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Do Pawn Shops Buy Loose Gemstones?

Do Pawn Shops Buy Loose Gemstones?

The answer is an emphatic “yes!” Pawnshops are always interested in buying gemstones. If you have loose gemstones on hand, you may not know what to do with them. Instead of letting them gather dust or go unused in a drawer somewhere, turn them into quick cash at your local pawn shop, such as Central Mega Pawn!

Your options when it comes to selling gemstones

When it comes to selling gemstones, you’ll have lots of options. Thankfully, gemstones are almost always a seller’s market. This means that you can contact lots of places and choose the one that’s best for you. Popular places to sell loose gemstones are:

  • Auction websites – sites like eBay and eBid are popular, but because buyers rely on sellers to accurately depict and describe the gemstones themselves, they will generally pay little.
  • Specialty websites – specialty websites can generally offer more than auction sites because experts verify the items.
  • Person-to-person sales apps – apps like LetGo allow you to advertise your gemstones and have buyers contact you.
  • Community board sites – sites like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace can be an option, but sellers must use caution when meeting up with buyers, especially for high-value items like gemstones.

Why a pawn shop is your best bet

A pawn shop might not seem like the obvious solution to get the most money for your gemstones, but it is very often the right choice. Here are just a few reasons why your local pawnshop should be your only stop when you want to sell your loose gemstones:

  • No shipping, handling, or insurance costs – when you sell gemstones online, you will often have to pay for the shipping, handling, and insurance yourself.
  • No picky buyers – selling to a pawnshop means not having to deal with people who want to pay as little as possible. Your pawnbroker understands the value of your gemstones and will work to find a fair price. Another danger of selling online is that you risk a buyer filing a fraudulent complaint, which can unfairly harm your reputation or even cost you money.
  • No waiting – when you sell to a pawn shop, you get your cash in hand safely in minutes! No waiting for an online payment to come through or risking your safety by handling a cash transaction in public with a stranger.

Pawnshops want gemstones of all kinds

When you hear the word “gemstones,” you might think mostly of diamonds. However, there are many different beautiful and valuable gemstones out there.

While gemstones almost always have value, sometimes, that value skyrockets when they become famous. For example, blue sapphires are enjoying a moment of popularity, thanks to the famous engagement ring of Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton.

Gemstones are among the handful of items that your local pawnshop will always be interested in. Unlike some other items whose value tends to go down year after year, such as electronics, there is always value to be found in gemstones. This is because the stones can be used for various things, are durable, and are traded all over the world.

Some basics of selling gemstones at your local pawnshop

Although most gemstones will have some value, not all gems are created equal. So, before you sell your gemstones to your local pawnshop, keep the following things in mind:

  • There are four main types of precious stones: Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, and Emerald. These are the most valuable types of gemstones and will always command a high price.
  • Any other stone aside from the main for types is considered semi-precious. While these can still have value, they will not get as high a price as a precious stone.
  • Size matters. Tiny stones are not as valuable to your local pawnbroker as larger stones.

How to get the most money for your gemstones at your local pawnshop

Regardless of the type of gemstones you are selling, here are some tips to help you get the most for your items:

  • Bring your paperwork – if you have certificates of authenticity, verification of carat or purity, or even receipts, bring them with you. Counterfeit or impure gemstones are a concern for any buyer of gems, so the more you can back up the value of your gemstones, the more leverage you will have when it comes time to negotiate a price.
  • Have them appraised by a professional (optional) – if you do not have paperwork but want the security of knowing exactly what value you have in your gemstones, you can have them appraised. However, be wary of going to a retail jeweler for this service. It pains us to say so, but there are lots of buyers out there who will not hesitate to take advantage of vulnerable sellers. Instead, contact the American Society of Appraisers, who can help you find a trustworthy appraiser in your area.
  • Do your homework – as any buyer would, your pawnbroker will have lots of questions about your gemstones. Help them help you by being prepared to answer things like: where did you get your gems? Have they been treated? Can you verify their authenticity? (this is where your paperwork will really come in handy!)
  • Let your pawnbroker help – if you have any doubt about the validity of your gemstones, your pawnbroker can help. Your pawnbroker will appreciate your honesty and do what they can to help you figure out if your gems are real.
  • Do not be afraid to negotiate – if you have done your homework, have determined that your gemstones are authentic, and have the paperwork go back it up, be prepared to negotiate with your pawnbroker. If you have realistic expectations, your pawnbroker will be able to work with you to reach a price that works for both sides.

As you can see, pawnshops all over the country will buy loose gemstones. When you are ready to sell your loose gemstones, contact your local pawnshop. If you live in Ontario, California, or anywhere in the Inland Empire, see how we can help you today!

Top 3 Reasons to Pawn and Sell Your Power Tools at Your Local Pawn Shop

Top 3 Reasons to Pawn and Sell Your Power Tools at Your Local Pawn Shop

There are many reasons people might want to sell or pawn their power tools at their local pawn shop. If you are thinking of selling some or all of your power tools, keep reading to find just three of the many great and numerous reasons why people would choose to pawn or sell their power tools to their local pawn shop.

First, let’s talk about the demand for power tools. When people think of pawn shops, they might think of them as places to find firearms, jewelry, or electronics; or, they might think they can mostly find local interest. For example, in farming communities, you can always find lots of farming and rodeo apparel.

While every pawn shop certainly has lots of the usual items and items that reflect the interests and occupations of its communities, a well-kept secret is that pawnshops are places where you can almost always find power tools.

What does this mean for you and all other people interested in selling or pawning your power tools? It means that there is always a high demand for what you have. Even better, it means that you can turn your unused or unwanted power tools into quick cash!

However, we know that when it comes to selling things like your power tools, you have many options, such as Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and person-to-person sales apps like LetGo, not to mention websites like eBay and eBid. If this sounds familiar, and you are trying to figure out if a pawn shop is the way to go, let’s talk about three of the top reasons people would choose to pawn or sell their power tools to their local pawn shop.

Tools can be recovered through pawning

Sometimes, people are not fully ready to part with their tools but need some quick cash. Or, there are slow periods during the year where the tools sit dormant, waiting for the change of season. Thankfully, when you pawn, you not only receive a safe, quick, short term loan, but you can get your tools back when you repay your loan within the repayment period. Most pawnshops have generous loan terms designed to make it possible for you to reclaim your items after. In this way, pawning your tools can be a way to get emergency cash over and over.

On the other hand, when you sell your tools through a website, app, or another person, your tools are gone forever. And not only are the tools entirely out of your hands but so is their value, which means that your tools got you some cash only one time, whereas a pawn shop can work with you to get some money from them repeatedly, as long as there is a demand for your tools.

Quick and easy cash

Selling through a website takes time. A seller must take and post accurate photos, write a description, decide on a price, and deal with buyers. If you are lucky, you’ll get a buyer who accepts your price. However, even then, you are responsible for shipping and handling, which can be expensive or even prohibitive in large or heavy tools. Most sellers encounter buyers who want to pay as little as possible and who haggle over every little cent. And even after you have gone through all that, you must wait for the payment to come through, then wait even longer to turn it into cash. When you sell in-person, you might still deal with annoying hagglers. You also risk your safety if you do not take extra precautions when meeting up to make the handoff.

However, when you sell to your local pawn shop, you remove all the headaches we have just described. Your pawnbroker will work with you to negotiate a deal that works for both sides, and that is based on the actual value of your tools, not just to pay the lowest amount possible. Additionally, once you have arrived at a fair price, you will get your cash in hand in minutes, not days or weeks. It will be cold hard cash in your pocket, not codes in your electronic account.

Pawn loans are one of the safest loans out there

Pawn loans are one of the safest and underrated sources of personal financing. This is because:

  • Pawnshops are part of your community – unlike big banks, pawnshops can be flexible with interest rates and loan terms. Pawnshops like Central Mega Pawn have your best interest in mind. It is our mission to go above and beyond every time.
  • No applications or credit checks – you will not have to fill out an application, then wait for approval while your bills continue to pile up. Nor will you have to submit to a credit check. With a pawn loan, you come into our shop in need and leave with cash in hand in minutes.
  • Pawn loans are safe – a pawn shop will not loan you more money than you can realistically expect to pay back. According to the National Pawnbrokers Association, a majority of people who take out a pawn loan repay them on time. This makes it more likely that you will repay your loan and regain possession of your item.
  • Pawn loans do not affect your credit – because your pawn loan is secured by the value of an item that you own, there is no need for it to affect your credit. This is significant because a low credit score can harm your chances of qualifying for fundamental things like housing and employment.

How a pawn loan works

1. You bring us your item plus your identification.

2. Our professionals evaluate the monetary value of your item and will offer a loan based on that value.

3. We carefully go over the loan terms with you.

4. Get your cash!

5. You repay your loan and reclaim your item! If you cannot repay, we simply keep your item and resell it, with no additional penalty to you.

If you live in or near Ontario, California, or in any of the cities that make up the Inland Empire, visit Central Mega Pawn to see how we can help you turn your power tools into quick cash.

How Much Will a Pawn Shop Pay for my Designer Watch?

How Much Will a Pawn Shop Pay for my Designer Watch?

If you are thinking about selling a designer watch that you currently own, you should carefully weigh every option. Your designer watch is valuable, and you deserve to get as much as possible for it. Chances are, you have already considered your many options on where to sell your designer watch, as well as how much you can expect to get for it at each place. However, if you have not already done so, you should seriously consider selling your designer watch at your local pawn shop.

Although how much a pawn shop will pay for a designer watch will vary on a handful of factors, which we will go into much further detail about below, every pawn shop is different. As a result, it is impossible to predict exact figures for how much a pawn shop will pay for a particular designer watch. Use these factors as a handy guide to learn how your local pawn shop will determine how much to offer for your designer watch.

Demand – Designer brands or styles that are classic or have recently come into fashion will get great offers. If your designer watch is not in high demand, your local pawnbroker may have a hard time reselling it. However, if your watch features things like diamonds, or other precious gems or metals, you can expect a high offer. You can determine how in demand your watch is by searching the brand online, as well as the make and model of your watch and seeing what people are saying about it.

Brand – Certain watch brands, like Rolex or Cartier, will always fetch a high price. This is because the brand name recognition alone provides value, and because they are known for their durability and long-lasting desirability. If you are selling a watch from any of these following brands, your local pawn shop will likely offer a high price:

  • Rolex
  • Cartier
  • Bulgari
  • Piaget
  • Patek Phillipe
  • Vacheron Constantin
  • TAG Heuer

If your watch brand is not on this list, do not despair. Other well-respected but not quite luxurious watches from designers like Fossil or Timex may still sell for a reasonable price.

Condition – Although broken or slightly imperfect designer watches will still have value, your watch’s condition is a huge factor in how much you can expect for it. The more attractive and well-maintained your watch is, the more you can expect. The easier you make it for your pawnbroker to resell your designer watch, the more interested they will be in it.

Completeness – Especially for extremely high-value watches, having the accompanying boxes, packaging, and paperwork to prove authenticity and provenance will help you get the best offer.

Precious metals and gemstones – If your watch features things like diamonds, emeralds, or other precious gems, or is made of verifiable precious metals like gold or silver, it will go for a good price.

Why sell to a pawn shop instead of other places?

Your designer watch can act as collateral for a short-term loan that you can use over and over. If you need some quick cash and aren’t one hundred percent ready to part with your designer watch just yet, you can use it to obtain a safe and confidential cash loan. When you pay back your loan, you will get your watch back, unlike other forms of selling that will force you to part with your watch forever.

Also, selling to jewelers, retail stores, or through person-to-person websites, apps and auction sites takes time and effort. Not to mention, you may run into potential buyers who pressure you to accept the lowest possible offer, or who request that you spend money to ship and insure the watch directly to them.

On the other end of the spectrum, selling your designer watch to your local pawn shop is quick and easy. No shipping, handling or insurance fees, and very little paperwork. All you need is your valid identification and your watch.

How to sell your designer watch at your local pawnshop

Although selling your designer watch to your local pawn shop is easy, we want you to get the best deal possible. Follow these guidelines to get the most attractive offer:

Do your homework – Look up recent sales of your watch to get an idea of its going rate. Determine an average price from that information, and figure on receiving about 60% or so of that price at the high end.

Gather up all the pieces – Think of your watch as the centerpiece of an ensemble. The paperwork and packaging that came with your watch will make it appealing to buyers of all kinds, from collectors to the casual fan. The more complete a package you can offer your local pawnbroker, the more they will be willing to offer.

Clean it up – You should try to make your watch look as clean as possible, especially if it’s been worn frequently. However, be warned: do not use solvents or any liquids or material that can damage the watch. You can achieve great results with a microfiber cloth and a small soft-bristled brush. The goal should be to make it look enticing when your pawnbroker puts it in their display case.

Prepare to negotiate – When you visit your local pawn shop to sell your designer watch, you should be prepared to negotiate. Any trustworthy and experienced pawnbroker will be happy to work with you to reach a price that both sides agree on. Also, if you cannot come to terms, you are always free to refuse the offer and to try elsewhere.

Thanks to our in-house jewelry expert’s services, one of only a handful of pawnshops in the country to do so, Central Mega Pawn is known throughout Southern California’s Inland Empire for offering the best prices on designer watches. Visit us today to see why we should be your number one choice when you are looking to sell your designer watch.

Where is the Best Place to Sell My iPhone X?

Where is the Best Place to Sell My iPhone X?

Whether you are looking to upgrade your phone or just need some quick cash, you might be wondering where the best place is to sell your iPhone X. As with most top of the line electronics, when it comes to selling an iPhone X, you’ll have lots of options. It will be all too easy to become overwhelmed or to go with the most straightforward option just to get it over with. Thankfully, we can help. At Central Mega Pawn, we have lots of experience buying and selling iPhones across all its generations and are well acquainted with all the options for selling an iPhone. Keep reading for a breakdown of the most popular options and learn why your local pawn shop should be at the top of your list when you need or want to sell your iPhone X.

Sell it to a buy-back service

Sellers tend to go with a buy-back service because they are quick and easy. However, services like these can be risky because they tend to be very picky about the condition. Also, because buy-back services are flooding the market, the prices they pay can vary widely. You will still need to do lots of homework to make sure that you are dealing with a buy-back service that is fair, and that will pay an acceptable price.

Trade it in for upgrade or store credit

If you are more concerned with upgrading or getting store credit than with getting your money’s worth, you can trade-in your iPhone X for credit toward a newer model or store credit. The two biggest sources of upgrade credit are currently Apple and Best Buy. Many sellers report that the trade-in value at both of these stores is fair. However, if you are looking for cash for your iPhone X, this option is not for you, because you will receive the value of your phone in the form of store credit or gift card, not in cash.

Sell it yourself online

Selling your iPhone X yourself may get you the most money, but it can be very risky. Here are some of the most popular ways to sell your iPhone X yourself online:

  • Craigslist – this site is helpful if you want cash for your phone, as many buyers there expect to pay in cash. However, the site is notorious for buyers who try to pay as little as possible and buyers who never show up once a price is agreed upon. Another potential problem is that selling here requires that you meet your buyer in person, so you should be sure to meet up in a safe, well-lit public space. Many police departments offer sections of their parking lots for in-person transactions as well. The key to selling on Craigslist is to make sure to communicate clearly with the buyer about price, condition, and expectations.
  • Facebook Marketplace – Facebook Marketplace will also get you cash for your iPhone X. Many sellers prefer this to Craigslist, as it removes the anonymity from the transaction – you can view the profile of all your interested buyers, which may lead to fewer no-shows. Also, people you are connected to on Facebook can recommend your listing to their friends, which may help you sell your iPhone X faster.
  • eBay – eBay can be a fast and safe way to sell your iPhone X, because of the buyer and seller protections. However, you must not only do lots of work to list your iPhone X, but you will also pay fees a percentage of the cost in fees, as well as a fee to PayPal. Then, you must pay for shipping and handling, hoping that your buyer does not have buyer’s remorse, as eBay is known for siding with buyers when it comes to disputes.

Sell it to your local pawn shop

Pound for pound, your local pawn shop is your best bet for selling your iPhone X. Not only is it faster and safer than selling it yourself online, but you will also get cash in hand in a matter of minutes. Your local pawn shop will offer you a fair price that you can negotiate or refuse with no questions asked. When you sell your iPhone X to your local pawn shop, you:

  • Will not pay fees – no listing or sales fees, no fees to electronic payment processing.
  • Will not pay shipping or handling – no time or money spent packing up your iPhone X, taking it to the post office and hoping it arrives in one piece.
  • Will not put your information at risk – pawn shops do not ask you for your bank account or credit card information, unlike apps or sites that require you to connect your information to receive payment.

Selling your iPhone X to your local pawn shop will get you cash in hand in a matter of minutes.

How to get top dollar for your iPhone X at your local pawn shop

Your local pawn shop will do its best to offer you the most for your iPhone X. However, there are some things to keep in mind to make it easy for your local pawnbroker:

  • Packaging – the more original packaging you can offer your local pawn shop, the easier it will be for them to resell.
  • Condition – the better the condition, the more your local pawn shop can offer. Hopefully, your iPhone X spent its time with you in a secure case and is free of scratches, dents, or other problems that will make it harder to sell. Even if it hasn’t, and has a little wear and tear, it can still get you a reasonable price. Just be prepared to show that it still works when you bring it in.
  • Do your homework – look up recent online sales for iPhone X’s in conditions similar to yours to see what you can realistically expect.

If you are the fence about selling your iPhone X, keep in mind that the best time to sell any iPhone is right now. iPhones lose value by the day, so visit us as soon as possible to turn your iPhone X into cash in minutes!

4 Vital Services Pawn Shops Provide to Their Local Communities

4 Vital Services Pawn Shops Provide to Their Local Communities

When people think about what services are truly essential to communities, many list things like grocery stores, public transportation, or schools. However, few realize that pawnshops should be included on the list. This is because pawn shops fill many essential roles in their local communities. In fact, when state and local governments enacted shelter-in-place policies to help slow down the spread of COVID-19, many pawnshops remained open because their local authorities recognize them as essential businesses. Keep reading to find out about just a few of the many vital services that your local pawn shop provides to your community.

Banking services for all

According to the Federal Reserve, over 55 million adult Americans either do not have a bank account or are underbanked, meaning that they must rely on things like payday advances and credit cards for their banking needs. Pawnshops fill that gap by providing things like loans and credit services for those who do not have access to traditional banks, all without credit checks, applications, or rejection processes. For millions of Americans, their local pawn shop is their economic lifeline. And, unlike payday advance stores, pawn shops are not predatory lenders and hold themselves to strict regulations.

Safe, fair loans

Like most other pawnshops, when members of Central Mega Pawn’s community find themselves furloughed, or otherwise without an income, they turn to us for fast, safe loans that get them the cash they need. We understand that our community is made up of good, hardworking people who find themselves in a financial pinch through no fault of their own. We are proud to offer fair, short-term loans to our neighbors.

An additional bonus of pawnshop loans is that customers cannot borrow an excessive amount of money. The loans are limited by the value of their item and have a short repayment period. This keeps our community members from getting into trouble. Compare this to predatory payday loans that force hardworking people to put all their future earnings at risk, or to credit cards, which are designed to get people to spend more than they mean to, thereby trapping people in a vicious cycle of interest and repayment that can last for decades.

Pawn shop loans are also a safe haven for people who have little, no, or bad credit. This is because a pawn shop loan does not involve a credit score in any way. There are never any credit checks for a pawn shop loan, and the loans never go on a person’s credit record. A damaged or low credit score can affect everything from housing to employment, so for those who are just starting out building up their credit history, or rebuilding their credit score, the freedom from worry about what a credit check can do to them can come as a great relief.

Making essential items available to all

Pawn shops should be your first stop when you want great prices on almost anything. In this challenging time, where people are struggling to adjust their work to provide for their families, it can be prohibitively expensive to buy essential tools and supplies to stay competitive and even entertainment.

Like many other pawn shops, the inventory at Central Mega Pawn is continuously changing, but we always have lots of items that our community members need and want. Such as:

  • Tools – workers of all stripes do not have to shell out for marked-up retail prices on tools they need to get the job done when they shop at their local pawn shop. We always have lots of hand tools and power tools to choose from, so that workers and homeowners can get back to doing what they do best.
  • Computers – work is increasingly going remote, and more and more people are looking for ways to make their living online. Instead of paying thousands of dollars to get started, people can visit us to get a laptop, computer, or other accessories at a fraction of retail price. Smart buyers who realize that they do not need the latest models can get all the equipment they need at their local pawn shop at an unbeatable price.
  • Entertainment – parents everywhere are struggling to keep their kids, and themselves, entertained during shelter-in-place orders. But, in this shaky economy facing an uncertain future, it can seem prohibitively expensive to upgrade televisions, speakers, DVD, or Blu-Ray players, to say nothing of video game consoles or video games. With their low prices on entertainment supplies, from televisions to video games of all kinds, pawn shops like Central Mega pawn make it easier to keep kids occupied and to enhance the home entertainment experience for the entire family.

An economical and safe place to buy and sell

When people choose to buy, sell, or pawn at their local pawn shop, they are choosing a much safer route than buying or selling online. People do not have to risk their safety by meeting strangers they only know through websites or person to person sales apps. When it comes to buying, customers at a pawn shop know that their pawnbrokers have done everything in their power to ensure that they are selling only legitimate items, which cannot be said about sales apps or websites.

Also, instead of paying for shipping and handling, and without having to haggle with buyers over the price, members of our community can walk into our safe, secure pawn shop, safely buy what they need, or pawn for an item for quick cash. At Central Mega Pawn, we pride ourselves on providing a safe and clean environment for all your needs.

As you can see, locally pawn shops like Central Mega Pawn provide necessary services to their community and have been doing so for hundreds of years. Central Mega Pawn is proud to be a part of the tradition that pawn shops have had in civilization. Visit us today to see how we can help you as a valued member of our community.