Pawn shops

flhrci

flhrci

Final Approach
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David
So, in the market for a laptop. Too risky or not to buy a used one from a pawn shop provided it is obviously working? Current one is unusable now and want to save some cash. What say you all?

David


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flhrci said:
So, in the market for a laptop. Too risky or not to buy a used one from a pawn shop provided it is obviously working? Current one is unusable now and want to save some cash. What say you all?

David


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
Click to expand...

I'd be skeptical of one from a pawn shop. Too much chance of 1) stolen, 2) malware pre-installed.

Try overstock.com or ubid.com for quite good prices on factory refurbs.

John
 
flhrci said:
So, in the market for a laptop. Too risky or not to buy a used one from a pawn shop provided it is obviously working? Current one is unusable now and want to save some cash. What say you all?

David


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
Click to expand...

Sure, if it's cheap enough. Another source is repair shops, they often have cheap machines. As cheap as new is now though, and figuring you are buying an old machine that won't last as long, I'm not sure you'll actually realize a savings.
 
It might be worth looking up your local Craigslist for laptops.
 
Just remember, if you buy a used computer it means someone got rid of it for some reason.
 
Sac Arrow said:
It might be worth looking up your local Craigslist for laptops.
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Too many risks of bad things happening. Don't do craigslist. I do not have enough guns to take with me. Nope, 3 handguns and an AR-15 is not enough.

David
 
jsstevens said:
I'd be skeptical of one from a pawn shop. Too much chance of 1) stolen, 2) malware pre-installed.

Try overstock.com or ubid.com for quite good prices on factory refurbs.

John
Click to expand...


Thanks John. Had not considered those other sources. The general consensus so far seems to be to stay away from the Pawn Shops.

David
 
You can get a new laptop from Micro Center for a few hundred bucks. Just how cheap are you?
 
Just for fun ask them what their bottom dollar is on any machine. You can frequently buy a new one on sale for less than they want for a used one.
 
steingar said:
You can get a new laptop from Micro Center for a few hundred bucks. Just how cheap are you?
Click to expand...

Not that cheap!

I have been looking at their website. I am rebounding from being unemployed so looking to save a little cash. I am also looking at performance vs cost.

Call me lazy to for not wanting to drive 45 mins to go there also. :)

But I agree that locally they are probably the best thing going. Best Buy does not compare.

David
 
I actually was considering a Chromebook but I am not sure I was another iPad like device that has to have internet. So I made up my mind not to go that way.

David
 
Gerhardt said:
Just for fun ask them what their bottom dollar is on any machine. You can frequently buy a new one on sale for less than they want for a used one.
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Probably true and less risk. I doubt used ones at pawn shops come with the manuals and restore discs.

David
 
Best Buy has several surprisingly capable Windows-based laptops for under $400.00. Heck, my CAD-capable Lenovo with a crapload of memory was under $1K. Laptop prices have come down. At Best Buy you can get a 2 year in-store replacement warranty for not much money, too, so the cheap laptops aren't a risky as they used to be. Just get an external drive and do occasional backups.

Look at the $229 Toshiba. 4gb RAM, 500gb hard drive? That's cheap!
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/laptop-computers/pc-laptops/pcmcat247400050000.c?id=pcmcat247400050000
 
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I wouldn't buy a used laptop unless you feel confident tearing it apart and replacing parts.... heck I do this and I don't want to buy a used one. I also wouldn't buy one at a pawn shop, the markup is ridiculous. I'd honestly use craigslist or ebay if I just had to go used.

I often point people here
http://dell.com/outlet

or..... at the risk of getting controversial....
http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals

In my experience macs get several more years of use between higher reliability and a more sleek OS that doesn't feel as old and tired so quickly.
 
I have never bought anything at a pawn shop and then NOT had to go buy another new one later which I should have done initially.
 
flhrci said:
Thanks John. Had not considered those other sources. The general consensus so far seems to be to stay away from the Pawn Shops.

David
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It doesn't hurt to shop them, it's always hit and miss, sometimes you get a great bargain.
 
Craigslist is OK, just be smart, meet the seller at the local police station or other very public area. Our local PD encourages people to meet there for transactions, doesn't mean what you buy is any good, just that you aren't as likely to get robbed. :D
flhrci said:
Too many risks of bad things happening. Don't do craigslist. I do not have enough guns to take with me. Nope, 3 handguns and an AR-15 is not enough.

David
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SixPapaCharlie said:
I have never bought anything at a pawn shop and then NOT had to go buy another new one later which I should have done initially.
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Sometimes you can find a deal. They're good for hand tools- I know a lot of guys who pick up cheap snap-on stuff at them then get it exchanged for new by the dealers.

But yeah 95% of it is overpriced for what you get.
 
cowman said:
Sometimes you can find a deal. They're good for hand tools- I know a lot of guys who pick up cheap snap-on stuff at them then get it exchanged for new by the dealers.

But yeah 95% of it is overpriced for what you get.
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Guilty, I can't go to a pawn shop without pulling all the SnapOn tools.
 
cowman said:
I wouldn't buy a used laptop unless you feel confident tearing it apart and replacing parts.... heck I do this and I don't want to buy a used one. I also wouldn't buy one at a pawn shop, the markup is ridiculous. I'd honestly use craigslist or ebay if I just had to go used.

I often point people here
http://dell.com/outlet

or..... at the risk of getting controversial....
http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals

In my experience macs get several more years of use between higher reliability and a more sleek OS that doesn't feel as old and tired so quickly.
Click to expand...

Yes, Dell outlet can be a good deal as well. It used to be (don't know if it still is) that they would include whatever software the original purchaser ordered on returned computers. You could get full up MS Office pro, adobe publisher, all sorts of SW for free (essentially), legally.

John
 
A laptop at a pawn shop is not necessarily always abused. The majority of pawn shop "donors" are thieves with stolen merchandise or druggies seeking quick cash for a fix before next paycheck. Neither have any reason to abuse the merchandise.

As for malware/spyware installed on a pawn shop laptop, there is no logic dictating that it happens only on pawn shop laptops. I would be more wary of CL and fleaBay computers.
FWIW, though, any person with half-a-brain will wipe the whole HDD clean and install a fresh OS or at least dump a ghost image on the computer. Who cares for somebody else's p*rn on a used computer? :)
 
BigBadLou said:
A laptop at a pawn shop is not necessarily always abused. The majority of pawn shop "donors" are thieves with stolen merchandise or druggies seeking quick cash for a fix before next paycheck. Neither have any reason to abuse the merchandise.

As for malware/spyware installed on a pawn shop laptop, there is no logic dictating that it happens only on pawn shop laptops. I would be more wary of CL and fleaBay computers.
FWIW, though, any person with half-a-brain will wipe the whole HDD clean and install a fresh OS or at least dump a ghost image on the computer. Who cares for somebody else's p*rn on a used computer? :)
Click to expand...

I don't disagree on equally liable to find malware/virus on eBay, craigslist, etc. computers. Which is why I didn't recommend those sources.

As for a fresh install, I haven't had a laptop in 6 or more years which came with the software to reinstall. And it's more than most folks can do on their own. Heck, my daughters laptop only has a USB port, no optical drive or any other bootable device at all. It's doable, but tricky.

John
 
Unlike TV, none of our local pawn shops have rare collectibles or museum-quality pieces. Ours are filled with guns, jewelry, musical instruments and old power tools.
 
I wouldn't buy my electronics at a pawn shop, most are too high priced anyway..
 
I guess I'm not typical. If I bought a used machine I'd format the HDD and install a clean OS on it. No chance of malware.
 
what exactly is your budget? I bought a brand new i3 laptop for $299 last week. There are cheaper new laptops, too. I looked at our local pawn shops via craigslist, and all the computers I saw were pretty old.
 
My mother in law owned a pawn shop several years ago. The way we get good deals at them is we know the owners, they know what we like. When something good comes in we get a call. I have found that all the good stuff is sold to people they know and the left over stuff goes on the shelf for the public. Now with that said when I fo to Tulsa every January we have found a pawn shop owner that knows I like Snap On tools. We meet with him and I buy most of what he has for 35 cents on the dollar cash. This is after 7 years of seeing him yearly.
 
rbridges said:
what exactly is your budget? I bought a brand new i3 laptop for $299 last week. There are cheaper new laptops, too. I looked at our local pawn shops via craigslist, and all the computers I saw were pretty old.
Click to expand...

I am thinking around $300 but if it has Win 8 on it, want the touchscreen which makes it more pricey.

David
 
Stewartb said:
Best Buy has several surprisingly capable Windows-based laptops for under $400.00. Heck, my CAD-capable Lenovo with a crapload of memory was under $1K. Laptop prices have come down. At Best Buy you can get a 2 year in-store replacement warranty for not much money, too, so the cheap laptops aren't a risky as they used to be. Just get an external drive and do occasional backups.

Look at the $229 Toshiba. 4gb RAM, 500gb hard drive? That's cheap!
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/laptop-computers/pc-laptops/pcmcat247400050000.c?id=pcmcat247400050000
Click to expand...

That is a pretty good price for a basic laptop.

David
 
flhrci said:
I am thinking around $300 but if it has Win 8 on it, want the touchscreen which makes it more pricey.

David
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:rofl: Amen, I would never voluntarily use Win8 without a touch screen, it's annoying as hell. I wonder how Win10 will be? Supposedly 7 & 8 users will get a free upgrade.
 
Luvrv8 said:
My mother in law owned a pawn shop several years ago.
Click to expand...

I know they make their money on the pawns (loans). But with all that junk lying around someone must be buying it, at least occasionally. And I admit that I don't spend a lot of time in pawn shops, mostly if I'm trying to kill time. But I've never seen anyone buy anything. Ever. To be honest, I never really expect to, since who in their right mind pays 95% of retail, sometimes more than retail, for a used item?

I know it sounds like I'm being derogatory about them, and I'm not trying to, because they're fun to browse. Just curious more than anything. And to be fair, most garage sales around here are the same way. Overpriced. When I have one every few years to clean the house I put prices so low on them it's hard to walk away from.
 
Gerhardt said:
I know they make their money on the pawns (loans). But with all that junk lying around someone must be buying it, at least occasionally. And I admit that I don't spend a lot of time in pawn shops, mostly if I'm trying to kill time. But I've never seen anyone buy anything. Ever. To be honest, I never really expect to, since who in their right mind pays 95% of retail, sometimes more than retail, for a used item?

I know it sounds like I'm being derogatory about them, and I'm not trying to, because they're fun to browse. Just curious more than anything. And to be fair, most garage sales around here are the same way. Overpriced. When I have one every few years to clean the house I put prices so low on them it's hard to walk away from.
Click to expand...

Some pawn shops are stupid at pricing, others aren't, it's all negotiable. Price tags in a pawn shop are like price tags in Tijuana, a topic of discussion.
 
Henning said:
Some pawn shops are stupid at pricing, others aren't, it's all negotiable. Price tags in a pawn shop are like price tags in Tijuana, a topic of discussion.
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:yeahthat:

Always negotiable.
 
flhrci said:
I am thinking around $300 but if it has Win 8 on it, want the touchscreen which makes it more pricey.

David
Click to expand...

look on websites such as fatwallet or slickdeals. My laptop was an in-store special at Staples. Win 8.1, touchscreen, 4th gen i3 for $299. I saw it on slickdeals last weekend.

the problem I see with technology is that people selling it don't realize how much it depreciates when they try to sell it. For not a whole lot more, you can get new stuff with more powerful components.
 
Gerhardt said:
I know they make their money on the pawns (loans). But with all that junk lying around someone must be buying it, at least occasionally. And I admit that I don't spend a lot of time in pawn shops, mostly if I'm trying to kill time. But I've never seen anyone buy anything. Ever. To be honest, I never really expect to, since who in their right mind pays 95% of retail, sometimes more than retail, for a used item?

I know it sounds like I'm being derogatory about them, and I'm not trying to, because they're fun to browse. Just curious more than anything. And to be fair, most garage sales around here are the same way. Overpriced. When I have one every few years to clean the house I put prices so low on them it's hard to walk away from.
Click to expand...
From what I have seen from hers and the couple we deal with all the good stuff never sees the floor, they have buyers like us who get it. The junk goes to the front, if it won't sell t gets donated for a tax deal. I can't say all work like this but the ones I know about do.
 
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