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Pawn 101: Lucky we pawn on Maui

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Not needed at our pawn shop

This past week’s episode of “Hard Core Pawn,” the reality show shot in Detroit featured this http://cleverrealitytv.com/2012/09/16/hardcore-pawn-94-news-flash-pawn-shops-sell-your-stuff-les-finds-a-ruby-in-the-rough-a-muscular-woman-rock-em-sock-em-robots-and-crazy-comes-in-all-colors-in-detroit/incident:

A guy then went up to Rich’s window complaining about a generator he bought less than 12 hours ago from the shop. Rich said the thing was ‘as-is’ and there was nothing he could do about it. The guy was very big and loud. Rich was arguing with the guy and Les was watching the confrontation. Rich was pissed off more than usual at this guy and he went to go out front. The customer ripped off he jacket and got ready to maul Rich and his goatee of death. The big security guards were holding the customer back. Les went outside to talk to the guy to try and help. Les said he would check out the generator and then had a repair man fix it. The guy was happy with the end result.

(From the Clever Reality website.)

To be clear, that was Detroit Rich, not Big Rich of Market Street.

Kamaaina Loan doesn’t even have security guards. No need on North Market Street.

The “as-is” sale policy is the same everywhere among the nation’s 13,000-plus pawnshops. That applies to items coming in as well as going out.

If you  bring in, say, a computer or a cellphone, to sell or to get a loan on, you’ll  be asked to turn it on, and, if necessary, enter your password.

You’d be surprised, maybe, how many people bring in a dead cellphone without a charger and expect to get money for it.

Charge ’em up at home or bring your charger with you. (And why can’t you just plug it in to the USB port on the computer on the counter? Because that’s a good way to infect our system with computer viruses.)

 

 

Mark your calender and be on TV with us

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Just a reminder that Pawn Stories Inc. will be filming two (possibly three) days of reality TV at Kamaaina Loan & Cash for Gold, and YOU’RE INVITED!

Here’s how to enhance your chances: Bring something interesting — rare, valuable, odd, even kooky — and show it to our pawnbrokers. There will be two (sometimes 3) cameras rolling, taking it all in. Unlike some of the pawn shows you’ve seen, this one is NOT scripted. The producers want to see pawning in paradise, by real people acting the way they really act when the cameras are not around.

If you can talk story, all the better.

OK, here’s a backstage secret. The producer, Bob McCullough, does not script. However, sometimes, when an interaction is really good, he may ask the participants to repeat what they said, to get good audio. In real life, sound recording can be tricky.

Let’s say, though, that you have to do a pawn or sale transaction for the usual reasons — you need cash — and you don’t want it on video. No problem. Kamaaina Loan will be in regular operation, with a separate location next door where the cameras won’t be. Your choice: Be a pawn star, or don’t be a pawn star.

The film schedule is Thursday, Sept. 6, and Friday, Sept. 7, during regular business hours, which are 9 am to 6 pm. Your chances of being filmed are better earlier in the day.

Be sure to stick around for Wailuku First Friday, which is also slated to be filmed.

We will film on Saturday, Sept. 8, if necessary.

Anyone agreeing to take part will be asked to sign a standard video release. It should be fun and we look forward to seeing old friends. Even if you don’t have an item to present, bring yourself and say Howzzit!

 

 

What’s Olympic gold worth in pawn?

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An Olympic gold medal is only plate, not solid gold.

It’s really silver-gilt: thin, nearly pure gold over sterling silver.

At current prices of around $!,600 an ounce for gold and $28 an ounce for silver, the metal content of an Olympic medal is around $788.

Add in the sweat equity, though, and it’s priceless.

‘I learn something new every day’

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I bought a fountain pen, so I went to Office Max to get a bottle of ink. The very young clerk was eager to help, but she didn’t know what a fountain pen was.

“I never heard of that,” said she.

A slightly okler clerk came to our rescue, but it turned out the store had only ink cartridges, not bottled ink. The clerk advised me to try Ben Franklin.

Ben Franklin had bottled India ink, but in a locked cabinet. “You need to lock up the ink?” I asked,

“The kids steal it,” the very helpful clerk said. “They use it for tattoos with a pin.”

I learn something new every day.

(Our Maui Gold Buyers store at 98 North Market sells new, professional tattoo gun outfits for a reasonable price. Don’t steal ink. If you are going to tattoo, do it right.)