Has anyone ever gotten a good deal? I just went into 2 different stores here in B/CS and the prices were close to buying new.

Am I missing something?

I think the advantage of pawn shop browsing is (if you know your stuff) finding hidden gems on the racks the store owners underprice, either due to rarity or quality or both.

I do it all the time. Usually get 30-40% off retail prices because the homie Phillipe hooks it up

I've bought several. Usually look up new pricing and offer them 50-75% of that. If they don't budge then I walk away.

Pawn shops are more likely to negotiate than traditional gun stores.

If you see something you like, make an offer. No harm, no foul if they say no.

Not a pawn shop, but I managed to snag a gun for $750 earlier this year that I was offered $2k for the next week.

Like you said, knowing rarity can help you find some good deals.

ive had a couple of these this year. it makes me happy when i find hidden gems in their inventory and they have no idea what they have.

My buddy is extremely knowledgeable about guns and every month or so will go through various pawn stores looking for treasure. He finds his share. To him it's a hobby.

A lot of pawn shops are adding new guns to their inventory nowadays. Not much deals to be had on those. So far as the used ones, the price tag is rarely anywhere near their bottom dollar. You can usually expect 20 to 30% off. I recently got one 50% off the tag because it was missing a screw on the adjustable sight. You have to know what you are looking for and don't be afraid to lowball. You never know when they need to move that inventory and you can be guaranteed they didn't pay much for it from the Pawnee.

Any one have recommendations for good "gun" pawnshops in north Dallas, plano, Richardson?

I think you meant to say South Dallas.

I agree with this. I always start at about 60% of what they have tagged and then negotiate some. Worst case, they say no, and I walk.

alamogeorge said:

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You have to know what you are looking for and don't be afraid to lowball. You never know when they need to move that inventory and you can be guaranteed they didn't pay much for it from the Pawnee.

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Yeah they typically pay more if it comes from an Arapaho.

Sorry, it's Friday and I couldn't help myself.

Yea my buddy will target a gun and then circle back a couple of times to see if they are ready to deal.

highvelocity said:

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ive had a couple of these this year. it makes me happy when i find hidden gems in their inventory and they have no idea what they have.

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Yeah. Mine was rare enough I turned down the 2k offer because I'm not sure I'll ever see another one for sale here in the US.

Pawn shops can be great, as others have said above. They can also put a true "WTF?" price out there, too. My favorite shops were around the military bases in San Antonio. I'm not sure if it was hard up GIs, estates cleaning out collections, or just the east SA culture, but I picked up some nice deals there.

Last thing I'll say is, I was never looking for safe queens when buying from pawn shops. I went in looking for shooters that I could go hunt with that day, if need be. That's not to say you won't find collectors, but YMMV.

mine werent that exciting. what you find? some weird CZ or HK?

Love looking for deals in pawn shops. My last 2 purchases-
Winchester Model 70 (1963) 30-06 feather weight with Burris scope - $500
Remington Model 870 Wingmaster 20 ga. (1972) - $250

Paging 03ki11erAG...

Van Buren Boy said:

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Any one have recommendations for good "gun" pawnshops in north Dallas, plano, Richardson?

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Not in those locations specifically, but Roy's Pawn in Irving on Irving Blvd. near Loop 12. He has close to 150 handguns last time I was there.

The good pawnshops have more information on what all things (not just guns) are worth these days. There are better sources of information -- not just their own information from their own experience. The bad pawnshops don't stay in business very long. So while you might find a diamond in the rough, it isn't likely that you'll make a living finding a lot of good gun deals in pawn shops. They pretty much know what they've got. Plus, you wouldn't believe how many people are out there daily and weekly buying and selling. Unless you visit these places that often, or you just happen on some trade, you're going to miss out.

I was in Roy's a year and a half ago when he had an early '80s Taurus revolver come in. Looked just like a Smith 19 .357. I told him I wanted it and he saved it for me. It would have been gone in a day had he put it out, especially had he put it at the price I paid for it.

Horse with No Name said:

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Pawn shops can be great, as others have said above. They can also put a true "WTF?" price out there, too. My favorite shops were around the military bases in San Antonio. I'm not sure if it was hard up GIs, estates cleaning out collections, or just the east SA culture, but I picked up some nice deals there.

Last thing I'll say is, I was never looking for safe queens when buying from pawn shops. I went in looking for shooters that I could go hunt with that day, if need be. That's not to say you won't find collectors, but YMMV.

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Killeen is the same way. It is hard up GIs. tons of them.

highvelocity said:

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mine werent that exciting. what you find? some weird CZ or HK?

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You know me.

Pre B CZ-75 built by the Swiss using Czech parts to get around US ban on communist imports.

that bees a unicorn

Pawn shop guns and used cars. Killeen seems to have thousands and thousands of them.

Check out the one in Caldwell and the one across from the redwing store in Bryan. I have got great deal at both with a little haggling.

McDadeTXAggie said:

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Has anyone ever gotten a good deal? I just went into 2 different stores here in B/CS and the prices were close to buying new.

Am I missing something?

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First question is where they actually close to new? I get people all the time telling me my firearms are priced at a new price but can't manage to tell me where they're selling for said price. I compare mine to Buds or Academy most of the time. Then again I've seen over new prices on my shelf's before and have had to correct them when someone points it out and shows proof. I have no shame in doing so. One thing to remember is we're pawnbrokers, not firearm guru's. We have to price diamonds, generators, Gibson guitars and firearms. It's not easy being an expert in everything.

On your basic Glock, Smith, Ruger etc we price it 20% below retail unless it's mint or has add ons like trijicon sites, multiple mags etc. The higher value firearms get less of a % discounted from retail. If you see an overpriced gun make sure and let them know by politely showing them a comparison. They'll most likely adjust the price. I know I've don't it numerous times.

I don't run a museum at my stores so everything will sell whether I make a killing or sell below cost. The longer it sits the cheaper it gets. I typically won't budge on a price that came out that week unless we're wrong or it's a great customer. If it's been there for months then you can expect a 20% discount or more until it's sold. In the 12 years I've done this I've maybe discounted a firearm 50% off a few times but it's extremely rare. Then again I don't list insane prices just to come down. I think that is stupid and turns off people from even wanting to do business. The second pawnshop we bought had a manager that loved to do this. He felt he had to overprice guns so he had room for people to beat him up. He didn't realize that only a select few would try to work with him. All the others wouldn't even ask and then tell everyone they knew not to even bother because all they had were way overpriced guns. Price them right and they will sell. Period.

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One thing to remember is we're pawnbrokers, not firearm guru's. We have to price diamonds, generators, Gibson guitars and firearms. It's not easy being an expert in everything.

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That's why you always should have a buddy you can call that's an expert on these things...

Try to hit the ones where you can browse without having to ask the price on everything. My best buy was a prime condition Colt SP1 for $650.

I always have cash in hand and willing to walk out. My last purchase was an 11-87 Premier Skeet Edition in mint condition. They were asking $750. I said that I have to buy a gun today, but I can only spend $400 out the door. The manager came out to do the negotiating. He came down to $500, but I told him I only have $400 cash. I was about to head out when he said you got a deal! Don't be afraid to walk away, you can always come back later to buy it for a little more, lol!

I took the boards advice and visited 5 or 6 pawn shops Friday.

Aggieland Pawn has the best selection and it's not even close.
Bryan pawn shops were hit and miss. One had very little to look at, but decent prices

Thanks to all of those that chimed in. This post was started after the 2nd store I walked into. I felt much better after that

Roy is the man! Great deals and great inventory. His store is turning into a high-end pawn/jewelry store. His son is an Aggie as well!