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A Guide to Buying Video Games and Game Consoles at a Pawnshop

A Guide to Buying Video Games and Game Consoles at a Pawnshop

by | Apr 22, 2021 | Blog

Smart gamers know that brand new video games and consoles are rarely worth the hype. Once the thrill of being one of the first to own the latest release wears off, it is challenging to reconcile paying the high retail mark-up. That’s why, at Central Mega Pawn, many of our regular customers take advantage of our vast inventory and great prices to get the video games and video game consoles of their dreams. Your local pawnshop is likely an incredible and underrated resource for all your gaming needs. If you are tired of paying the retail cost, keep reading to find our guide to buying your next video games and video game consoles at your local pawnshop.

Buying video games at a pawnshop

Video games are popular items to pawn or sell. As a result, your local pawnshop likely has lots of fun and exciting games on hand for every popular console on the market, such as:

  • Nintendo switch
  • Playstation
  • Xbox

No matter what console you are buying for, your local pawnshop likely has an excellent selection for you to choose from.

While your pawnbroker will have done his or her due diligence in making sure the game is in working condition and free of scratches, you should still carefully examine the disc and its packaging before buying. Your pawnbroker should be willing to let you handle the item before buying it. Some shops may even have a console hooked up to a TV so that you can load the disc and ensure it is fully functional.

To get the most out of your gently used games, you should purchase only games that are clean and that comes with some of its original packagings. Games in excellent condition might be slightly higher priced than others, but they will be worth the money in the long run. You will still be paying far less than retail.

Don’t be afraid to negotiate. Your local pawnbroker must keep their inventory moving, so they are usually willing to negotiate on a price. Many gamers, who are used to being stonewalled by popular gaming resellers, are surprised to learn that they can get an even better value at a pawnshop simply by asking and being willing to work towards a solution that works for everyone.

Many people are hesitant to negotiate because they imagine it to be a form of confrontation. However, your local pawnbroker is used to negotiation and will respectfully negotiate with you. At Central Mega Pawn, we always want to help our customers and our community to get the best deals possible, so we’ve compiled a handy guide to negotiating at pawn shops.

If your budget and interests allow, also offer to buy a bundle of games at once. Your pawnbroker may be able to provide you with special pricing if you can take a handful of games off their shelves at one time.

Lastly, if you see a game that you want and can afford, buy it! Quality inventory at your local pawnshop likely doesn’t sit around for long. One of the best things about pawnshops is that they always have new and exciting items to offer. If you encounter some games at your local pawnshop that catch your eye, or even better, that you have been eager to buy, work with your pawnbroker to reach an agreeable price. Waiting too long can result in disappointment.

Buying video game consoles at your local pawnshop

Video game consoles are another fantastic item to buy from your local pawnshop. Pawnshops in most areas will usually have a wide variety of recent consoles on offer, all at incredible savings. Also, consoles are hard-working machines, so you have a good chance of getting the console you want in near like-new condition.

Buying a console from a pawnshop is a much better idea than buying from a reseller, website, auction site, or person-to-person sales app. This is because, in addition to saving you money, you can request a guarantee from your pawnbroker that allows you to return your console within an agreed-upon time period if you are not satisfied. You will simply not receive that level of service anywhere else.

To get the best video game console for your money, keep the following in mind when you visit your local pawnshop:

  • Carefully examine the console – look for cracks or other signs of damage on the exterior, and make sure that the power and connector ports are clean.
  • Do your homework – your local pawnbroker will have done everything he or she could to ensure that the console is in excellent condition. However, they cannot be full experts on everything. Know what a fair price for the shape of the console is.
  • Don’t be afraid to negotiate – your pawnbroker is motivated to sell all the items in their shop. Use this to your advantage and negotiate to reach a price that works for everyone.
  • Bundle your items – when it comes to video games and video game consoles, another smart negotiating tactic is to offer to buy in a bundle. Meaning, in addition to the console of your choice, also offer to purchase a game or number of games. You can even offer to buy an extra controller or other accessories so that your pawnbroker can get many items off their shelf at once. And, you’ll walk out with a complete setup, ready to play as soon as you get home!

Your local pawnshop wants to serve its community. In this way, pawnshops make it easy for their neighbors to get the video game console, set up, and games they want that would otherwise be prohibitively expensive. If you live in Southern California’s Inland Empire, visit us today to see what games we have on hand and get ready for new adventures that won’t break your budget. And if you do not live near us, visit our online store to take advantage of our great prices from wherever you are!

Pawn Shops VS. Craigslist

Pawn Shops VS. Craigslist

by | Apr 3, 2021 | Blog

Craigslist is the original disrupter of the traditional marketplace. Since 1995, the website has united countless buyers and sellers and helped people find roommates, housing, jobs, and even relationships. But, when it comes to buying and selling, Craigslist has only one natural predator, your local pawnshop. Since ancient times, pawnshops have served their communities and continue to do so to this day. Despite all the modern world’s technical advances, pawnshops have numerous advantages over Craigslist, regardless of whether you are a buyer or a seller. Keep reading to learn precisely how and why your local pawnshop is the better choice for all your buying and selling needs.

Buying

Perusing the “for sale” section on your area’s Craigslist page is always a gamble. For one, many times, the listings for popular or essential items like appliances or furniture are from big-box stores who are trying to get you in their shop so they can apply high-pressure sales. You will often find postings from people who are drastically overvaluing their items; when you try to contact them to reach a more realistic and agreeable price, you risk confrontation from someone unfamiliar with the advantages of learning to negotiate and find a compromise.

Not to mention, there is no way to know for sure if the items you find for sale on Craigslist are legitimate property. Craigslist urges buyers to beware when buying things like electronics, power tools, and jewelry, but they can’t stop stolen items from being listed and bought by unsuspecting citizens. Buying stolen goods, even inadvertently, is a severe crime. Lastly, there is also no way to tell how clean or well-maintained an item is. Online photos may not be of high enough quality to show actual condition, and you are unable to examine the item in person before buying.

Once you contact a buyer, you must then coordinate with this perfect stranger on how to pay and where to meet. This can be a dangerous situation, mainly when dealing with high-value transactions and when a buyer insists on meeting somewhere private, such as their home. Buyers who agree to buy should always take plenty of precautions when completing the transaction.

On the other hand, buying from your local pawnshop takes all of these headaches and risks out of the equation. Every item in your local pawnshop has been verified as legitimate to the best of the pawnbroker’s ability. Not only that, but you are free to browse as much as you want and can personally examine items before buying. You are also welcomed to negotiate on a price; granted, there is no rule against negotiating with a seller on Craigslist, but you will not be dealing with an experienced professional like you will find at your local pawnshop. Your local pawnshop is likely a safe and secure location to conduct your transactions.

Selling

Posting an item for sale on Craigslist is remarkably easy. However, once your listing is posted, you are at the mercy of anyone who happens across your advertisement. You will probably receive emails from people trying to talk you down in price, asking countless questions that may or may not be relevant to your posting or requesting special treatment such as free delivery or deep discounts. If you are lucky, you will be contacted by one or two serious buyers. Then, you must coordinate with this perfect stranger on how they will pay you and accept your item.

On the other hand, when you buy an item at your local pawnshop, your transaction takes place in a safe, secure environment. You will also negotiate with a professional and not someone who might be overvaluing their item or have a specific agenda in mind. Furthermore, things at your local pawnshop are legitimate and authentic; if you get your item home, you have doubts or buyer’s remorse, and you can often return or exchange the item. Just try that with an individual buyer from Craigslist!

For both buying and selling, the entire process can take days or even weeks to complete the transaction. When you want or need quick cash or a particular item, that can feel like a long time to wait. However, when you buy or sell at your local pawnshop, you get your money in hand or walk out with your new item in minutes.

One more consideration…

Lastly, pawn shops help people by providing quick, safe, and convenient cash loans to their communities. Pawnshops offer a safer alternative to payday advance loans or cash advances from credit cards. Nothing on Craigslist can claim the same. In fact, Craigslist has become a popular place for financial scammers, preying on vulnerable and unsuspecting people. Pawnshops serve their neighbors and anyone among the considerable percentage of “unbanked” people in the United States.

When you need a quick, safe cash loan and your most valuable item is of sentimental value, obtaining a pawn loan is your best option. This is because, as a collateral loan, once you repay your pawn loan, you will get your item back. In this way, your local pawnshop can help you get the cash you need over and over again, unlike selling on Craigslist, where all transactions are final.

To sum up…

Pawnshops are much better than Craigslist for many reasons, including but not limited to:

  • Convenience
  • Safety
  • Efficiency

For many Americans, these three considerations are significant. When you need quick, safe cash, there is simply no substitute for something as fast, secure, and efficient as your local pawnshop. This is why we encourage our neighbors and community members to visit their local pawnbrokers first when they need to buy or sell.

If you need further convincing, visit your local pawnshop today to see why they are the superior choice to Craigslist when it comes to buying or selling. If you happen to live in or near the Inland Empire in Southern California, visit Central Mega Pawn to see how we can help satisfy all your buying and selling needs!