I am always looking for a good deal, especially on tools... and I was wondering if anyone else has noticed that there are no more good deals in pawn shops? They are extremely proud of their stuff. Power tools that look like they may or may not run another ten minutes are only a few dollars under brand new stuff. Hand tools are through the roof; everything seems to be a "collectors" item, or some intrinsic value that I can't attach to them. I 'm sure these brokers ain't giving the pawn-ee anything for this stuff, but the want the world for it, and don't seem the slightest bit interested in talking turkey. It's mostly beat to death stuff with astronomical prices... What the deal, anyone know?

-- Willy Allen (willyallen2@yahoo.com), March 06, 2001

Answers

Hi Willy, I am always looking for a deal also,,due to the fact that I am the "Queen of Always Broke",,:-),,,I too am very disgusted with how prices have gone up on used items. And yes, an old cookie sheet that looks like it laid in the dump 2years is priced at $6.00, glass coffee pots from old coffee makers are $5 and $6 , a used glass is a dollar or more. I too, noticed that everything is said to be a antique or collectors item. I guess these people are trying to make a living off used stuff. Easy kind of business, maybe I should go into the Pawn business too. What do you think? I ask a car salvage yard person how much for a radio cassette for my 87 car,,,if they had one. Well, he said there is one out there , and they want $50 for it. I couldn't believe it! Add $10 and I can get a brand new one here at Wal-Mart. Gosh, I guess the days of "wheeling and dealing" and finding a great deal is almost over? Hang in there and keep looking,,I am,,we may still find a few good deals here and there,,,:) Take care...

-- Patsy (cozyhollow-gal@care2.com), March 06, 2001.

Hey, Spring will be here soon along w/ the GARAGE SALES and AUCTIONS!!! I still look in the Pawn shops but seldom buy. I think your right about the "everything is a collectable" attitude out there. Tools are definatly expensive. Think positive. John

-- John in S. IN (jsmengel@hotmail.com), March 06, 2001.

Dont expect any real bargins at yardsales or anywhere else. Everyone is buying up everything and putting it on Ebay and other auction places. The usual antiques and collectables are just not around like they were a few years ago. Also expect to see some provision added to Ebay and like spots for sales tax and the IRS is looking at them hard to see how much unreported income people are not paying taxes on. If you get into the internet selling keep real good records. If you can't prove what you paid for something the tax people will figure the total sales price as profit. They are looking at the situation now so be prepared.

-- David (bluewaterfarm@mindspring.com), March 06, 2001.

ya got that right. the flea markets are ABSOLUTLEY OBSCENELY PRICED too. i am sick of going to the flea markets and finding old junk that is priced 3-4 times the price of a brandnew one down at wallyworld. even plain jane ordinary everyday cast iron skillets, the lodge brand made in tennessee that is available at every wallyworldmart and hardware store, etc, all over the usa, is reasonably priced brand-spankin new, but those ripoff artists at the flea markets have the gall to look at you in the eye and tell you that its a collectors item and therefore is worth 4-5 times what you can go buy it brand spankin new for. i was looking for some used flatware, knives forks spoons, for our breakroom at work, and the flea market folks wanted about a DOLLAR apiece for each piece. not silver, not fancy, just regular ol junk. i went to wallyworldmart and bought a new set for less than $10 dollars. the pawn shops aren't quite as bad, but i hear you.

thanks for letting me vent

gene

-- gene ward (gward34847@aol.com), March 07, 2001.

Sign on a local second-hand dealers shopfront "Antiques for sale and cash for junk"

-- john hill (john@cnd.co.nz), March 07, 2001.

When did every old screwdriver become a collector's item? I've seen the same sort of price inflation at flea markets, pawn shops, even the classifieds as everyone else. But the thing is, they wouldn't be asking those prices if someone else wasn't paying them. That's what I don't understand. What happened to plain old-fashioned money sense? And who is it that has all that money and isn't giving any to me :-)?

-- Cash (cash@andcarry.com), March 07, 2001.

I agree that the prices at flea markets are outrageous, but around here there are still some bargains at pawn shops. Not everything by any means, and not at each shop.

The people buying are those folk that earn more than they are worth and have no real concept of money or what something should cost. It's a snowball effect. If shopkeepers can get overpricing from some, they think that they should be able to get it from everyone. Seems to work.

-- Notforprint (Not@thekeyboard.com), March 07, 2001.

I'm glad I don't go to any of y'alls flea markets. We got a couple that still sell $3 ax handles, $1 hammer handles and $8 US made chopping hoes.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), March 07, 2001.

Not that I have anything worth trading.... but what about barter??? Its really hard for the Gov't to monitor THAT for sales tax, income tax and all that other stuff!!! I've had some great success with it in the past... Maybe we should start a forum for that?

-- Sue Diederich (willow666@rocketmail.com), March 07, 2001.

Hi Willy. Yup. High prices in MN, too. Even at Salv Army and Goodwill thrift stores. I have found one exception though - the church sponsored stores. Usually their stuff is far cheaper, and also cleaner, and better organized too. Plus the people are nice. I found several by looking in the yellow pages under 'thrift stores'. Oh, and one other exception is the main headquarters of Salv Army downtown. Bad part of town, dirty, cramped, but cheap.

Sandy

-- Sandy in MN (jpevans_56353@yahoo.com), March 08, 2001.

I go to a lot of estate auctions. Prices have risen drastically the past couple of years. Dollar boxes are almost unheard of. It use to be I could buy fixer-upper furniture cheap, spend some time and a couple of bucks on it and resell it for about a 100% return. However, now it sells for more than I could get for it on resale.

About the only place left to get good prices locally is when the owners of storage lockers sell contents for unpaid rent. I've seen washers and dryers go for $5 each as-is, where-is. One can use the argument they wouldn't have stored them if they didn't work, but people don't want to take the chance. It is amazing the pure, outright junk some people store.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), March 08, 2001.

Just went to a farm equipment auction, Saturday. Machinery, tractors and such went at expected "hair-less-than" book prices. But the rest of the auction was pumped FULL of chinese junk tools. It is sickening sometimes to think of the disposable society we've created for ourselves. Grand-pop used to say "buy the BEST you can...Pay cash...and Take delivery... Wise words indeed. On the Pawn Shop scene, just a little side note: When we travel, we make it a habit to check out the local pawn shops in that area. (Pretend to find out how much they'll give you for your camera.) This gives us an idea of the local residents, and their favorite pastimes. Eg: Fort Walton Beach, Fla. has surfboards and diving gear. Chincateague, Md. has fishing equipment. Black Mountain, NC has old fiddles and banjos. South Atlantic City, NJ has gold jewelry, watches. North Atlantic City, NJ has guns, knives, and ghetto blasters. Get the picture?

-- Action Dude (theactiondude@yahoo.com), March 08, 2001.

Even in dirt-poor AR our pawn shop prices are out of sight. We tell ourselves that someone must buy the stuff at those prices or they'd just sit on the shelf forever. Sad thing is that the quality of new tools can be so bad that they are not a deal either. We've had our best finds at thrift shops and auctions. We've also walked away from auctions with nothing after wasting a whole day waiting for a few choice items that went for silly money. A tip - always take your Lehman's catalog with you to auctions so you can check the new price of homesteady items.

-- David C (fleece@eritter.net), March 09, 2001.

we were gonna buy a cassette player this weekend and I checked the pawn shop to see what they had and like you guys have said what a rip off. we bought a brand new one with a year warrenty for the very same price the pawn shop wanted for a old worn one. I usualy check out the salvation army and get some good deals there and the only thing I've seen at a pawn shop at a good price is hand tools like wrenches and stuff like that. I get them for like a dollar and then turn them in for a new one. snapon/mac/craftsman

-- lee lynn (dusty29541@yahoo.com), March 11, 2001.

I agree,, but which one of you, WOUDLNT sell something for 10 times what it costs to replace??? Ive done it,, most have. Ive even sold things on ebay and turned around and bought 2 more to do again.

-- Stan (sopal@net-port.com), March 12, 2001.