Watches are some of the most popular pawn shop items. If you need a good chunk of extra cash, you could bring yours into your local pawn shop to pawn or sell it.

But don’t do it right away. If you want to get as much money as possible from your watch, there are a few preparatory steps to take. Here they are.

Clean Your Watch

When it comes to anything of value, especially something that you wear, cleanliness and conditions are of the utmost importance. A clean watch implies that the owner (you) took great care of it.

Think about it: if you were buying a watch that was dirty and dull, you wouldn’t want to pay as much for it, right?

With that in mind, make sure you give your watch a good, thorough cleaning before you bring it into your local pawnbroker. Here are some cleaning tips:

• Wipe dirty spots with a paper towel and warm water
• Look in all areas, even the hard-to-reach spots
• Clean band with leather cleaner if the band is leather
• Avoid using abrasive cleaning solutions
• Use a soft-bristled brush

Find the Original Box

Are you the type of person to hold on to the original packaging when you buy things? That’ll come in handy here — you can fetch more for your watch if you have the box it came in.

Additionally, try to find the watch’s instruction manual, tags, warranty papers, or other paperwork. It might seem unnecessary, but believe it or not, these things can add value to your watch at the pawn shop.

Gather Any Extra Pieces

Similar to the above tip, pawn shops will hand you more cash if you have extra pieces that came with your watch.

For example, extra links. Perhaps you bought a new link to better fit your wrist and stored the old one somewhere. Or maybe your watch came with some spares. Find those and bring them in with your watch.

It’s the same story with stones. If any fell out of your watch, and you held on to them, gather those up.

Once you have all these extra pieces, place them in a plastic zip lock bag and keep it somewhere safe until you head into the pawn shop. The more extra pieces you have, the more money you could receive.

Negotiate

Pawn shops offer some room to negotiate. If you want to squeeze a few more bucks out of your watch, spend some time researching it so you come in informed.

When the pawn shop gives you an offer, try asking for a little more if your research backs it, but don’t go overboard.

Looking to get the most value for your watch? Cash Express in Philadelphia loves good watches. Bring your watch in today (after following our tips, of course) and we’d be happy to give you a fair price. 

It’s mid-October, which means the holidays are upon us. People everywhere are readying themselves to brave the cold, traffic, and long lines to grab the perfect gifts for their friends and family.

Most people will head to traditional retail stores, but you should consider doing at least part of your shopping at a pawn shop. Here are a few reasons why.

1. A Variety of Items That Make Perfect Gifts

Pawnbrokers deal in all sorts of items that make great gifts for your family and friends.

For example, many pawn shops such as Cash Express have lots of jewelry available for sale. These pieces make great gifts for a spouse or significant other.

Or maybe you’re shopping for the kids. Plenty of pawn shops have computers, gaming consoles, and video games.

If there’s a musician in the family, well, pawn shops tend to have some nice guitars.

Those are just a few of the most popular pawn shop items. You can find all sorts of other potential gifts, including cameras, golf clubs, power tools, and watches.

2. Savings

Many of those items you buy as gifts plummet in value the moment you open the packaging. If it’s jewelry, well, you generally have to pay hefty markups at jewelers.

But you can use this to your advantage at pawn shops. Everything at a pawn shop has been owned by someone already, so you won’t be paying full price.

Plus, you have some room for negotiation. If you really know your stuff, you could save a few more bucks.

3. Dodge the Crowds

The stigma around pawn shops in general and buying gifts from them in particular is mostly gone at this point. However, the majority of people still knock out their holiday shopping at retail stores.

And they all do it at the same time, too. The crowds at those stores can get atrocious.

But pawn shops are still a bit of a “hidden gem” for holiday shopping. You can likely visit 1-2 pawn shops and find most of your items without fighting long lines.

Oh, and the chances of the items you want to buy being out of stock aren’t as high, too.

4. “Regift” Your Gifts… to Buy New Gifts

Have old items lying around that you don’t need? Maybe an old gift or two that you don’t use? You can bolster your holiday budget by pawning or selling them to a pawnbroker.

Now, you’ve got more money in hand to buy some pawn shop gifts!

Thinking about visiting a Philadelphia pawn shop to grab some of your holiday gifts this year? Look no further than Cash Express. We’ve got great prices on everything from jewelry to designer bags to power tools to electronics and more.

Stop in today and take a look at our collection. You might luck out on an amazing holiday find!

Bicycles have always been popular items, whether as a mode of transportation or means of exercise.

As people become more conscious about the potential downsides of driving in cars so often — cost, pollution, and lack of exercise, among others — are making them even more favored by people all over.

Consequently, bicycles are in strong demand at many pawn shops. Of course, you can’t just bring your bike to any pawn shop to get the best price. Below, we’ll go over how to make the most money selling your bike to a pawn shop.

Polish Up Your Bike

If you’re an avid biker, there’s a good chance your bike has seen some wear and tear. So first and foremost, you’ll want to make sure your bike’s in as great shape as possible — the better condition it’s in, the more money you’ll make.

No need to do a complete makeover, though. Do some basic maintenance: oil the chains, fill the tires, secure the nuts and bolts, make sure the seat is in good condition, etc.

Also, consider cleaning the bike up. See if you can fix any scuffs anywhere to enhance its appearance.

Lastly, make sure you have any accessors, such as an air pump, helmet, and, if your bike has one, a basket. Every accessory offers a slightly better case for someone buying your bike, meaning you could earn a few more bucks.

Research Your Bike Online

Once your bike is looking good, it’d be a great idea to poke around online and see how much similar bikes sell for. Doing so will give you a solid expectation of what you’ll make on your own.

First, look for your make and model online. Write down the price you find for each one.

Additionally, visit a few pawn shops and see what kind of bikes they have for sale. Keep track of those prices as well.

Now, pawn shops won’t buy your bike for as much as they might be selling other similar bikes. After all, they have to make money, so keep that in mind.

Find a Good Pawn Shop

With a polished up bike and information in hand, it’s time to find a pawn shop.

But don’t go with just any pawn shop. Not all will give you the best price.

Additionally, some pawn shops don’t take bikes at all. They won’t be able to help you much.

Do some research to find pawn shops near you that specialize in bicycles and other sporting items. The extra time spent looking for these shops will pay off in spades when you get the money you deserve.

Looking to sell a bike? Cash Express is happy to take a look at yours. We take plenty of other items as well — especially jewelry, watches, and metals — so bring your stuff down to our pawn shop in Philadelphia today!

It seems like TVs leap in technological advancement with each passing year. Today, you can get a large, high-quality flat-screen TV for only a few hundred dollars.

That means you’ve probably considered getting rid of your old one. 

But don’t throw it out or sell it for pennies at a garage sale.

You see, pawn shops love TVs. Everyone wants one, so they sell easily. 

You can make good money off your flat-screen — enough to cover a good chunk of a new TV — by bringing it to a pawn shop near you.

Here’s a quick guide on getting the most bank for your TV buck.

How to Pawn Your Flat-Screen TV

Nabbing the best price at a pawn shop will require some preparation. Research your TV before heading to the pawn shop so you can make sure you get a fair price.

Pay Attention to Brand

Different brands hold different weights. The best brands tend to be those that are reliable and have a lot of name recognition.

Some of these brands include:

• LG
• Panasonic
• Samsung
• Sony

Other renowned names like Sharp and Vizio won’t fetch as high a price as the above brands, but you’ll still make good money.

Then, there are lower-tier brands like Insignia and Toshiba. You’ll still be able to earn something off these TVs, but don’t expect a ton.

Consider Size

Size is a huge consideration for anyone buying a TV. Naturally, pawn shops will fork over a lot of money if your TV is large. 

Anything that’s at least 42 inches will get you a good price. If it’s especially massive, you could expect several hundred dollars.

Smaller TVs over 26 inches but less than 42 inches will get you something, but not a ton.

And lastly, don’t expect much — if anything at all — for TVs under 26 inches. They just don’t have much demand.

Remember, pawn shops have to make money. If they’re not able to mark up an already low-demand TV and make a profit, they won’t likely take it.

Shop Around For the Best Offer

Pawn shops are subject to the same laws of supply and demand that any other business is. If a pawn shop has a lot of TVs and not a lot of buyers, you aren’t going to get a good price.

Likewise, a pawn shop that can’t seem to hold onto TVs for more than a day will pay you much more — because they can mark up the TV more and make a bigger profit.

With this in mind, shop around at several shops to see what offers you get.

One other quick tip: bring the box, cables, and remote if you have them. You’ll get more money out of your TV.

Cash Out Your Flat-Screen For a New One

Our Philadelphia pawn shop has some flat-screens in stock if you want to replace yours. But if you don’t want a new TV, feel free to take a look at our other items. Bring your TV into Cash Express today — let’s get you a good price.

Sometimes, money’s tight. You need some extra cash for food, rent, or something else, and you might be wishing you could get your hands on $1,000 within a day or two.

Fortunately, pawn shops make that possible. You can bring your item to a pawn shop like Cash Express and walk out the same day with money in hand.

Some items fetch a better price than others, though. Below, we’ll discuss a few things you can bring into a pawn shop to help you walk out with at least $1,000.

But first: pawn or sell?

Should I Pawn or Sell My Items?

That depends.

Pawning an item gets you a short-term loan — with the item as collateral. There are no credit checks, either.

And if you can’t pay it back plus interest, the worst that happens is you lose your item.

Still, pawn shops know their customers might be in tough financial situations, and they’re willing to help. They often will give an extension if you’re having trouble paying back the loan.

Your other option is to sell. Selling will usually net a higher price, but, of course, you don’t get your item back.

Items to Pawn or Sell For $1,000

Pawn shops have to deal with several costs, such as storage space, licenses, labor, and other store expenses. They need to earn enough to cover all these, plus make a profit.

The result?

Small, high-demand items are pawn shop favorites. Pawn shops can get the most money out of these items while minimizing their storage costs.

Here are some of those items.

Watches

Watches can fetch much more than $1,000 at a pawn shop, depending on several factors. 

Brand is one of the most important. Rolexes, Breitlings, and Chopards (to name a few) could earn you thousands of dollars.

Other factors influencing watch proceeds include:

• Condition
• Being made of precious metals
• Being a collector’s item

Diamond Rings

Diamond rings are an obvious choice for a few reasons. First of all, people looking to save money on a ring often go to pawn shops. Also, pawn shops don’t even need to sell the ring to make money. They can take it apart and sell each piece separately.

Jewelry

Most other kinds of jewelry will sell well, too. They’re small for easy storage, yet are in high demand by people who want jewelry at a bargain.

Jewelry not in good condition? You can still sell it for scrap metal at a pawn shop.

Firearms

Some pawn shops won’t give you the best prices on guns. You’ll want to visit a pawn show that specializes in firearms.

Additionally, not all guns fetch a high price. Do your research on your gun’s value and make sure it’s in good condition.

Lastly, make sure you have all relevant paperwork and licensing. Otherwise, you can’t pawn or sell your guns.

Other Items You Can Pawn For Less Than $1,000

Here are some items that won’t fetch such a high price, but are worth bringing to a pawn shop anyways if you need some spare cash.

• Electronics
• Less valuable firearms and watches
• Golf clubs
• Mountain bikes
• Tools (especially power tools)
• Gym equipment
• Musical instruments

Need $1,000 today? Cash Express would love to help. We take a wide variety of items, but we especially love jewelry and precious metals. Bring your items to our Philadelphia pawn shop today for some quick cash!

Earlier in 2020, companies small and large suffered when lockdowns and social distancing measures were put in place.

Doors are now slowly opening, but many businesses are still struggling to get by — especially smaller businesses that don’t have tons of cash to sit on.

Yet despite the hard economic times we’re all in, business has been booming for pawn shops. Many may wonder how such a specific industry can do so well right now when other businesses are not.

Why Are Pawn Shops Doing So Well During These Tumultuous Times?

In many states, pawn shops have been granted the “essential business” title, joining the ranks of other critical enterprises such as grocery stores and banks. Consequently, they’ve been allowed to continue their operations, as long as they follow and enforce social distance and mask protocols.

But why are they so essential? It’s a valid question. Pawn shops seem like the last type of business to be considered necessary for survival, but they’re more important than you think.

Customers Are Leveraging Their Items For Financial Assistance

Pawn shops are essential because of their ability to make loans.

Not just any loans, though. Pawn loans.

These are short-term loans that require no credit check. You borrow against an item of value to get them, and you can have the money in as little as a couple of hours. All you have to do is pay back the loan plus interest and fees within 30 days to get your item back.

If you can’t pay it back, the worst that happens is you lose your item. No credit score damage and no debt collectors here.

People can also sell their items outright if they don’t need it. Pawn shops are one of the easiest places to get rid of any miscellaneous items of value you have.

But that doesn’t explain why they’re doing so well. More on that next.

Many Pawn Shop Items Are in High Demand

In times like these, specific items become sought after — especially when everyone is locked inside.

Pawn shops happen to carry many of these items.

For example, video games and video game consoles are flying off the shelves. When you’re stuck in your house all day, you have much more time to fire up a console and play.

Lockdowns also led to a great increase in remote work, too. As a result, desktops and laptops are also selling well at pawn shops.

Then, of course, people are buying up firearms and ammunition. It’s grim to think about, but owning a firearm can make you feel more secure in uncertain times. And since firearms are expensive items, a pawn shop is where most people turn to when money isn’t as stable.

Stimulus Checks

Most Americans received several hundred to a few thousand dollars in stimulus money. Much of the money is bound to be spent on good deals at pawn shops.

Pawn Shops Are Strict About Social Distancing

Since pawn shops are essential, the government’s eye is on them. They are extra careful about social distancing, ensuring everyone wears a mask and remains properly distanced. Items and surfaces are sanitized frequently.

Want some extra cash to pad your savings? Need a laptop to work from home? Don’t worry — at Cash Express, we have plenty of items available. We love jewelry and precious metals, so if you have any, bring them in today!

The economy is recovering, but things are still a little shaky out there. Many people are looking for ways to leverage what they have to get some extra money.

One common action people take is to use valuable items — such as artwork — to get some extra cash temporarily. Many times, this happens at pawn shops.

But is pawning your art a legit way to get money from your artwork? Or should you go the traditional route, such as using an auction house or selling to someone privately? Read on to see why a pawn shop is a viable option.

Get Cash Fast... Without Losing Your Artwork

Pawn shops offer you the unique opportunity to leverage your art for cash today — yet you don’t have to let go of your art. This is possible through pawn loans.

Pawn loans require no credit checks, and you can get them in as little as a day. You secure the loan with your artwork. As long as you pay back the loan balance plus fees and interest in 30 days, you get your art back.

In many cases, borrowers aren’t getting a pawn loan out of necessity or desperation. Perhaps a unique investment opportunity presents itself to you, but you don’t get paid until next week. Pawning your art provides you that capital to buy into said investment opportunity. Then, you can pay back the loan when you receive your paycheck.

What If You Sell Your Art?

Perhaps you aren’t as attached to your art, and you’d rather earn money that you don’t have to pay back. That’s understandable.

Pawn shops make it easy to sell your art, too.

See, the traditional routes take time. If you sell to someone else, you might have to go through a broker. You’ll endure a lengthy appraisal process and owe commissions to your broker (and perhaps other parties involved in the process).

What if you use an auction house?

In this case, you won’t have the final say on your artwork’s price. Whoever has the best bid, wins. Sure, there’s a chance you might wind up with more than you hoped for, but it’s more likely you’ll get less.

At a pawn shop, you have more choice. One pawn shop low-balled you? Leave them behind and visit a different pawn shop. As long as you demand a reasonable amount for your artwork, you’re more likely to get the price you want through pawn shops.

Bring Your Artwork to Cash Express in Philadelphia

Need some extra cash for the short-term? If you have some artwork, Cash Express would be happy to lend you money against it. Just bring your art into our Philadelphia pawn shop so we can take a look at it. We’ll get money into your hands within a few hours!

Decluttering your house? Your first thought may be to have a garage sale. You know, clean out your home and make a few bucks.

But yard sales aren’t your only option — and they may not be the best, either.

Pawn shops could actually be the better choice. Here are some reasons to consider a pawn shop in Philadelphia like Cash Express.

You Can Keep Your Items in Some Cases

Selling isn’t your only option at pawn shops. If you need some quick cash but want to keep your item, you can pawn it for a loan.

The pawnbroker holds onto the item for 30 days. As long as you pay back the loan plus interest and fees, you get your item back. No credit checks required. Plus, if you can’t pay back the loan, you only lose the item — not your credit score.

A Better Price

You may not know the true value of most items you’re selling at a garage sale. You could be leaving money at the table by selling these items at a massive discount.

Most pawn brokers bring in an industry expert to appraise your item. Who knows: you may end up earning $100 on an item you would’ve sold for $10 at a yard sale.

No Setup Required

Yard sales require a lot of tedious setup. First of all, you have to arrange all your items in an organized, intuitive manner. You’ll need some tables to place items on.

Then, there’s the marketing. You’ll have to create (or buy) signs and place them strategically around your area so that traffic can see them.

And when your customers get there, you have to make sure no one walks off with your items without paying.

No such setup is required at a pawn shop. No need to wake up at the crack of dawn and worry if you’ll get any customer

Looking to sell some stuff at a garage sale or a pawn shop? Cash Express is your one-stop Philadelphia pawn shop for all your quick money needs. 

Come talk to our friendly staff today if you have any questions!

Pawn shops are known for having lots of jewelry, precious metals, and similar valuables in their inventories. In fact, those are our favorite types of items at Cash Express in Philadelphia.

But many pawn shops (including us) are also fans of musical instruments. Many people sell their instruments to pawn shops because they can get a great price fast — and pawn shops take them because they know other people will want to buy them.

If you’re among these musicians that’s looking to grab their first (or next) instruments from a pawnbroker, read on.

Why Buy an Instrument From a Pawn Shop?

In general, pawn shop instruments are in excellent condition. But since they’re gently used, and since you can negotiate with pawn brokers, you can find a fantastic instrument at a low price.

Because of this, pawn shop instruments are perfect for beginners. You’ll have more money leftover to invest in music lessons with a good teacher, as well as other accessories.

What Instruments Can You Find at Pawn Shops?

Not all instruments will be easy to find. Pawn shops only buy what people bring in, after all. If an instrument isn’t popular, you might be able to find it at a pawn shop — but it’ll be a challenge.

With that said, there are plenty of instruments commonplace in pawnbroker inventories, such as:

• Amplifiers

• Bass guitars

• Clarinets

• Flutes

• Guitars (acoustic and electric)

• Harmonicas

• Keyboards

• Synthesizers

• Trombones

• Trumpets

• Violins

Out of these instruments, guitars and violins are the most popular. You’ll find them quite easily, but you’ll want to act fast — a guitar you’re keeping your eye on could sell fairly quickly.

Buying Your Instruments

When buying your instrument, consider the whole cost when weighing the purchase against your budget. Not just the purchase price, but any necessary repairs and mandatory (or near-mandatory) accessories (such as a capo for a guitar).

Inspect your choice of instrument carefully, looking for signs of damage. Make sure the instrument isn’t refinished. Check each component of the instrument (such as strings and pegs for a violin) carefully to get a feel for the instrument’s condition.

Some repairs will be cheaper than others. You may pay more for a great-condition violin in need of restringing, but new strings aren’t costly. On the other hand, violin body damage can be expensive.

Also, play an instrument a few times at the pawn shop. Listen carefully, as the tone it produces can help you determine the condition of the instrument. For example, violins should have deep, rich tones. A high-pitched, treble-y violin may not be in as good a condition as you think.

Keep these things in mind and you’ll be well on your way to bringing home a great instrument at a fair price.

Looking to pick up a new musical instrument? Cash Express is your one-stop Philadelphia pawn shop for your instrument needs. We have plenty of excellent instruments to look at.
If you’re looking to sell or pawn your instrument, we’d be happy to help as well. Come talk to our friendly staff today!

Whether you built exciting new projects or made repairs to your home, your power tools have served you well over the time you’ve had them. At some point, however, you may want to upgrade to a new set.

But ditching your old set of tools isn’t a good idea. Instead, you’d be wise to gather them up and bring them to a pawn shop.

Power tools are popular pawn shop items because they’re expensive when bought brand new. Working men and handymen both head to pawn brokers to grab used power tools, saving themselves money. As a result, there’s money to be made by selling yours to your local pawn shop. Your proceeds can be used to save cash on a brand new set!

Wouldn’t it be nice to know exactly how much you’ll get for selling your power tools, though? Your price depends on many factors, but we can help you get an idea of what you’d earn by selling your tools to a pawn shop in Philadelphia like Cash Express. Read on to learn more.

Best Brands of Power Tools to Sell at a Pawn Shop

The best brands of power tools that pawn shops love to buy include the following.

• Bosch

• DeWalt

• Makita

• Milwaukee

• Snap-On

• Stihl

Power Tool Brands That Aren’t So Popular

All power tools will make you something at a pawn shop, but some brands won’t make you anywhere near as much as the previously mentioned brands. These less lucrative brands include:

• Craftsman

• Dremel

• Festool

• Rigid

• Ryobi

• Stanley

Other Factors

Here are some other factors to consider when selling your power tools to a pawn shop.

Condition

As with any item: the better the condition, the higher the price. Scratches and scuffs will bring the price of your tools down, but you can minimize that by giving your tools a thorough cleaning. Wash off any rust or gunk to make them look as new as possible.

Model and Year

Newer tools and better models will fetch a higher price for obvious reasons. That said, an older model that is in excellent condition will still get you a good payout.

Accessories

To up your power tool profits, bring in any extra blades or other components you may have. Check around your garage for those extra components!

Battery

Make sure your tools are fully charged before bringing them in to a pawn shop. It may seem trivial, but having your power tools in as good of working order as possible before you arrive at the pawn broker will get you the best price.

Cash Express pawn shop in Philadelphia is happy to take a look at your old power tools and give you a fair price. We also have power tools available if you want to buy more. Come in today — we’ll make sure you walk out with money in hand as soon as possible!