When it comes to things that you can pawn most people suggest jewelry. Right off the bat – it’s the first response.
But what’s second? I would say tools are the second most popular thing to pawn in a pawn shop.
I’m serious, I see a lot of tools. In fact the number and quantity of tools that come through our doors might shock you.
If they are something you have and can spend a few weeks without – such as during the winter months when construction slows down – then yes, tools are an excellent thing to consider pawning for some quick cash.
However, there are some things that you might want to think about and consider before heading down to your local pawnbroker with a truck full of tools.
It’s All About What Condition Your Tools Are In
Tools are tools… they get used. That normally means they get a little marked up in the process, if they are lucky.
Some tools that get used outdoors and collect mud and dirt that seems virtually impossible to remove. You really have to scrub it to get anywhere with the deep, tiny ridges and you never seem to be able to get it all out.
Unfortunately, when you pawn your tools at a pawn shop they really take condition into consideration.
Not only is a dirty marked up tool hard for them to sell, but it indicates how much work you actually did with it. That work is wear-and-tear on the tool and that’s important!
A Tool’s Reliability Is Something To Consider In A Pawn
You see, pawn shops don’t want to turn around and resell something only to have it break on the new, now disappointed customer.
So when something comes into the pawn shop for a loan or a sale – reliability is something to really consider.
Because of that, judging a tools condition is sort of like judging that amount of wear-and-tear has already been done to the tool.
But more than just use, a pawn shop needs to take a tool’s brand into consideration as well – and they do!
That’s Why Only Certain Brands Are Taken
Most pawn shops don’t take off-brand or ‘certain brand’ tools for a reason. They don’t trust them to be reliable, and they possibly have a low value.
In the case of reliability, it’s a big concern. As you learned above – and pawn shop always strives to be a good salesman and warranty his product. He will do anything he can to make buying customers very happy so that they can build repeat business.
If your tool arises reliability concerns – such as being an ‘off-brand’ or being in poor condition – that’s not what they want to sell their buying customer at a later date, so they will deny the sale or not make the loan.
What The Means For You
It means that your tools have to be in good condition and a respectable brand.
That means name brands such as DeWalt, Snap On, Bosch… You know – the better brand name tools. No-name tools really don’t any significant value and arise reliability concerns.
If you do have some of these better brand name tools to pawn – make sure you clean it up.
You want to make it look as new as possible. Remember the pawn broker is going to look at the tool to determine how ‘used’ it is.
That means clean up dark marks, clean all of the grease off wrenches, consider removing marker lines. I even have seen people put ‘Armor All’ on their tools to make them glossy.
But the better they look, the better it is for you really. You will put yourself in the best position possible by cleaning up your tools before you take them into your local pawn shop.
Keep the ‘House Brand’ or ‘No Name’ tools at home. If you’re not sure, call the pawn shop up first and just ask them if they take that brand.
Well… that’s about it.
Thanks for everything
The Head Nerd
