# Typical conversations on Pawn Stars (and other pawn shop shows) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 24, 2011, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typical-conversations-on-pawn-stars-and-other-pawn-shop-shows/593841 "2011-08-24T01:42:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2011, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typical-conversations-on-pawn-stars-and-other-pawn-shop-shows/593841/41 "2011-08-24T23:30:19Z")
> [@Nobody](#): > > I don’t know. On just about any other show antique items are worth a lot. Hell, does anybody ever watch the new game show, “It’s worth what?”. They had a fiberglass bike from the 1960’s worth, I think it was $15,000. > > Yet, on Pawn Stars people bring in something 100 or 200 years old and it’s, > “You see this scratch that’s kind of hidden here? That drops the value considerably. I can offer you $200 for it.” > “Yeah, but I’ve seen similar going for $5,000.” > “True, but they don’t have that tiny little scratch.” > > OK, I’m exaggerating a little. But not much. … Or, sometimes, on a similar note, I will hear the Pawn shop guys say that they will have to have it restored or refurbished and that will cost us “X” amount of money. And here all along, I have seen and heard conflicting advice from experts of the antiques roadshow variety, that one shouldn’t restore, alter, or damage the original integrity of a valuable antique item. Yet, Rick is always taking something to that tie-in, History channel, American Restoration shop. Seems, all too convenient. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2011, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typical-conversations-on-pawn-stars-and-other-pawn-shop-shows/593841/42 "2011-08-24T23:31:16Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > The annoying part to me is when it goes the other way. I stopped in a few pawn shops this week because I’m thinking about switching to Blu-Ray. Some of them have Blu-Ray players but they’re asking eighty bucks for them. > > I can go to WalMart and buy a new Blu-Ray player for ninety dollars. Why should I buy a used one from a pawn shop for eighty? I had a neighbor that managed a pawn shop and he invited me there for a special pre-Christmas special sale. I do a LOT of home repair, and I know the exact retail of about half the electric tools you’ll find at Home Depot. There were old, battered sets of tools that were priced at 100% RETAIL. Ooh! Get me summa that! -Joe ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2011, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typical-conversations-on-pawn-stars-and-other-pawn-shop-shows/593841/43 "2011-08-24T23:36:59Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Bit of a hijack but not worth it’s own thread: > > There was a recent episode of Pawn Stars in which a man asked to be paid in gold. I don’t remember the item or the amount but let’s say Rick had offered/the guy accepted $2,000. > > Rick told him he couldn’t legally pay him in gold, BUT what he would do is count out $2,000 worth of gold from the pawn store’s stock, give the guy $2,000 in cash, and then immediately- 5 seconds later- the guy could give him back the $2,000 cash and buy/take the gold. > > Out of curiosity, does anybody know why they couldn’t do a flat “$2,000 in gold for this item” trade? Didn’t he trade a guy a guitar for his item once on the show? Don’t see how trading gold for an item would be any different (but maybe they did the “I’ll buy your item, you immediately buy the guitar” deal/paperwork/etc. the same way offscreen). ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2011, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typical-conversations-on-pawn-stars-and-other-pawn-shop-shows/593841/44 "2011-08-24T23:39:19Z")
A “sort of sad and sort of funny” staple of pawn shops is wedding rings and half of them seem to be engraved with something like “To Trudy from Buck- I will love you Forever- July 22, 2005”. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2011, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typical-conversations-on-pawn-stars-and-other-pawn-shop-shows/593841/45 "2011-08-24T23:58:19Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > A “sort of sad and sort of funny” staple of pawn shops is wedding rings and half of them seem to be engraved with something like “To Trudy from Buck- I will love you Forever- July 22, 2005”. Well, he didn’t say he’d ONLY love her forever… ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typical-conversations-on-pawn-stars-and-other-pawn-shop-shows/593841/46 "2011-08-25T00:42:39Z")
He said it wasn’t legal, and I took that to mean a specific pawn shop law. It was a fancy old car. The price was tens and tens of thousands of dollars. 25? 70? I don’t recall. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typical-conversations-on-pawn-stars-and-other-pawn-shop-shows/593841/47 "2011-08-25T01:12:27Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > Yet, Rick is always taking something to that tie-in, History channel, American Restoration shop. Seems, all too convenient. I’m pretty sure that guy got his show after a couple seasons of _Pawn Stars_ because of his affiliation with the show/shop over the years. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Bosstrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstrain)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typical-conversations-on-pawn-stars-and-other-pawn-shop-shows/593841/48 "2011-08-25T01:24:29Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > Customer (scratching chin pretending as if he is seriously considering not selling and sticking to his guns): > > “OKAY! Pay me! YEE HAW i got’s me some money! Time to go buy some cigarettes and play some slots!” Yes, but then sometimes they switch things up _ **not** _ taking the deal…tricky. I think the real point of these shows is to provide you entertainment while also educating you on the item itself and the history behind it, still fun though, some of the better reality shows, if only because you do learn something ;). ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typical-conversations-on-pawn-stars-and-other-pawn-shop-shows/593841/49 "2011-08-25T01:25:32Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > I’m pretty sure that guy got his show after a couple seasons of _Pawn Stars_ because of his affiliation with the show/shop over the years. Ummm… yea. That’s kinda what I am getting at. Incestual business relationships breed corruption and graft. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typical-conversations-on-pawn-stars-and-other-pawn-shop-shows/593841/50 "2011-08-25T01:28:55Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > … Or, sometimes, on a similar note, I will hear the Pawn shop guys say that they will have to have it restored or refurbished and that will cost us “X” amount of money. And here all along, I have seen and heard conflicting advice from experts of the antiques roadshow variety, that one shouldn’t restore, alter, or damage the original integrity of a valuable antique item. Yet, Rick is always taking something to that tie-in, History channel, American Restoration shop. Seems, all too convenient. Yeah, in one episode Rick will tsk-tsk at an old item (“this is not the original paint, that affects the value”), then in the next he’ll be moaning about how much he’d have to sink into an item to restore it so it’s presentable. On another note, Coincidentally, I just watched a DVR’d episode immediately after reading this thread about the document/signature appraiser and his enormous magnifying glass. Yep, they called him in, satchel and all, to evaluate Ronald Reagan’s signature. One of the boys (Chumlee?) said, “ain’t you gonna break out the big magnifying glass?” 😃 mmm ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typical-conversations-on-pawn-stars-and-other-pawn-shop-shows/593841/51 "2011-08-25T01:32:45Z")
I pawned my wedding band for $25 many years ago. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typical-conversations-on-pawn-stars-and-other-pawn-shop-shows/593841/52 "2011-08-25T01:45:46Z")
The Memory of that band would probably be worth tweny dollars, alone… why would I give it away for 5 dollares? No, the sentiment is more valuable… and I think that is half the pawnbroker’s jobe- bRGining your nostalgia down to a realistic price… devaluing life, ,memoriea, and dreams. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typical-conversations-on-pawn-stars-and-other-pawn-shop-shows/593841/53 "2011-08-25T01:49:39Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > **jewing** your nostalgia down to a realistic price… devaluing life, ,memoriea, and dreams. Bolding mine. An unfortunate and inappropriate choice of words. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typical-conversations-on-pawn-stars-and-other-pawn-shop-shows/593841/54 "2011-08-25T01:53:48Z")
Not if that is a common voculabary. Entirely consistent and colloquial… I’ ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typical-conversations-on-pawn-stars-and-other-pawn-shop-shows/593841/55 "2011-08-25T01:56:10Z")
Entirely consistent and colloquial to my dialect. We might jew or bargain you down in total tribute to retail GOds… no shit, Jews are really good professionally at striking a bargain. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typical-conversations-on-pawn-stars-and-other-pawn-shop-shows/593841/56 "2011-08-25T01:56:36Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > Not if that is a common voculabary. Entirely consistent and colloquial… I’ No it’s not and you know it, unless you hang out with a bunch of anti-semites. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typical-conversations-on-pawn-stars-and-other-pawn-shop-shows/593841/57 "2011-08-25T01:57:25Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Out of curiosity, does anybody know why they couldn’t do a flat “$2,000 in gold for this item” trade? ISTR Rick said something about federal regulations about gold sales having to be for dollars. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typical-conversations-on-pawn-stars-and-other-pawn-shop-shows/593841/58 "2011-08-25T01:59:16Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > No it’s not and you know it, unless you hang out with a bunch of anti-semites. well, here’s the deal… we are long converted catholic jews… can’t choose your antisemitic, semitic family. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typical-conversations-on-pawn-stars-and-other-pawn-shop-shows/593841/59 "2011-08-25T01:59:48Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > Ummm… yea. That’s kinda what I am getting at. Incestual business relationships breed corruption and graft. My point being that Rick’s relationship with the guy goes a lot further back than his History Channel program. Rick was getting antiques restored there long before the guy’s restoration shop was of any interest to the History Channel. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2011, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typical-conversations-on-pawn-stars-and-other-pawn-shop-shows/593841/60 "2011-08-25T02:01:41Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > well, here’s the deal… we are long converted catholic jews… can’t choose your antisemitic, semitic family. I’d ask what in the hell you are talking about, but since every post you make on this board is equally indecipherable, I won’t expect a reply that makes sense. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typical-conversations-on-pawn-stars-and-other-pawn-shop-shows/593841.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typical-conversations-on-pawn-stars-and-other-pawn-shop-shows/593841.md?page=4)