NO DOUBT the Show IS scripted and staged. I like the show most of time but the biggest problem with it is that the editors aren't familier with the industry and thus have no clue how to do there job. I do agree that Rick is and has to be knowledgable about a lot of things...however, I found myself wondering why, as in the case of the Cobra, he doesn't use the internet to research his prospective purchases. If he did he wouldn't have looked like such a fool on the Cobra episode.
My family owns and runs the oldest Pawn and Gun Shop in our area (just under 40 years). Before my dad past he was a volunteer police officer when the PD was short handed, and my mom helped write the State Law that governs Pawn Shops in Alabama to this day...for which she received a letter of commendation from our states representatives for creating a law that protected the customers as well as the businesses. My brother, who is a full time patrol officer, member of the SWAT team and civilian firearms instructor for the PD now owns and runs the business. My point being that all Pawn Shop owners aren't shady low lifes.
PAWN SHOP 101:
The Pawn Shop fills a gap for those who can not get a credit card or a SMALL bank loan, because banks don't usually make $25-$500 loans. As stated earlier, standard practice is to offer no more the 50% of value, for 2 reasons. If the item is being pawned (which means they are going to pick up the item at the end of the loan period), the interest in Alabama is 25% PER MONTH, so the broker doesn't want to loan more than the person can relatively afford to pay back with interest (remember, if the person had the resources they wouldn't be in a pawn shop to start with). On the other hand, if the item is being sold to the broker he must have enough "room" to hold the item for the length of time it takes to sell it, keeping in mind it is a used item in a Pawn Shop and won't generally bring retail.
I agree hole-heartedly that Pawn Shops aren't the place to take your valuable items if you have other avenues available to you. But they do serve a very important purpose; especially those who are ran by good honest people who do care about and know the names of most of their customers.
And lastly, please remember that is no different grouping Pawn Brokers together than it is grouping Cobra Owners together.
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