How Much do Pawn Shops Pay in 2023 (Complete Guide)

Pawn shops pay cash for just about anything, but it comes at a price. The potential drawback is how much pawn shops pay you.

I recently sold several items to my local pawn shop, and wanted to share what percentage the pawn shop paid, and when to consider other options.

How Much Do Pawn Shops Pay?

In my experience, pawn shops pay approximately 7-35% of the original retail price. For example, if you bought a power drill for $300, a pawn shop would typically offer between $21-$105 for the item.

My Recent Pawn Shop Experience

A few months ago, I decided to pawn my guitar, vintage radio, and KitchenAid mixer. The retail prices for these items totaled about $1,000, and the pawn shop originally offered me $125 for everything.

How Does a Pawn Shop Determine Value?

Pawn shops determine value by analyzing prices of similar items that recently sold online, current precious metal prices (if you’re selling jewelry), and how quickly similar items sell in their store.

Using Sold Listings

Most pawn shops also sell their inventory online. So they usually check sold listings on websites like eBay to know what items are selling for online.

Current Precious Metal Values

Rings, watches, and coins are usually made with precious metals like gold, platinum, and silver. The value of these items are not only based on their intrinsic item value, but also current “spot prices” of precious metals.

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