
7. Antiques & Collectibles
If you're still looking for things you can sell at a pawn shop, looking for antiques and collectibles around your house could be an excellent starting point.
Antiques and collectibles are some of the most sold items at pawn shops. Pawn shops love buying these types of goods because they have history or serious fan bases, which can usually increase prices and attract serious buyers.
Here are a bunch of different antiques and collectibles to sell to pawn shops:
- Old records
- Trading cards like Pokemon cards and Yugioh cards
- Vintage books
- Vintage toys
- Antique furniture
- Sports cards
- Old artwork
- Old comic book collection
- Postage stamps
- Old posters
- Old antique pens
- Collectible plushies like Beanie Babies
- Collectible figurines
- Comic books
The list goes on forever, but you get the point. If it’s old and valuable or a quality collection of items, it’ll usually sell at a pawn shop.
The video above from the popular show Pawn Stars highlights this fact, showcasing some of the most expensive collections the show has ever seen.
Just note that collections can be difficult to price. This means it's important to do as much research as you can to get a ballpark valuation before walking in blindly.
Extra Reading – What To Pawn Around The House.
8. Tools
While it might surprise you, another popular thing that pawn shops buy are tools. This is because they're another category that's easy to resell, and this includes both inexpensive and more premium hardware.
Some common, cheaper tools you can pawn include:
- Drills
- Miter saws
- Sanders
- Grinders
- Other rotary tools
And some more expensive tools to pawn include:
- Riding mowers
- Power tools
- Chainsaws
- Sanding belts
- Automotive tools
- Complete tool kits and sets
For example, a riding mower can sell for upwards of $2,000 at a pawn shop. Ultimately, everything boils down to what you have on hand that still works well.
9. Designer Apparel & Handbags
Selling designer items is a great way to declutter your closet and earn some extra cash in return. And this category is also another thing that pawn shops always buy due to the easy resale potential.
Just note that you can confirm your apparel or handbag's authenticity if it's a very expensive piece. There are tons of fakes out there, and pawn shops might be hesitant to pay a lot for premium pieces without being experts in them.
Also note that you can try using apps like Poshmark to sell clothing online, or even sell stuff on the Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist if you don't mind selling to people in your community.
10. Bikes
One of the final best things to pawn that you can consider are bikes. And while not every pawn shop has room for bicycles in their shop, many shops do accept bikes and can pay a fair price for them.
Just note that the best kind of bikes that sell or pawn are expensive mountain bikes because they are naturally valued at a high price and don’t depreciate super quickly after being used.
High-end road bikes can also be easy to pawn. However, make sure that everything on your bike works well and that there aren't major dents or scratches on it.
Pawn shops might ask questions regarding originality of all the parts, so have some decent background on your bike before selling.
All in all, you can make anywhere between $50 all the way up to $1000 depending on how valuable your bike is.
Extra Reading – The Best Places To Sell Used Bikes.
Tips For Pawning Stuff For Cash
Now that you know some popular things pawn shops buy to make a bit of extra cash, here are some important tips to keep in mind to increase your odds of a successful pawn or sale:
- Be confident and knowledgeable when walking in
- Be willing to negotiate (it’s part of the process, so don’t get offended)
- Do your research and know what your pieces are worth before ever stepping foot in a pawn shop
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions
- Ask around at multiple pawn shops before selling or pawning so you can get a few valuations
- Bundle multiple items if you’re trying to pawn for a certain amount of cash but can’t reach it with just one item
The video above from an actual pawn broker also shares a tip on how to get the most money when pawning stuff: ask for a price and do your research so y
With these tips on your side, you'll be able to maximize your earning potential with whatever items you’re selling.
What Are Some Alternatives?
There are plenty of great things to pawn. But as I've mentioned a few times throughout this post, sometimes, you can get a better offer by using different pawn shops alternatives.
This is largely because pawn shops need to turn a profit, so you don't get nearly the full market price for your goods.
If you need fast cash, they're still a reliable option. But you can also consider various pawn shop alternatives like:
- Using local selling websites like The Facebook Marketplace
- Hosting a garage sale
- Borrowing the money from friends, family, or companies like BadCreditLoans
- Using gig apps like DoorDash or Uber Eats to make quick money instead of selling stuff
- Selling your merchandise to specialized buyers instead of pawn shops
Tom made a video on some of the most popular selling apps and websites, so you can watch that as well for some ideas on places to sell stuff for cash.
Extra Reading – How To Make $500 By Tomorrow.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully you’ve figured out what pawn shops buy and are already starting to look for things around the house to sell.
Pawning is still a great way to get extra money when you’re in a pinch. And it’s usually much faster than using platforms like Facebook Marketplace or eBay.
Just remember: always do your research and have a minimum price in mind when you try to sell stuff to a pawn shop.
You need to be willing to negotiate and should have realistic expectations. But there's no reason why you can't leave feeling satisfied when you make a sale.
Good luck with your pawning!
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