It's that time of year. You're getting your Christmas shopping done and ask yourself the same question every year. Is it worth going to a pawn shop for Christmas gifts? 

The simple answer is yes. Of course, if the simple answer were enough to convince you, you'd already be in our store. So, let's examine what makes a pawn shop a good choice for your last-minute Christmas shopping. 

Big Deals on Gifts

Pawn shops offer deals on all kinds of popular gift products. Whether you're looking for electronics, tools, jewelry, or designer items, we can save you money compared to what you'd spend in retail stores. Saving money means you can put a few more gifts under the tree. You may find a good deal on a significant advantage you didn't think you'd be able to get this year. 

You Can Find Unique Gifts at Pawn Shops

People bring all kinds of items to pawn shops. You can find popular electronics and other gifts, and sometimes you can find things you can't find in retail stores anymore. From antiques to unique jewelry, if you have someone hard to shop for or what a special gift, you can find something at your local pawn shop. 

You're Supporting Local Business

When you shop at your local pawn shop, you're shopping at a locally owned and operated business. If you're fed up with the business practices of big-box stores, the local pawn shop is a good option. Remember, when you support local businesses, you're not just supporting that business. You're supporting the network of businesses that they, in turn, work with as well. 

Low Prices Aren't the Only Way to Save Money at Pawn Shops

Do you have electronics, tools, designer bags, or jewelry that you just don't use anymore? The phone you recently replaced, the laptop you just upgraded from, and the jewelry that is sitting at the bottom of your jewelry box can all work for you this Christmas. You can bring them to your local pawn shop and sell them for cash you can use in-store or anywhere you want. 

Are you still attached to some items? Your jewelry and other items can still work for you. You can pawn them for a temporary loan, giving them extra money for Christmas. Once you pay the loan back, you get your items back. 

Are You Convinced that Your Local Pawn Shop Is the Place This Christmas?

Let Cash Express help you get through the holiday season. Whether you're looking for a unique gift or need extra cash, we're here serving Philadelphia. If you have questions, stop by or contact us today.

It's the holiday season. You have your list, and you've checked it twice. Consider your local pawn shop as you rush out to get your holiday gifts for friends and family. Here are three reasons you should visit us this season. 

You Can Find Unique Gifts

While your loved ones have specific things they want - maybe your child has their heart set on a particular toy - sometimes you want to find something unique. You may be looking for exceptional jewelry for your partner. Perhaps you'd like to find a nice antique for your parent or grandparent. Because pawn shops carry a wide array of items, you can find things that you won't find anywhere else.

From jewelry that the major stores don't carry anymore to antique furnishing and collectibles, your local pawn shop has a large selection of rare, unusual, and even one-of-a-kind items. You can even find musical instruments and electronics at an affordable price!

Pawn Shops Offer More Than One Way to Save on Holiday Shopping

This time of year, we're all looking for ways to save money on our holiday shopping. Pawn shops offer great prices on the products. However, that's not the only way they can help you save. 

Do you have electronics, jewelry, or other items that you don't need anymore? You can bring them in to sell for extra holiday gift money. Whether you're buying gifts at your pawn shop or elsewhere, you can bring in the items you don't need to sell for the cash to help you get through your holiday list. 

Our Loans Can Help You Through the Holiday Season

What if you did your holiday shopping early? Gifts aren't the only expenses you have to manage this time of year. Whether it's party planning, getting ready for a trip, or just wrapping up end-of-the-year bills, the holidays can leave you strapped for cash. 

A pawn loan can be just the thing to help you get through the season's many expenses. Bring in your jewelry, electronics, or other items as collateral for a loan to give you the extra cash you need. The best part, you can borrow without worrying about a credit check or hassle. Best of all, if you pay your loan in time, you get your valuables back later. 

What happens if the unexpected occurs and you can't repay the loan? If something happens and you can't repay the loan, you can just surrender your items to the pawn shop to pay the loan instead. No hassle. No marks on your credit report. 

Do You Need Extra Cash for the Holidays?

Let Cash Express help you get through the holiday season. Whether you're looking for a unique gift or just need extra cash, we're here serving Philadelphia. If you have questions, stop by or contact us today.

Pawn Shop vs. Garage Sale

Over time, we collect things. From knick-knacks to abandoned power tools, these extra items take up space and add to the general clutter in our home. They build up dust and collect cobwebs. Sometimes, they even get in the way of new items we need and want for our homes. When you have extra clutter in your home, you have options. You can throw out unwanted items. You can also turn those items into cash with a garage sale or take them to a pawn shop. Which is the best option for you? Let’s break it down. 

Garage Sales

Sometimes called “rummage sales” or “yard sales,” garage sales take place when a resident sells personal and home items they no longer need. They may hold the sale in whole or part in their garage or carport or utilize the driveway or yard, hence the various names. Garage sales are popular for both sellers and buyers for a variety of reasons, including, 

• Ease of set-up. Typically, you need a table or two, boxes to hold items you sell, and open space in your garage or outside. 
• Low advertising needs. A few signs around your neighborhood in the few days before your yard sale are usually all you need to bring people to your sale. 
• Bargain prices. Most sellers offer deeply discounted prices for the items they’re selling, which are often still in good condition. 
• Rare prize finds. We’ve all heard stories of people finding rare items at garage sales at discount prices. Often people holding garage sales aren’t collectors, so they’re not looking for high prices for rare items they might happen to have. 

Pawn Shops

Pawn shops have been a popular way to offload unneeded items for centuries. They have even funded human exploration. Pawn shops offer homeowners the option of pawning items for a loan or selling items outright. As a result, they can get the fast cash they might need for their home while clearing away unnecessary clutter. The advantages that pawn shops offer those decluttering their homes include, 

• Better prices on high-value items. Most people don’t carry much cash to garage sales, and many cannot accept credit card payments. As a result, most homeowners must keep their garage sale prices low. On the other hand, Pawn shops can make better offers for high-value items like jewelry and electronics. 
• Option to sell or borrow against items. Your garage sale sales are final. Your pawns, however, don’t have to be. If you have high-value items that hold sentimental value but need fast cash, you can pawn the item for a loan instead of selling it – allowing you to recover it later. 

Which Is Better, the Garage Sale or the Pawn Shop? 

Because both pawn shops and garage sales have clear advantages, it may be hard to choose which you should use for decluttering your home and getting extra cash. The secret is you don’t have to choose. 

Consider the advantages we looked at above. Garage sale buyers are looking for deep bargains and often don’t carry much cash for yard sales. Meanwhile, pawn shops actively look for high-value items they can feature in their shops, including jewelry, electronics, and power tools. That means the excellent pawn shop vs. garage sale debate is less about which is better and which is better for the item you want to sell. 

Your everyday items, such as used toys from your children, partial dish and silverware sets, and simple knick-knacks, are likely to do well in a garage sale. These are the kinds of items people go to garage sales for. Meanwhile, a pawn shop will pay a fair price for unused electronics, old jewelry, and collector’s things you don’t want or need anymore. 

Are You Looking for a Pawn Shop in Philadelphia? 

Stop by or contact us today. We’re here, serving Philadelphia and surrounding areas.

Whether you're looking for a new computer to work from home, a gaming system, or just a tiny laptop to read email and browse the internet, you have two things in mind. You want a good, dependable computer that meets your specific needs. You only want to spend what you need to. A used computer can be just what you need but buying a used one presents additional challenges. At Cash Express Pawn Shop, we want you to feel confident with your computer purchase, so here's our guide to get you started. 

Will a Used Computer be as Good as a Cheap New Computer?

The simple answer is yes if you shop for the specifications you need. It can be better. How?

Computer technology continues to advance quickly, so consumers who like to keep up with the newest processors and graphics cards often discard only a couple of years old systems. Meanwhile, manufacturers who want to capture the budget-conscious market have been putting out new computers that are often well below industry standards for memory and speed over the past several years. 

This means you can get more for your money by buying a used computer over a budget-friendly new one. 

What to Look for When Buying a Used Computer

Now that you know the value of purchasing a used computer let's look at what you need to do to ensure you get the system you need. 

Brand Matters

When buying a used computer, it's best to stick with the big computer brands Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Apple. While smaller brands offer good computers, you'll have an easier time with any upgrades or repairs if you stick with the bigger brands. 

What Are Your Requirements? 

When shopping for a used computer, it's essential to ensure the system you get meets the requirements you need. The most important things to consider are:

• Processor - for primary use, 7th generation or newer Intel Core processors (i3, i5, or i7 followed by a number in the 7,000s or higher) is good. For more advanced users, you want a 10th-generation or higher (i5 or i7 followed by a number in the 10,000). AMD Ryzen processors from the 3k, 4k, or 5k series are also suitable for high-demand usage. 
• Memory - For most web browsing, 4GB RAM is perfect. For professional apps like Adobe or gaming, however, you want 8GB ram. In either case, make sure you can upgrade the RAM if needed. 
• Storage - SSD (solid state drive) hard drive is preferable for storage memory. For basic browsing, 64 GB - 128 GB will do well. Gaming and professional apps, however, need at least 256 GB. For browsing and most professional use, you can get more space with an external hard drive. However, if you're gaming, look for more memory, as an external hard drive often slows gaming performance. 
• Display - If you're purchasing a laptop, ensure you can get an IPS display with 1080p. Your graphics card is essential if you're gaming or doing visual graphics, so make sure it meets the requirements for your games or apps.

Are You Looking for a Used Computer in Philadelphia? 

Buying a used computer can be an excellent way to save money while getting the system performance you need. If you're looking for your next desktop or laptop, stop by or contact us today. We're here, serving Philadelphia and surrounding areas.

If you need fast cash or are looking for a unique gift, your local pawnshop can meet your needs. However, those who have ever been to a pawn shop may find themselves hesitant to use them due to myths they've heard. If you're unsure about our services because of myths, never fear. Let's debunk some popular myths so you can visit your local pawn shop or us without worry. 

Myth 1: Pawn Shops Charge Really High-Interest Rates

One of the biggest myths is that pawn shops charge exorbitant interest rates and fees. Cities and states regulate what rates and fees pawn shops can charge. In our home state of Pennsylvania, interest rates are subject to the guidelines that banks follow. That means our Philadelphia customers can borrow at their local pawn shop, knowing they'll receive reasonable rates. 

Myth 2: Pawn Shops Follow Their Own Rules

This myth has a few variations, but they all boil down to the myth that pawn shops are a "wild west" industry where the rules are made up, and regulations don't matter. Suppose you're familiar with the history of pawn shops. In that case, however, you know that pawn shops are one of the most highly regulated industries in America, with licensure requirements at the state and city level. 

Myth 3: Pawn Shops Buy/Sell Stolen Items

This myth often goes together with Myth 2. Pawn shops do everything they can to avoid buying and selling stolen goods. Many pawn shops work with local law enforcement to help track stolen goods, partly because thieves often still think they can get away with pawning items.

Myth 4: Pawning Is Complicated and Frustrating

This is an interesting myth because it's false, but it's not surprising people believe it. Getting a loan at a pawn shop is easy, especially compared to many other loans. You don't have to bring your financial statements; we don't check your credit. You don't have to worry about co-signers. 

So, where does the myth come from? Mostly, the myth comes from people believing myths 2 & 3, not realizing that pawn shops are highly regulated, and taking steps to prevent people from pawning stolen items. They arrive unprepared, so the experience seems complicated. 

You can keep your pawn shop visit simply by, 

• Coming with your state-issued photo ID
• Ensuring that you clear dirt from items you plan to pawn
• Bring any documentation that might come with your item (like instruction books, certificates, etc.)
• Loo up the value of the thing you want to pawn so you're prepared to ask for the amount you want

That last tip brings us to the final myth we're going to examine here:

Myth 5: Pawn Shops Rip You Off

Like the second myth, this one encompasses a few different ideas. Some variations of this myth say that pawn shops will try to undercut you on what your items are worth, and other versions say that you won't be able to get your items back. 

Pawn shops succeed when they have a good relationship with the community. A reputable pawn shop like Cash Express isn't going to rip you off because if you're unhappy, you won't come back - and you won't recommend us to your friends and family. When you pawn an item at Cash Express, we take good care of it. It'll be here when you pay off your loan so you can take it back home with you. 

Remember, you only lose your item if you default on your loan. Make sure when you pawn your items, you borrow more money than you can pay back in the loan terms.

Have We Debunked All of Your Pawn Shop Myths?

If you need extra cash? Let us dispel other myths – such as the myth that pawn shops sell cheap items – by showing you our beautiful gold jewelry, designer purses, and quality electronics. Stop by or contact us today. We're here, serving Philadelphia and surrounding areas.

Have you ever found yourself needing extra cash for bills or an emergency? Do you have items that you don't use anymore but are too valuable for a yard sale or to throw away? You may have considered a pawn shop but think about how they're often depicted on television and in movies. Maybe you don't trust your local pawn shop. It's an excellent time to look at how pawn shops are regulated in Pennsylvania to give you peace of mind. 

A Historical Institution

To understand how pawn shops are regulated, we should touch on the history of pawn shops. They have been around since ancient times and operated as an essential part of their economies. From ancient China and the middle east to medieval Europe, pawn shops helped to fund businesses, expeditions, and people. 

The nature of how pawn shops operated brought suspicion over time, and many suspected them of purchasing stolen goods, a belief that endures to this day. Starting in the 18th century, governments in Europe and the Americas began applying more stringent regulations to pawn shops that helped shape rules today. 

How Are Pawn Shops Regulated in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania pawn shops are regulated by 12 federal laws and Pennsylvania's Department of Banking and Securities Bureau of Licensing, Compliance, and Investigation. To be a pawnbroker, a pawn shop must have a Pennsylvania Pawnbroker's License.

License Pre-Requisites

To apply for a pawnbroker's license, a pawn shop has to meet numerous requirements. These requirements are, 

• Capital Requirement: A pawnshop needs starting capital of at least $10,000 per pawnbroker office (location).
• Posting and Publishing of Notice: Before the shop ever opens, they have to place a public notice at the location where it is easily seen and read.
• Public Hearing: They must participate in a public hearing that they are responsible for paying the cost of and must advertise to the public. 
• Bond Amount: The potential pawn shop must include a $2000 bond with the application. 
• Criminal Background Check
• Credit Check
• Tax Certification
• Policies and Procedures: A summary of these must be submitted. 
• Annual License Fee: Separate from the bond above, the new pawn shop must also pay the yearly license fee.

Starting any business takes time and capital. Pawn shops have additional requirements brought on by history and their responsibility to their communities. Pawn shops help people in the district meet their financial needs through loans and purchasing goods. 

Do You Need Extra Cash in Pennsylvania? 

If you need extra cash? Let us dispel other myths – such as the myth that pawn shops sell cheap items – by showing you our beautiful gold jewelry, designer purses, and quality electronics. Stop by or contact us today. We're here, serving Philadelphia and surrounding areas.

Your local pawn shop can be an excellent resource if you are short on cash or need to meet an unexpected expense. Bring in something valuable that you don't need anymore – jewelry you don't wear, electronics you don't need anymore – and either sell it directly or pawn it for a temporary loan. Pawning an item is especially inviting because you don't have to give up your jewelry or electronics permanently. But what happens if you don't reclaim your pawned item? 

What Pawning an Item Means

Unlike selling your items outright, when you pawn an item, you place it up as collateral for a temporary loan. Just as with any collateralized loan, such as a car loan or a mortgage loan, you own the item as long as you continue paying your loan and successfully pay off the loan. In the case of a car or mortgage loan, the collateral is what you purchased with the loan (the car or home). In the case of a pawn loan, you use the proceeds of the loan for other purchases or needs. 

What If I Default or Don't Reclaim My Pawned Item?

Like a car loan or mortgage, if you default on your pawn loan, you will lose the item you placed as collateral. In the case of a pawn loan, however, you have one additional step after you repay your loan: you must reclaim your item. In the case of a car or your home, you have your collateral with you through the life of the loan. The pawn shop holds your pawned item during your loan period. If you fail to reclaim your item after paying off your loan, the pawn shop will consider it to be an abandoned item and will likely offer it up for sale. 

It's important to review your pawn loan contract when you pawn your items. Your pawn shop may offer a buffer period if you default on your loan to help you catch up and not lose your items. Likewise, your pawnshop will have a specific period they will hold your item after you pay off your loan before they consider the item abandoned. 

What Can I Do to Ensure I Don't Default on My Pawn Loan?

Excepting circumstances outside of your control, there are steps you can take when you seek a pawn loan to help ensure that you are able to pay off your loan. 

• Review your budget to ensure that you can make the necessary payments on your pawn loan
• Only take out a loan for what you need to help keep your loan and payments as low as possible.
• Consider selling your items outright if you can't afford regular payments in your budget, or sell some items and pawn others to lower the amount of money that you need to borrow.

At Cash Express, we want to ensure our customers in Philadelphia are happy with their experience working with us. We will answer your questions about pawning your item and review the terms of your pawn agreement to ensure you are comfortable and happy with your pawn loan and that it can meet your needs. 

Are You Looking for Fast Cash in Philadelphia? 

Stop by or contact us today. We're here, serving Philadelphia and surrounding areas.

Selling your items to a pawn shop is a fast way to get the cash you need when the unexpected happens (or you find yourself strapped for cash at the end of the month). Knowing what to sell and how to negotiate a good price is important if you want to make the most of your valuables. Let’s look at the best items you can bring to our pawn shop to earn quick cash. 

High-Demand Pawn Items

Some items are always in demand for gifts and special occasions, so you can feel confident being able to sell them to a pawn shop at a good price. These include, 

• Jewelry
• Precious metals
• Watches
• Electronics, smartphones, & game consoles
• Power tools
• Firearms (registered to you)
• Musical instruments
• Sporting goods (especially bikes)
• Antiques

Gauging What You Can Get for Items

In addition to knowing what items are in demand, it’s good to know what kind of price you can get for certain types of items. What a pawn shop will offer for items will vary depending on the condition of the item and the demand in the area (i.e., how much the shop thinks the item will sell for). 

Lower-priced items include, 

• Designer Sunglasses
• Designer belts
• Laptops
• Leaf blowers, lawn mowers, and similar yard equipment
• KitchenAid brand equipment
• High-demand electronics accessories such as Beats by Dre

Mid-priced items include, 

• Tablets
• Flat-screen TVs
• Apple watches
• Bose speakers
• Firearms
• Game consoles
• Appliances
• Power tools

High-value items pawn shops will buy include, 

• Gold, diamond, and platinum jewelry
• High-end electronics, especially TVs
• Rare collectibles and coins
• High-end firearms
• Vintage tech items

How to Get a Good Price for Your Items at a Pawn Shop

Knowing what to sell gets you halfway to your goal; now you want to ensure you get a good price for your items. Before you bring your in to sell, 

• Clean items carefully and thoroughly
• Ensure electronics work and that item aren’t broken
• If something needs a minor repair that you can take care of at home, fix it
• Include instruction books, certificates of authenticity, registration information (for firearms), and other important documentation
• Research prices online for the items you hope to sell
• Research the demand for items in your area

Additional Considerations

While we talked about the good things to bring into a pawn shop, it’s equally important to talk about what you should leave at home. Not every item, no matter how important it is to you, can be sold. Some examples include, 

• Broken items
• Fake luxury or knock-off items
• Medical equipment
• Clothing
• Books
• Illegal items (items stolen or suspected of being stolen, illegal weapons, or otherwise legal items that have been given illegal modifications – for example, a sawed-off shotgun)

Are You Looking for Fast Cash in Philadelphia? 

Stop by or contact us today. We’re here, serving Philadelphia and surrounding areas.

Getting married is an exciting time. It is also an expensive time as you and your families must plan for large events and a honeymoon. You want to find ways to save money without sacrificing your perfect day. Most couples overlook one of the biggest ways they can save money on their big day: their wedding ring. While wedding rings can be expensive, buying your rings from a pawn shop can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars. To get the best ring for your money, our jewelry experts here at Cash Express have five tips you should follow when buying your ring at a pawn shop. 

Discuss Your Ideal Type of Wedding Ring

Before you begin shopping for wedding rings, discuss with your partner what kind of rings you want. Are you looking for a perfect match between both of your rings? Do you prefer gold or silver? Are diamonds a must-have? Choosing the general characteristics that you want for your rings will help you choose the perfect wedding rings and avoid choice overload.

Research Rings and Prices

Before you begin shopping, do research on wedding rings and prices. Look at what wedding sets sell for in both jewelry stores and pawn shops in your area. This will give you an idea of what to expect in pricing. You should also research diamond cuts and karat weights for diamonds and gold to see how these affect pricing. This information will help you negotiate a good price later. 

Take Your Time and Be Flexible

Don’t rush into buying your jewelry. Take time to shop around and browse jewelry selections. Pawn shops have a wide selection of bridal jewelry, and they add to their selection on a regular basis. If you give yourself time to look, you will be able to find a piece you will fall in love with rather than feeling like you must settle for something. Remember to be flexible. You’ve discussed the kinds of jewelry you prefer but remember lots of styles can fit into those preferences. 

Be Ready to Negotiate

One of the best things about buying jewelry from a pawn shop is your ability to negotiate the price. Pawn shops have some room to come down on pricing with you. Some of the tips already discussed will help you in your negotiations, such as researching price and ring characteristics. Another way to gain negotiating leverage is to be willing and ready to pay cash for your wedding rings. Pawn shops are often willing to drop prices when you pay cash because they, in turn, avoid processing fees. 

Bring Pawnable Items

Once you settle on a price for your perfect wedding ring, you can further lower the price you have to pay by trading in other pawnable items. Jewelry is always best to bring in for trade, but that’s not the only thing pawn shops are ready to buy. If you have electronics, leather items, power tools, or fine collectibles, you can bring those in as well to help pay for your wedding rings. 

Are You Looking for a Wedding Ring in Philadelphia? 

Stop by or contact us today. We’re here, serving Philadelphia and surrounding areas.

You need fast cash to cover an expense and don’t want to get a bank loan. Maybe you don’t have time to wait for a bank approval, or you don’t have the credit to secure a good rate. Pawn loans help people across the Philadelphia meet their short-term cash needs. However, when you come into a pawn shop for a loan, you want to make sure you get the best deal for your items. Let’s look at how to get the best deal from your Philadelphia pawn shops.

Choose Items That Will Fetch a Good Price

When you’re deciding what items to pawn, ask yourself, would you be able to sell it? Remember, pawn shops loan money to you, with the items you pawn as collateral. If you can’t repay the loan, their risk in lending is covered by being able to sell the item. Items in poor condition won’t get you a good price. Pawnshops typically look for items such as,

• Jewelry and watches
• Art pieces or antiques
• Some leather goods
• Power tools
• Rare metals
• Guns and other weapons`

Take a Moment to Clean Items

Before you bring your items into the pawn shop, be sure to carefully clean them. Remove any bits of dust and dirt. Polish is good for items, provided you have the appropriate polish for wood items, jewelry, or leather. The extra care will be worth it when your jewelry or collectable item gets you a better offer for your loan.

Don’t Forget the Package

If you still have the original cases, packaging, and boxes for your items, including any manuals or certificates of authenticity, bring them. This also includes any accessories for power tools that came in the original packaging, cords for electronics, and repair tools that sometimes come with watches and other designer pieces.

Price Your Items Ahead of Time

Take time to research the market value of the items you want to pawn. If you know what to reasonably ask for in a price, you’re more likely to get a better offer for your items. Remember, you may not get the full market value. The market value is an average of prices that will vary from area to area and based on the specific condition of your item. It is also based on what the pawn shop expects to sell the item for if you can’t repay your loan.

Once You’re at the Pawn Shop

Now that you know how to get a good price for your items, what happens when you get here? At Cash Express, we will make sure you have a good experience that will bring you back again, whether for a future loan, to sell items, or to buy something from our wonderful selection. When you come in we’ll,

• Look at your item, discuss with you its market value and what we’re able to offer you for a loan
• Discuss the terms of your loan, including interest, your repayment plan, and what happens if you can’t repay your loan balance
• Ensure you understand the terms, are happy with your loan amount, and walk away with the cash you need

Your Pawn Shop in Philadelphia

Do you need cash for an unexpected expense? Cash Express is here serving the Philadelphia area. Stop by or contact us today.