There are plenty of myths and misunderstandings surrounding pawn shops. The truth is, thousands of people visit pawn shops every day to buy items at great prices and pawn their own items for quick loans.

Still, you may have some questions. So, to help you out and clear up any misconceptions, we answered some common questions about pawn shops below.

1. Are Pawn Shops Safe?

Pawn shops have an unfortunately bad reputation, but they have come quite far in just a few decades. Most pawn shops are clean, well-lit, and have an appealing interior, relatively speaking.

The other belief is that pawn shops have lots of stolen goods. Although it’s impossible to have absolutely 0% of customers attempt to pawn stolen items, it’s quite rare. Legit pawn shops ID their customers and also work together with local law enforcement to prevent stolen items from changing hands.

In fact, pawn shops can and do report transactions on databases that law enforcement can then use to track down the thieves.

2. Why Would I Get a Pawn Loan?

Pawn loans come with several benefits that make them great for anybody — but especially people who need cash fast or can’t get a loan through traditional sources.

That’s because pawn loans don’t require credit checks. You simply bring in an item of value, and the pawn shop will look at it before offering you an amount and terms. If you agree with their offer, they’ll give you a ticket in exchange for your item. You can walk out with money that same day.

3. What Can I Pawn?

You can pawn anything of value, whether that’s jewelry, guitars, or video game consoles. However, you’ll get more money if you go to a pawn store specializing in your item.

For example, pawning a guitar at a store specializing in musical instruments could fetch you more than somewhere else.

4. How Long Do Pawn Loans Last?

Pawn loans generally last 30 days. You must pay back the loan plus any interest/fees by then. In some cases, you may be able to extend the loan another 30 days by paying another fee.

The best part: if you can’t pay your loan back, you simply lose your item. No credit damage, no collections, no more interest.

Now you know a little bit more about pawn shops. If you’re looking for a pawn loan — or you want to buy jewelry, coins, electronics, and more at great prices in Philadelphia — come stop by Cash Express pawn shop today. We’re happy to take a look at any items you have, and feel free to browse our inventory!

Are you looking to pick up a beautiful piece of jewelry? Maybe you have to propose soon, perhaps your anniversary’s coming up, or maybe you just want to look stylish.

Regardless of the reason, jewelry stores aren’t your only option. In fact, your local pawn store may actually be a better place to go.

Here are some reasons to get your next piece of jewelry from a pawn shop in Philadelphia.

1. Price

First and foremost, pawn shop prices are nearly always better relative to jewelry stores. Sure, you can buy a brand new piece of jewelry at a jewelry store for a small fortune…

Or you could go to a pawn shop and get a piece in great condition — almost identical to a brand new piece — for a much smaller amount.

Additionally, there may be negotiating room. You might be able to knock a couple of bucks off the price the pawn shop has listed.

So whether it’s an engagement ring, birthday gift, or personal piece, you’ll avoid breaking the bank by getting your jewelry at a pawn shop.

2. Sell or Pawn To Expand Your Budget

If better prices at pawn shops weren’t enough, it’s easy to expand your jewelry budget at pawn shops. Just bring in items you’d like to pawn or sell and you can get more money into your hand that same day.

Do this right, and you could get your hands on quite the nice piece of jewelry that would otherwise be way out of reach at a typical jewelry store.

3. Variety

Jewelry stores have some level of variety in selection, but not necessarily what a pawn shop can offer.

The reason is simple: pawn shops regularly buy and sell jewelry from all sorts of people over many years. More types of people means more variety in jewelry.

For example, you might have a decent chance of finding beautiful vintage pieces at pawn shops. On the other hand, jewelry stores may only have newer/modern pieces.

You won’t miss out on brands you love, either. You could find big names like Cartier, Tiffany & Co., Hermès, and more at your local pawn shop.

4. Less Time To Receive the Jewelry

Jewelry stores let you buy right then and there… but they might have to order you a separate example of the same piece so they don’t have to hand you the floor piece. Not at pawn shops. You see a piece and you like it? Buy it, and you walk out with it that same day. If someone’s birthday or your anniversary is coming soon and you can’t wait around, pawn shops might be your best option.

Pawn Shops: Offering a Variety of Affordable Pieces

Don’t buy jewelry in Philadelphia from any old jewelry store. Look to a pawn shop like Cash Express instead. Jewelry is one of our hottest categories of items — we love to buy it, and we love even more to get it into your hands. Stop by today to check out all of our jewelry inventory!

Whether you need money fast or want to exchange items you don’t need for quick cash, pawn shops are an excellent solution. You can either sell your items outright or use the item as collateral on a pawn loan.

But regardless of your reason for visiting a pawn shop, it never hurts to do things that can get you a better price.

To help you out, here are a few tips to get more dollars for your items.

1. Do Your Homework

First, do some research on your item. Learn more about its history and any other relevant facts.

Then, look online on sites like eBay for similar items that recently sold.

Both of these pieces of information can help you nail down a price that leaves both you and the pawn shop happy. Being informed about your item also helps you negotiate your price a bit higher.

2. Clean and Fix Up the Item

It’s simple: a clean item in perfect condition will fetch more money than the same one with scuffs, marks, or other issues.

Thus, you should clean items off at the very least before bringing them in.

Make any repairs if you can as well. You might not be able to restore an item to mint condition, but you can make said item more attractive to the eye or easier to use — both of which help you get a better price.

3. Bring Documentation

Selling a high-ticket item like jewelry? Have it appraised ahead of time and bring that report in with you to the pawn shop. You’ll have proof to back up your asking price.

This also goes for collectible items, like art or trading cards. Any documentation proving value, rarity, and other similar traits can help you secure a higher selling price.

4. Include Peripheral Items

For example, if you’re selling a computer to a pawn shop, bring its power cord and any other peripherals that might go with it. Not only does more items equal more money… but pawn shops might hand you even more since the other items you’re providing complement the main item.

5. Go to the Right Place

You can do all the other things right and still not get the price you’re looking for if you don’t visit the right pawnbroker.

Some pawnbrokers specialize in certain items or are located in areas where particular items are in high demand. For example, a pawn store specializing in musical instruments may give you a better price than one that doesn’t usually buy them.

With this in mind, there’s no need to take up your first offer at a pawn shop. You can shop around and try to find a better deal.

Now, if it’s jewelry or precious metals you’re pawning or selling in Philadelphia, Cash Express is the place to go. We especially love gold, coins, and various jewelry pieces, but we’re also happy to look at computers, watches, tools, and antique items.

If you have any of those and you want the best possible price, visit Cash Express today!

It’s summertime. If you haven’t already cleaned and decluttered your home during the spring, you might be doing it now.

As you move through your house, you might stumble upon some long-forgotten jewelry that you no longer care for much.

Don’t let it sit any longer — you can turn that unwanted jewelry into some extra cash to use for summer fun or urgent expenses, regardless of your situation.

One of the best ways to do so is to bring it into a pawn shop like Cash Express. Let’s talk a bit more about pawning your jewelry.

Why Pawn Unwanted Jewelry?

Pawn shops offer people a lightning-fast way to get their hands on some extra funds with no complications. They’re called pawn loans.

Here’s how pawn loans work:

First, you bring your item in for the pawn shop to look at. Once they’ve looked it over, they’ll offer you a loan amount and. If you agree, the pawn shop will give you a pawn ticket with their name and address, a description of the pawned item, the loan amount, and the loan’s maturity date.

You’ll hand the shop your item in exchange and be on your merry way.

At the end of the loan term (usually 30 days), you’ll pay back the loan plus any fees and interest.

There are no credit checks and no complex applications.

Plus, being unable to pay back the loan isn’t the end of the world. All that happens when you fail to pay back a pawn loan is the pawn shop becomes the owner of your property. No credit damage, no collections agencies, and no worries. The pawnbroker simply takes possession of your item and cancels the loan

On that note, If the jewelry is such a bother that you don’t want it back, no worries — all you have to do is not pay the loan back.

It’s perfect for everyone involved — you get a nice sum of money and ditch your unwanted jewelry. Meanwhile, the pawn store has another piece to sell to someone else who does want it.

Pawn Your Jewelry in Philadelphia, PA

Got some unwanted jewelry you’d like to pawn in Philadelphia? At Cash Express, jewelry is one of our favorite items to receive from customers and borrowers. Bring in your jewelry and let us have a look — we’ll get you out the door with a fair offer the same day! Contact us to learn more or stop by today.

A lot of jewelry breaks at some point. Yet, the broken pieces themselves may hold some financial and/or sentimental value that keeps you from just tossing it. That’s understandable, but what can you do with it besides let it gather dust in a box?

A few things, actually. Here are some options for dealing with your broken jewelry.

1. Fix It

First and foremost, why not try fixing the jewelry? We, unfortunately, live in a society where people tend to throw away broken stuff… yet much of that could be fixed and work like new to reduce this waste.

No need to know how to fix jewelry yourself — jewelry stores and jewelry repair shops both can fix that jewelry up for you. You’ll pay some money, but if you pick a good store, they’ll restore your jewelry’s beauty as if it were new.

2. Sell It

It doesn’t matter if your jewelry is broken — it’s made of valuable materials. Thus, many people (including pawn shops) would be happy to buy the broken jewelry for its precious metal and stone content.

Silver jewelry on its own may not fetch a high price, since it hovers around $30/oz at the time of writing. Gold, however, is around $1,900/oz and platinum over $1,000/oz, both at the time of writing.

Thus, broken jewelry made with these precious metals may be worth selling.

Of course, there are also stones to consider. If you have a diamond in the piece of jewelry (perhaps it's a diamond ring), that could nab you a much greater sale price.

3. Pawn It

You don’t have to sell your broken jewelry to exchange it for money. Why not pawn it for a short-term loan? Pawn shops are often willing to give larger pawn loans than the typical sale price since they’re more likely to get their money back.

Once again, since the jewelry is broken, the loan amount will depend mostly on the value of the materials (the metals and stones in the jewelry). Silver jewelry may not get you an appreciable sum of cash, but gold and platinum pieces will, given their greater value.

Thinking of selling or pawning that broken jewelry in Philadelphia? Or maybe you plan on fixing it up first to increase the possible payout? In either case, bring it into Cash Express. We love jewelry and are happy to get you an excellent price or loan as soon as today. Contact us today or come in to learn more!

Pawning an item can be an excellent way to access cash fast.

How it works is simple: you bring an item of value into a pawnbroker like Cash Express. We evaluate the item and offer you a loan with certain terms based on our appraisal of the item. If you accept the loan, we hold onto the item as you pay back the loan.

Once you pay back the loan, we hand you the item. No credit checks, no long applications, no denials for bad credit.

It’s easy enough and helps plenty of people cover financial gaps every day. However, you may be a bit confused if you’re new to it, so we put together a few quick tips to pawn your items with confidence.

1. Do Your Research

First and foremost, nothing instills confidence like doing your homework. Spend some time online trying to discover how much your pawnable items might be worth.

Depending on the item, nailing down exact numbers might be hard — not to mention every pawn shop differs. Still, this can help you determine which item to pawn based on how much money you need.

2. Set Realistic Expectations

Pawn shops generally hand out more money for a pawn loan than they do when outright buying an item. They’re willing to do so because they’re likely to get their money back at some point.

Still, despite doing your research on the item, you may not get the exact amount you want when you bring the item in. Pawn loans still create some risk for the pawn shop, after all. Additionally, the pawn shop may discover something else about your item that changes how valuable it is.

With these in mind, set realistic expectations for the final loan amount you might receive.

3. Decide How Much You Value Your Item

Ideally, you pay back the loan and the pawn shop returns the item to you. However, if you fail to pay back the loan, the pawn shop takes possession of your item.

Thus, decide how much you value the item. If it’s, say, a piece of family heirloom jewelry, you may not want to take the risk.

However, if it’s a ring from an ex, or maybe one of many guitars you own (and not one of particular value) you may not stress too much if you fail to pay back the loan.

The good thing is that (as mentioned) your score won’t take a hit from failing to pay since no credit check occurs. The worst that happens is you lose your item.

4. Visit a Reputable Pawnbroker Specializing in Your Item

Pawn shops sometimes get a bad reputation because of a few bad apples. These bad apples do exist, but the majority of pawn shops are excellent places willing to get you a good price on any valuable item you bring in.

With that in mind, try to find a pawn shop that specializes in the item you’d like to pawn. For example, if you have a nice guitar, look for a pawn shop in your area that mainly buys/sells/pawns musical instruments.

If you’re looking for a pawn shop in Philadelphia, look no further than Cash Express. We especially love jewelry and precious metals, but don’t let that stop you from bringing in other items! We’d be happy to take a look and get cash into your hand as soon as today. Feel free to give us a call at (215) 922-1560 or come stop by to learn more!

Your local jewelry store isn’t your only option for finding and buying high-quality fine jewelry. In fact, your local pawn shop might work better for you.

So if you’re in the market for a fine piece or two, here are 6 reasons to get it from a pawn shop.

1. Great Prices

We all know fine jewelry carries a hefty price. But pawn shops can offer much lower prices than jewelry stores because the pieces are used — yet used doesn’t mean “bad condition”. Many pawn shops have pieces that are almost as good as new, yet cost a fraction of “new”.

2. Price Flexibility

Is a piece still out of your budget, but you want it? No worries — some pawn shops may be open to a bit of haggling.

That said, not all are. In this case, you can still bring in your own items to sell or for a pawn loan, then use your proceeds to purchase the piece you want.

Alternatively, some pawn shops even offer layaway. It never hurts to ask a pawn shop to see if they’re willing to work with you on a payment plan so you can afford that lovely piece.

3. Selection

Pawn shops specializing in jewelry have a wider selection than you might think.

That’s because they get pieces from all over — everything from major jewelers to small, independent operations may have pieces show up in your local pawn store. You effectively get to “visit” several jewelers at once while scoring a great deal on any piece you buy.

4. Confidence and Quality

Reputable pawn shops thoroughly test every piece that comes through their store for authenticity before putting it on their shelves for sale.

Plus, pawn shops repair and renovate pieces to make sure your choice of jewelry is in great shape. Whether it’s clearing up surface scratches or changing the clasps, you can rest assured that your piece is genuine and in fantastic shape.

5. Knowledgeable Pawn Shop Staff

Jewelry is quite a deep and broad field. Trying to learn the nitty-gritty of jewelry and precious stones can be pretty overwhelming.

Luckily, pawn shop staff — especially those at stores specializing in jewelry — are knowledgeable on all things jewelry. Whether you have questions about what a “karat” is or you need help finding a good engagement ring, pawn staff are often able to help you out.

6. For The Environment

As much as we love jewelry, creating new pieces can be bad for the environment. By buying used at a pawn shop, you’re reducing your environmental footprint by cutting the demand for new jewelry and precious stones.

So now you save money and help the environment. Not a bad deal.

Looking for jewelry in the Philadelphia area? Don’t break the bank. Instead, come down to Cash Express pawn shop. We love jewelry and precious stones, so we’ve got plenty of those at great prices. And if you have some fine jewelry that you’d like to pawn or sell, we'd love to take a look and get you a fair deal. Stop into our store today!

If you’re ever in need of some quick cash, pawning items can come in handy. Pawning your item at a pawn store lets you take out a short-term pawn loan. These loans have no credit requirements, and the worst that can happen is you lose your collateral for failing to pay.

Pawn loans provide borrowers with a couple of obvious benefits, but how exactly does the pawn shop figure out how much to loan you? In this article, we’ll go over the criteria pawn stores look at to provide you with a loan amount.

Appraisal

First and foremost, a pawn shop needs to appraise the item to find out exactly how much value the type of item works. The actual appraisal process can vary depending on the type of item. For example, a firearm will be examined and appraised differently than diamond earrings.

Some pawn shops are able to bring in expert appraisers for specific types of items, kind of like on Pawn Stars. However, many aren’t able to do that. They may have someone in-house who’s knowledgeable about the item, but the pawnbroker themselves might appraise the item based on prior knowledge and online research.

Condition

Next up is the item’s condition. The better the condition, the higher the potential loan amount. Brand new items are the best, of course, but used items in good condition can still fetch a solid loan amount. Even items in so-so condition can get you something.

That said, pawn shops test some items to make sure they work correctly (if applicable). If the item doesn’t work, you won’t have much luck getting a loan.

For example, a pawn store specializing in musical instruments may play the guitar or amp you’re pawning a bit to make sure things are working right.

Demand

Demand is a significant factor, too. Pawn shops will pay more for items they think they can turn around and sell fast for a good profit margin.

This is why items like diamonds and jewelry (and diamond jewelry) are so popular with nearly all types of pawn shops, even some that don’t specialize in them. Pawn shops can offer much lower prices than jewelry stores for precious stones and jewelry in great condition, attracting plenty of buyers. Yet, at the same time, these pawn shops can earn a healthy margin.

This also goes for different types of the same item. A well-known luxury watch brand like Rolex will be in higher demand than something like a Fossil watch (in most instances).

So now you know a few things that go into pawn store lending decisions. If you’ve got an item you’d like to pawn, bring it on to Cash Express in Philadelphia — especially if it's jewelry or a precious stone. We’ll get you a fair price on your item and have you out the door with money as soon as today. Stop by our pawn shop today!

Pawn shops do buy items from customers. However, they also allow borrowers to bring in an item of value and use it as collateral to secure pawn loans. Securing your loan with an item is known as pawning.

Pawn shops often prefer pawning over a customer selling them something because they can get their money back. It offers flexibility.

However, pawn shops aren’t the only ones who benefit — you do too.

In fact, a pawn loan can be a better choice than traditional methods for some people.

With that in mind, here are a few advantages to pawning an item over getting a loan from a traditional source.

No Applications, Income Verifications, or Credit Checks

Borrowers with a short credit history or poor credit score may feel shut out from traditional lending options, such as personal loans.

Even many no-credit-check loans still may require a certain income and that you be employed.

Pawn loans ask for none of those things. There are no lengthy applications, credit-damaging credit checks, risk of being turned down for bad credit or income or need to even have a job.

All you need is an item of value that you’re willing to put down as collateral for the pawn loan.

Fast Funding

Most traditional loans can take anywhere from one day to a couple of days to get you your funds.

On the other hand, you can obtain a pawn loan in a few hours. That’s because pawn loans don’t have the red tape that traditional lenders face. All a pawn shop has to do is evaluate your item and determine the loan amount and terms.

Low Risk on the Borrower’s Part

Supposed you get a traditional loan without collateral. Somewhere down the line, you hit financial trouble and can’t pay it back.

You’ll face late fees, harassment from collections agencies, and even bankruptcy if it gets bad enough.

Some types of poor credit loans, like payday loans, aren’t always a better solution. Defaulting on those can bring the same consequences, along with overdraft fees, garnishments, and more.

Pawn shop loans? The worst that happens is that the pawn broker takes possession of your collateral.

No credit damage. No collections harassment. No exorbitant fees. Plus, many pawn shops let you extend your loan for an extra fee if you need to.

Ok, but some traditional lenders offer secured loans. Doesn’t that make them better than pawn loans?

Well, even if you default on a traditional secured loan, your credit score takes a large hit. That’s on top of losing your collateral.

If you think a pawn loan in Philadelphia might be right for you after reading this article, bring your collateral down to Cash Express and let us have a look. You’ll get the best amounts and terms for jewelry and precious metals, but we love other valuables as well. Visit us today!

Out of all the types of items you could bring to a pawn shop and pawn or sell, jewelry and precious stones tend to be the best.

But diamonds, in particular, are exceptional items to pawn. Pawn shops will pay good money to get their hands on these.

With that in mind, here are three reasons diamonds are good for pawning.

1. They’ve Valuable

Let’s get the obvious one out of the way — diamonds are valuable. They’re simply worth a lot of money due to rarity and beauty. Consequently, most pawn shops will be eager to get their hands on your diamond and will pay a fair price for it.

2. No Degradation

Many items that start out as valuable or expensive can lose their value fast. Look no further for an example than most luxury cars. Today’s BMW 5-series will cost a fraction of its new price a year down the road after being driven around.

Another great thing about diamonds, though, is that despite being so valuable, they don’t degrade over time. Thus, their value won’t go down much (if at all), especially compared to other luxury goods.

If you’re pawning your diamond for a loan, you can get pawn loans tons of times over the length of your ownership without seeing a drop in the diamond’s value.

If you’re selling, pawn shops will be all the more eager to buy because that diamond can sit on their shelves forever without becoming less valuable.

3. Demand

Diamonds may be pricey, but that’s exactly what makes them so great to pawn. Pawn shops can offer diamonds — an item that’s already in demand — at a nice discount for being second hand, making them easy to sell quite fast. Thus, pawn shops are more than happy to pay a good price.

This is especially true for diamond rings. A lot of people head to pawn shops to get beautiful diamond rings to propose (or for something else) without breaking the bank.

Overall, if you’re short on cash but have a diamond or diamond jewelry sitting around that you don’t need, you can turn it into a large sum of cash fast at a pawn shop.

Have any diamonds sitting around you don’t want? How about diamond jewelry, or any precious stones/jewelry for that matter? At Cash Express, these are among our favorite items. If you bring yours in, we’ll be happy to take a look at your items and provide you an excellent offer fast. You could have cash in hand within the day. Stop in to Cash Express in Philadelphia today!