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A Guide to Buying the Right Designer Handbag for You

A Guide to Buying the Right Designer Handbag for You

by | Nov 15, 2022 | Blog

Discovering a passion for handbags can be both exciting and intimidating. There are so many brands in varying styles and colors, how do you even know where to start? Before walking into a big-name store and buying the first bag that catches your eye at full ticket price, take a second to think about what your preferences are and how you can find your perfect handbag under more reasonable circumstances, especially if you live in the Upland, Ontario, or Pomona areas.

Set Goals

To help narrow down your search, you need to set a list of preferences. Think of it as an open-ended wish list to use as a guide for when you shop. How much are you willing to spend, and what kind of look are you going for? Nothing is worse than impulse-buying an expensive bag that will end up sitting in your closet because you can never find the opportunity to use it.

Establish a Reasonable Budget

Even if you’re prepared to drop a hefty amount of cash on a designer bag, it’s still a good idea to set a budget. Doing this will help lessen the impact of the common phenomena of buyer’s remorse. This unpleasant feeling that happens in roughly 80% of consumers can follow us around for days but can be avoided by setting expectations and controlling what we’re getting into. Plus, finding a bag at a decent price and getting more use out of it than it’s worth is a very proud feeling that you can’t help but brag about to anyone who happens to ask.

Think About Your Desired Qualities

When you close your eyes and imagine a designer handbag, what comes to mind? Really dig deep and listen to your heart. Maybe you’re imagining a small crossbody with a long chain strap, or you could be thinking of a much larger tote bag with an exterior pouch right on the front. There are endless styles and colors to choose from, so there’s got to be at least a handful of options that fit your aesthetic and are able to effortlessly express your personality. Another trait that many people don’t consider is the level of care a specific handbag needs to stay in good shape. Some bags use durable scratch-proof leather that doesn’t need much maintenance while more delicate materials require you to store it in a dust cover while not in use.

Popular Designer Handbag Styles

  • Baguette
  • Clutch
  • Crossbody
  • Hobo
  • Satchel
  • Wristlet
  • Bowler
  • Bucket
  • Messenger
  • Tote
  • Trapeze

Can You Imagine Yourself With It?

It’s easy to lay your eyes on a bag that looks absolutely stunning without considering when you’re actually going to use it and with what outfit. You should think carefully about both of these things before taking out your wallet because this is the point of the sale where people make the most mistakes. Ask these questions to yourself:

  • Is this going to be an everyday bag or only for special occasions like dates and holiday parties?
  • How many of my outfits would compliment this bag?
  • Is this a style that will stay relevant ten years from now or is it just a fad that will fade out in a couple months?

Giving into rolling trends can be very tempting, but then you risk ending up with a bag that will quickly go out of style leaving you with no desire to use it anymore. Oftentimes fashion trends come and go as fast as internet sensations. Even if a fashion trend does come back, it can take as long as thirty years for that to happen. So unless the style truly fits your personal identity, it’s best to just avoid it altogether.

The Designer Handbag Market

After you’ve decided on the general style that you wish to chase for your personalized collection, all that’s left is to find a brand that fits the bill. Different brands specialize in certain characteristics that drive the inspiration for their designs. For example, Kate Spade bags are usually very colorful and unique while Chanel bags are more on the classy and elegant side. Some brands are even renowned enough to be considered investment brands. But if you’re going to be using it, it’s still recommended to choose a bag based on your style rather than picking something just because it could possibly have the potential to increase in value due to rarity. If you’re in it purely for profit, there are other items better suited for that reason such as anything involving precious metals.

Designer Handbag BrandStyle Profile
Coach
  • Favors quality leather
  • Inspired by New York and pop culture
  • Iconic “C” logo pattern
Michael Kors
  • Unique patterns and styles
  • Pops of color next to neutrals
  • Innovative use of metals
Louis Vuitton
  • Favors smaller bags
  • Blends neutral colors together
  • Subtly cute elements
Chanel
  • Use of non-traditional materials
  • Quilted designs
  • Available in solid colors or extravagant patterns
Gucci
  • Unconventional colors and patterns
  • Bold design choices
  • Values themed collections

Finding Handbags at a Pawn Shop

If you know what brand and style you want, why not go to that company’s store at the mall? The biggest reason is money. It’s hard to justify buying a brand new designer bag straight from the company itself at a high ticket price when you can find a bag from the same brand and a similar style at a pawn shop for a much lower cost. And if you’re new to buying designer bags, finding a cheaper one at a pawn shop is a great place to start and test the waters to see if it’s something that you really want to stick with. If you’re worried about designer bags at pawn shops being worn out since they’re pre-owned, a quality shop will only put up bags that are like new and good enough to resell.

Central Mega Pawn Has Designer Handbags!

For the best designer handbags in the Upland, Ontario, and Pomona area, Central Mega Pawn should be your first and only stop. As you can see from the expansive online store, Central Mega Pawn has a wide variety of designer handbags for you to choose from and at fair prices. Come find your perfect designer handbag today!

Pawn Shop or Jewelry Store, Which is Better to Sell My Used Rolex?

Pawn Shop or Jewelry Store, Which is Better to Sell My Used Rolex?

by | Nov 3, 2022 | Blog

Even if you don’t know much about designer watches, you’ve most likely heard of the Rolex name. Like Coca-Cola is to the soda industry, Rolex is a flagship brand in its category. Their Swiss luxury watches are sought out by many so you should have no problem finding a place to sell your own Rolex piece. But where should you go to cash in? A jewelry store may seem like the most reasonable option, but that’s actually far from the truth. Before we dive into why pawn shops are your best bet for getting the most cash, it’s important to know why your Rolex is worth a lot.

What Makes Rolex Valuable?

The first step in selling your Rolex watch is knowing why the brand is held to such high standards. There’s a good reason as to why the brand is considered a flagship company, and it all comes from Rolex’s impressive history as innovators.

The Original Innovators

In 1926, Rolex designed the world’s first waterproof and dustproof wristwatch. They called it the Rolex Oyster, and it went through over ten consistent hours of rigorous testing by being worn by an athlete swimming through the cold waters of the English Channel in the Atlantic Ocean. By the end of the endeavor, the watch didn’t do so much as skip a beat.

This same energy has been carried through the brand’s history, one of the most momentous achievements being in 1953 with the first occurrence of anyone reaching the top of Mount Everest which was accomplished by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay who wore Rolex watches throughout the journey. The company celebrated this achievement by creating the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Explorer.

Impeccable Quality

Rolex has an exciting background, but what about the actual quality of their watches? The amount of care the designers and engineers place into each piece matches that of the brand’s tenacity in striving for more greatness. Those seeking a Rolex watch admire them for many reasons:

  • They’re made with the highest amount of quality
  • The movements are accurate, reliable, and sturdy
  • Every watch lasts a very long time
  • Rolex watches are easily repairable despite the high quality
  • The nature of the brand gives each watch symbolic and cultural value

Recognized By All

The Rolex name is usually the first one that comes to mind when thinking about designer watches because the brand is recognized by a vast number of people around the world. Even back during the company’s experimental phases in the beginning, Rolex watches were popular among known sport athletes and ambitious explorers. Even the average person who isn’t as athletic can appreciate the brand’s reputation and what they mean to the watch industry. With that being said, you’ll never have to worry about not being able to sell your Rolex watch because there will always be someone out there who would love to proudly wear it on their own wrist and show off wherever they go.

Ditch the Jewelry Store

Your Rolex watch is special and you deserve the best price that you can get for it. In that case, the jewelry store is the last place you want to go to. It’s very possible they won’t take it anyway. Jewelry stores are known to be picky about what they accept. If it’s not currently popular or if they deem your watch too outdated, they’ll be quick to turn it down for fear of not being able to resell it.

Pawn shops, on the other hand, only care about the objective details of your Rolex. They’ll check the weight of the watch, the metal composition, the overall condition, and any other details to determine the value. As long as your watch holds even a few dollars worth of value, the pawnbroker will be willing to buy it off of you. But of course, your Rolex will most likely be worth more than a mere few dollars. Another benefit to selling at a pawn shop is that the process is much faster. It only takes a moment to walk in, agree on a price, and get your cash. This is why you can find Rolex watches at a pawn shop.

How to Sell to a Pawn Shop

Getting the most for your Rolex is easy! It just takes a little bit of research and light maintenance to squeeze out a few more bucks when you take it to the pawn shop. The first rule of thumb is to always do your research so you have a rough idea of how much your watch is worth. If you have a number to work with, it’ll be easier to tell if you’re getting a good deal or not. If you feel like you’re being shorted, hightail it out of there! Also, cleaning your watch and making it look more presentable is sure to make it appealing enough to get a higher price. By taking these extra measures beforehand, you have solid means for opening up negotiations. A pawn broker’s livelihood is based around negotiating, so never feel bad for stating your price.

The Best Pawn Shop In the Inland Empire

Even if you did the proper research and tidied up your Rolex to look brand spanking new, it won’t matter if you take it to a lackluster pawn shop. How do you know where to go to not get cheated? Central Mega Pawn is the most reputable pawn shop in the Inland Empire. Loyal customers have been doing business for years with no intention of stopping because of the trustworthy staff, friendly atmosphere, and tremendous deals.

Central Mega Pawn is open seven days a week so you can stop by whenever is best for you. Visit anytime at 11031 South Central Avenue in Ontario, California for the best pawn shop experience in the Inland Empire. You can also call (909) 627-9622 for any questions that you may have. The staff will be more than happy to make your day!

Buying a Hublot Watch from Your Local Pawn Shop (What You Need to Know)

Buying a Hublot Watch from Your Local Pawn Shop (What You Need to Know)

by | Oct 16, 2022 | Blog

Ready to invest in a luxury Swiss watch? If so, you’ll likely be interested in laying claim to a Hublot watch. But there is no need to pay full price for a Hublot watch. Pawnshops that specialize in luxury items can be a great place to find a high-end watch. Read on for everything to know about buying a Hublot watch from your local pawn shop.

Hublot Watches: The Art of Fusion

Hublot— meaning “porthole” in French and pronounced “oo-blow” in French—entered the market in 1980. Today, it’s owned by the luxury French conglomerate Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy (LVMH).

Hublot watches made waves in the luxury watch space, as the very first model released boasted a natural rubber strap-which was unheard of in the luxury watch industry at the time. Today, nearly all luxury watches are available with rubber straps, and Hublot started the trend.

Hublot has remained a trend-setting company, opting to use rare materials in its luxury watches. Examples include Magic Gold, used to make the first 18k gold scratch-resistant watch. Other rare elements used include carbon blends, and osmium.

Hublot watches retail for well into the six-figures, although they once debuted a $5 million watch at the Baselworld Watch and Jewelry Show. There’s no denying that Hublot watches are expensive, but many of them are less expensive than other luxury watches such as Rolex.

Within each Hublot watch collection, there are many different styles and colors available. Collections include:

  • Big Bang Collection (flagship model)
  • Classic Fusion Collection
  • Spirit of Big Bang Collection

Why Buy a Luxury Swiss Watch from a Pawn Shop?

The main reason people buy luxury watches and other high-end items like jewelry from pawn shops is due to the significant savings you can realize. Most pawn shops will sell pre-owned luxury Swiss watches for 30-40% less than the retail price. If the retail price is, for example $60,000 that can result in savings of $18,000-$24,000.

You can also find rare luxury items in pawn shops. Whether it’s a limited edition Hublot watch you’re looking for, or a vintage Tiffany necklace, pawn shops buy their inventory directly from their customers, so you can stumble upon hard-to-find accessories in pawn shops.

When you shop from top-reviewed, established pawn shops, you can also rest assured that they have verified the authenticity of luxury items they have for sale. Before a pawn shop buys a high-end item, they will confirm that it is not a knock-off. After all, they want to earn word-of-mouth referrals along with repeat business, so they will make sure they are only selling authentic items.

Tips for Getting the Best Deal on a Designer Watch at a Pawn Shop

Getting the best price possible on a high-end product is likely your objective when shopping at a pawn shop. Here are ways to ensure you get the best price possible on a Hublot or other designer watch.

Research Watches

Informed buyers will get a better deal on a luxury watch, because they will know what they retail for, where else they may be available, and how to recognize a terrific price when they see it. Before you buy a luxury item, it’s worth taking time to get to know more about the item.

Determine Your Budget and Don’t Budge from It

When buying a high-value item, it can be easy to think, “what difference does another $100 make?” But the reality is, if you blow your budget, you’re more likely to experience buyer’s remorse. So set a firm budget and stick to it.

Practice Negotiating

Those who have never negotiated over price may consider practicing with lower priced items before making an offer for a Hublot watch. If you know you want to add another watch to your collection, and you plan to shop at a local pawnshop, try your hand at negotiating for lower priced items first.

For example, maybe there’s a power tool that you could really use for a home project. When you find it in a pawn shop, set a goal price, and try to negotiate to get that price. Practice can make you more comfortable when it comes time to negotiate for big-ticket items.

Avoid Being Too Impulsive

Finding a luxury watch for a great price can be incredibly exciting. However, it’s best to not make decisions when you’re super excited, as you can give up your negotiating power, or wind up blowing your budget. If you’ve found the perfect Hublot watch, there’s nothing wrong with taking a walk and coming back or mulling the decision to purchase over a meal. High-value items will have a smaller potential buying pool, so it’s unlikely that a luxury watch you want will be gone by the time you get back.

Hublot Swiss Watches for Sale in the Inland Empire

At Central Mega Pawn, we buy, sell, and provide pawn loans for luxury watches including Hublots. Located on Central Avenue in Ontario, our pawnshop is just minutes from Upland, and Pomona. In addition to Hublot watches, we also carry Patek Phillipe, Rolex, and other luxury items including Bulgari jewelry, Louis Vuitton handbags, Apple electronics and much more.

Central Mega Pawn of Ontario boasts a team of experienced employees, trained to provide you with friendly professional service every time. We have an amazing inventory of designer watches, that is constantly changing, and new arrivals come in all the time. We encourage you to make Central Mega Pawn a frequent stop when shopping for premium items.

We are a proud member of the California Pawnbrokers Association, and abide by all local, and state regulations. Central Mega Pawn is open seven days a week from 9:30 am -6:00 pm. We hope you’ll visit us at 11031 South Central Avenue soon! In the meantime, many of our items for sale are available for purchase in our online store. Don’t hesitate to call 909-627-9622 or message us with any questions. We look forward to serving you.

Finding Top Rated Pawn Shops Near Me (A Guide)

Finding Top Rated Pawn Shops Near Me (A Guide)

by | Oct 5, 2022 | Blog

How do you find a top rated pawn shop in your area? Nothing is worse than driving all over the Inland Empire just to find a bunch of run-down stores with poor service. There are ways to eliminate all of the bad eggs right from the comfort of your home. After you’ve narrowed down your choices to a decent few, it also helps to know exactly what makes a pawn shop worthy of being considered top rated.

Narrow Your Search Right at Home

Before you grab the car keys and start visiting every single pawn shop in Upland, Ontario, and Pomona, take a moment to do a bit of research online. It’ll save you so much time and it’ll save you the disappointment of running into a bunch of trips that are hardly worth your time.

Search Up Local Shops

A simple “pawn shops near me” online search is a great start in finding all of the stores within a comfortable distance, but the real treasure is in the reviews. Pull up the online reviews for pawn shops close by and use other people’s experiences to gauge how well off a business is doing. Of course, the more positive reviews the better. Having a great amount of posts is also a good way to tell how long a business has been in the area and how well they handle their customers. Studies show that people are more likely to leave bad reviews than good ones because negative experiences tend to linger in our thoughts more. Keeping this in mind, you can imagine how impactful a pawn shop’s service is for someone to actually leave a good review.

Check Their Online Inventory

If there’s a certain type of item that you want to buy or sell in Upland, like trading cards or power tools, it can be frustrating to walk into a pawn shop to find that they only specialize in jewelry or firearms. Many of the more successful and dedicated pawn shops around the Inland Empire upkeep an online store as well as their physical one which makes it easy to see if they have the item you’re looking for or if they’re likely to take your own item. This is also a great way to see how well they’re doing as a business. For example, having thousands of product listings online most likely means that they get enough traffic in order to stock their inventory to be as vast as it is.

Call Ahead

If you found a pawn shop with lots of positive reviews and a vast online store in Upland, the next thing to do is test their customer service. Calling a shop ahead of time will let you see how friendly and helpful they are over the phone, and that attitude will likely be even better in person. A few helpful questions you can ask them include:

  • What are your hours?
  • What days are you open?
  • Where are you located?
  • Do you sell [insert item]?
  • Can I sell [insert item] at your store?
  • How long does it take to get a loan?

The staff should be able to answer all of these questions easily, and you can use this small conversation to see if you sense any negative vibes from the person you’re speaking with. Consider this the final test of your at-home search.

Qualities of a Top Rated Shop

You’ve done everything you can do to narrow your search at home, but there are some things that you can only determine in person. Before you go to a pawn shop in the Inland Empire, you should educate yourself on what exactly makes a pawn shop good enough to be a top rated one.

Fast and Easy Transactions

Flexible pawn shops work at your convenience, not theirs. You shouldn’t need to make an appointment or get on a waitlist just to take out a cash loan on an item. Additionally, pawn loans shouldn’t be anywhere near as excessive as a regular loan in terms of paperwork and qualifications. It should be as easy as walking in with your item, negotiating a price, and walking out with your new cash. That’s the beauty of pawn shops, and any shop that takes up your entire day should rethink their process.

Compassionate Pawn Brokers

Yes, compassionate pawn brokers exist. No, not all of them are out to get your entire bank account. Successful pawn shops in Upland are staffed with people who understand why you are coming to them in the first place. They’ll hear your story and do their best to work with what you have, and they’ll always be open to fair negotiations. Speaking of which, it also helps to know how to negotiate at a pawn shop in order to get the best deals.

Realistic Loan Terms

While sleazy pawn brokers will give you hard-to-achieve loan terms in the hopes that you won’t be able to pay it back and thus keep your collateral item, pawn shops with a better reputation in Upland, Ontario, and Pomona are known for being generous to their customers. They’ll give you a good few months to pay off your loan which is a decent amount of time to get things back on track, and they’ll offer you a fair APR based on your situation. Seasoned brokers want you to come back which is why they’re more than happy to treat you right.

Fair Pawn Loan Term Example
  • Loan amount: $2,500
  • Loan period: 4 months
  • APR: 24.12%
  • Total interest paid: $201

If for whatever reason you find out later on that you can’t meet these terms (it’s ok, life happens), don’t be afraid to go to your broker and ask for a loan extension. After hearing your story, many pawn brokers will be understanding of your situation and help you out. That’s just another perk of going to a top rated pawn shop in Upland!

The Best Pawn Shop In the Inland Empire

If you’re looking for a top rated pawn shop in Upland, Ontario, or Pomona, Central Mega Pawn has everything you need with the best service in all of the Inland Empire! Come visit any day of the week or call ahead at 909-627-9622 to speak with the friendly staff.

Do Pawn Shops Buy and Sell Tiffany & Co. Collections?

Do Pawn Shops Buy and Sell Tiffany & Co. Collections?

by | Sep 16, 2022 | Blog

Tiffany & Co. Collections are simply iconic. But you may not know that Tiffany & Co. wasn’t originally known for its jewelry collections. Instead it was marketed as a stationary and fancy goods emporium. Likewise, although Tiffany & Co. is known as a NYC brand, the company was actually founded in Connecticut. But it took less than a year for the booming business to relocate to 259 Broadway in Manhattan. Today, Tiffany & Co. items, including their iconic jewelry collections are in high demand the world over. But you don’t have to pay full retail price for designer jewelry. Although no two pawn shops carry the same inventory, some pawn shops do buy and sell all the iconic Tiffany & Co Collections.

Tiffany & Co. Collections in Ontario

Tiffany & Co. collections include luxury items ranging from bracelets and necklaces to rings and charms. Other collections include cuff links, accessories, and even baby items. Here’s a look at some of the most sought-after collections.

Return to Tiffany Collection

Tiffany jewelry is easily identified by its signature printing that reads “Return to Tiffany & Co. New York” The idea was born of keychains that were first inscribed with these instructions in 1969. The idea was to ensure that if the keychain were lost, the person who found them could put them in a mailbox to have them sent to Tiffany & Co. in New York. Today, the Return to Tiffany collection has become one of the brands most famous collections, with the slogan printed on everything from bracelets to necklaces.

Frank Gehry Collection

Tiffany is known for being a trend setter and set a trend for the history books when they partnered with the incomparable architect, Frank Gehry. The collaboration yielded cutting edge designs that featured both traditional materials, and natural materials including stone and wood. Today, this collection remains coveted by collectors worldwide.

HardWear Collection

Inspired by muse Lady Gaga, who also served as the model for the HardWear collection, these pieces included spheres and links. The collection debuted in 2017 right after Lady Gaga performed at the Super Bowl Halftime Show.

Tiffany Keys Collection

Tiffany keys are unmistakable. Adorned in diamonds, rubies, and sapphires, the Key collection includes necklaces, charms, and pendants in white gold, yellow gold, sterling silver, and rose gold.

Elsa Peretti Collection

The Elsa Peretti Collection at Tiffany resulted from a partnership forged between a runway model and the nation’s leading luxury retailer. In 1974, Elsa Peretti was offered a contract to design silver jewelry in her signature sculptural style. The collection remains a top seller today.

Paloma Picasso

Tiffany & Co. partnered with famed artist Pablo Picasso’s daughter to create a one-of-a-kind collection in 1980. Her graffiti inspired line is the considered the most easily recognized line in the collection.

Jean Schlumberger

French-born Jean Schlumberger is the designer of his coveted namesake collection at Tiffany & Co. As the first jewelry designer to win the Coty American Fashion Critics award, pieces in his collection today command top prices at auction houses.

Tiffany Knot Collection

Pieces in the Tiffany Knot collection feature the signature knot, which symbolizes connections between people. The knot is found on earrings, bracelets, rings, in yellow gold and rose gold.

Tiffany 1837® Collection

Inscribed with the year the luxury retailer was founded, pieces in the Tiffany 1837 collection are minimalist in style. Pieces include rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, key chains, cuff links, money clips and more. Items in this collection are made of stainless steel, leather, and sterling silver.

Tiffany T Collection

Tiffany & Co. pieces in the T collection include the creative use of the letter T in each piece. You’ll find the T on necklaces, earrings, bracelets and pendants. Pieces may include diamonds, pearls, rubies, sapphire, onyx, opal and tiger’s eye complimenting materials such as stainless steel, yellow gold, rose gold, white gold and sterling silver.

Reasons to Shop for Tiffany Collections at a Pawnshop

If you’re looking to add pieces from one of the iconic Tiffany collections to your personal jewelry collection, don’t forget to shop at pawnshops. The most obvious reason to check out the inventory in your local pawn shop is because you’ll save a fortune. You can reasonably expect to save 30-50% on luxury jewelry in pawnshops.

You may also be able to buy rare pieces that are extremely hard to find elsewhere. This is because pawnshops buy from their local community. So you never know what item they may have recently purchased.

Buying luxury items from a pawnshop is also better for the environment. With an urgent need to go green as soon as possible, shopping locally reduces carbon emissions. No fuel is needed for shipping and there’s no wasteful packaging, making pawn shops a more environmentally friendly option than shopping online.

Can I Sell Tiffany & Co. Jewelry to a Pawn Shop?

Some pawn shops will buy luxury items such as jewelry, watches, and handbags, and others may not. Pawn shops know what their customers want, so they will only buy inventory they know they will be able to sell.

But, when you find a pawn shop that does buy luxury jewelry, it’s probably a suitable place to take your Tiffany & Co. jewelry to sell. Pawn shops are always looking to add new inventory, so a pristine piece from one of the iconic collections at Tiffany’s is likely to be of interest to them.

Buy and Sell Luxury, Designer Jewelry in the Inland Empire

Central Mega Pawn is the Inland Empire’s fastest growing and top-reviewed pawn shop serving Ontario, Upland, Pomona, and surrounding communities. Central Mega Pawn is known for an impressive inventory of luxury items, including jewelry, handbags, and watches. We buy and sell designer items seven days a week from our shop located on Central Avenue in Ontario. For your convenience, we also offer pawn loans, for Tiffany & Co. jewelry. Central Mega Pawn is open seven days a week from 8:30 am -6:00 pm.