primitive goes to pawn shop

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=403x2144

Oh my.

dicksteele  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Wed Aug-13-08 10:08 PM
Original message

I went to a pawn shop to cash in my summer crop of "yard sale jewellery" today...
   
It was a "mixed" experience, but a damn good one overall.

The most surprising thing to me was, unlike most pawn shops I've dealt with elsewhere, they had no interest in buying anything just for its bulk "precious metal value". By weight, they only bought about 1/4 of the silver I had. Seemed like no one there was aware that jewellery could be bought just for its silver content.

Just one example: I had a pair of heavy sterling-silver earrings.

Heart-shaped, factory-stamped ".925", as thick as a dime and as big as a half dollar. 5 or 6 grams apiece, easy...and they rejected them because "those aren't in style anymore".

HEY YA FRICKIN MORAN: IF THEY WERE "IN STYLE" I WOULDN'T BE OFFERING THEM TO YOU AT A PRICE BASED ON THEIR ****ING WEIGHT, NOW WOULD I ?????????????

Sorry, I just needed to vent. Thank you for bearing with me.

Anyway, let's move on to the good news, shall we?

I kept (poorly) some notes on the things I bought, and I think I spent about $45 on this summer's endeavors.

They bought about 1/4 of what I had for $48.17...and it was NOT the best 25% of what I have.

Worst disappointment of the day: A wide herringbone 24" chain marked '14k' that I bought for a quarter turned out to be a fake.

But, a green-tinged ring that looked like an antique Crackerjack prize turned out to be genuine 10k with a nice clear red garnet.

They both came out of the same box: I spent 50 cents for the pair, and got $14.57 for the little featherweight ring.

I finally sold my favorite find of the season. (I think I spoke of it here in an earlier thread)

A big honking man's silver bracelet that had been crudely formed in Mexico from a solid bar of sterling silver with a drill and a bandsaw...

I bought it for 50 cents at a yard sale 2 blocks from my house, and it weighed in at 79.1 grams today!

I got $17.00 for it- that's a 3400% return on my four-bit investment.

Not bad for a 3-month wait.

And the best is yet to come. I've already turned a profit, and I'm still holding about 20 grams of junk sterling, 2 ounces of US silver coins, 3 ounces of .999 pure silver "commemorative" crap (as seen on TV).

Best of all, I've got a beautifully petite little "Lady Elgin" wristwatch with a 14k white gold & ten-diamond case, and the SMALLEST Speidel 'Spand-O-Flex' band I've ever seen. It's so small, I could twist it double and wear it for a ring.

It's in perfect working condition, near-mint.

If any of you know any young ladies or "little people" with a 5 1/2 or 6 inch wrist who are looking for an elegant vintage wristwatch, drop me a line!

after which a photograph of a Roosevelt dime and some sort of women's wrist-watch

Vinca  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Fri Aug-15-08 08:13 AM
Response to Original message

1. I should have sold my bits and pieces at the height of gold prices, but I'm always afraid I'll get screwed on the price from these places. The guy I go to won't even take silver unless it's Tiffany. Actually, I don't find much in the way of precious metals because there are so many people on the hunt these days. I don't think I've found any gold this year.

yy4me  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Sun Sep-14-08 10:46 AM
Response to Reply #1

3. Hi Vinca, remember our talk about a reliable jeweler? I do not and will not deal with the pawn shops and "we buy gold"places. They may or may not be honest but a store front jeweler has a business to protect that will only survive on its reputation.

When gold was over $1000.00 an ounce, I took many years worth of junk gold of no merit and all the old silver (cement removed) candlesticks, compotes, junk stuff, twisted base, mangled, to a local jeweler. I ended up with a pretty sizable check. He asked for ID and had me sign a paper swearing that all the march was mine. I did so gladly because it was mine and I felt comfortable with the fact that he was doing business properly.

By law he has to hold the mdse for 2 weeks before refining and in that regard I feel sorry for him. Gold dropped quite a bit and I'm sure he lost some of his money. He checked every piece, tested the unmarked stuff right in front of me. Since I knew what he was doing, I watched. He weighed it front of me too.

I left with a check, and a good feeling. What I got will not amount to much on the scale of things but I'm free of it and probably never find another thing worth scrapping.

KoKo01  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Mon Aug-25-08 09:19 PM
Response to Original message

2. Problem is...no one seems to care about this kind of thing anymore...not in my family or friends, or relatives. They just don't care about "History, Value, Nostalgia, or any of it."

What's even worse is that they want to throw out EVERYTHING when a Relative (Mother, Father, Aunt, Uncle or the rest of anyone born before the 90's because it's all "CRAP!" They call Goodwill or whatever before they even sort through it ...because who has time to deal with "Old Peoples' Junk" these days. They DON'T WANT it... The AUCTIONEERS don't have a market for it...it's useless "CRAP" these days and it's thrown out if Goodwill doesn't want it...but mostly thrown out before "Goodwill" or other Charities even get to SEE IT!

It's amazing...we've gone since Late Clinton Years through Bush...to saying that NOTHING has VALUE ANYMORE...because...we live "Minamilist" these days and don't need that "old peoples' stuff."

Yet...I remember back in the early "90's" where folks really cared about "REAL STUFF" as opposed to Chinese Stuff...Imported Cheap Stuff" ...and that there was worth and value in "Handmades and Collectables" because the were AMERICAN!

What happened? Everythign COLLAPSED and "NOTHING AMERICAN MADE" seems to matter any more...

[DumbAss Tanker]

I bought it for 50 cents at a yard sale 2 blocks from my house, and it weighed in at 79.1 grams today!

I got $17.00 for it- that's a 3400% return on my four-bit investment.

Sounds like they still got over on ya for close to $15 if it was really .925, even allowing for their profit.  Of course it isn't necessarily Sterling if it came from Mexico, they'll stamp stuff as low as .80 as .925 and sell it as the real thing.

[jukin]

Sounds like the DUchebag is a real capitalist.  I think there needs to be a windfall garage sale jewelery tax. 

[DumbAss Tanker]

Grubbing around all summer to glean something like $200, and looking for the stuff strictly as scrap metal with no regard to any collector interest which very likely would have produced a better return with a little research and eBay time, I have to think the DUmmie would've far better used her time in simple panhandling.

[Wineslob]

I bought it for 50 cents at a yard sale 2 blocks from my house, and it weighed in at 79.1 grams today!

I got $17.00 for it- that's a 3400% return on my four-bit investment.

Not bad for a 3-month wait.

Gonna be a millionare..........................................when?  

[Traveshamockery]

Sounds like the DUchebag is a real capitalist.  I think there needs to be a windfall garage sale jewelery tax. 

This is one of the funniest replies today!   

[Chris_]

Grubbing around all summer to glean something like $200, and looking for the stuff strictly as scrap metal with no regard to any collector interest which very likely would have produced a better return with a little research and eBay time, I have to think the DUmmie would've far better used her time in simple panhandling.

Or maybe do something wild and crazy like work.

[GOBUCKS]

I went to a pawn shop to cash in my summer crop of "yard sale jewellery" today...
It was a "mixed" experience, but a damn good one overall.
I kept (poorly) some notes on the things I bought, and I think I spent about $45 on this summer's endeavors.
They bought about 1/4 of what I had for $48.17...and it was NOT the best 25% of what I have.
I got $17.00 for it- that's a 3400% return on my four-bit investment.
Not bad for a 3-month wait.

I have a hunch the 3/4 of the DUmmy's trinkets that a pawn shop wouldn't touch wasn't really the best of the lot.
But anyway, on one treasure he made a $16.50 profit on a $0.50 investment after only three months. That's nearly a buck and a half a week right there! All told, DUmmy dicksteele drove all over creation all summer long, invested $45 in trinkets that weren't good enough for e-Bay, and ended up netting $3.17 plus a grocery bag full of junk the pawn shop wouldn't touch.

Who said entrepreneurship was dead? Who said you can't make it in this horrible Bush economy?

[DumbAss Tanker]

Grubbing around all summer to glean something like $200, and looking for the stuff strictly as scrap metal with no regard to any collector interest which very likely would have produced a better return with a little research and eBay time, I have to think the DUmmie would've far better used her time in simple panhandling.

Or maybe do something wild and crazy like work.

I was limiting my post to looking at alternative income streams a DUmmie might actually have pursued.

 

[JohnnyReb]

WHAT! I can't believe it. A progressive, a liberal, a fellow worker taking advantage of the low, the ignorant, the oppressed working class for profit?

[franksolich]

WHAT! I can't believe it. A progressive, a liberal, a fellow worker taking advantage of the low, the ignorant, the oppressed working class for profit?

What gets me is this notion that the primitive is on the way to riches.

I suspect given all the time and gasoline put into wandering around finding things for re-sale doesn't begin to add up to minimum wage flipping burgers.

[JohnnyReb]

WHAT! I can't believe it. A progressive, a liberal, a fellow worker taking advantage of the low, the ignorant, the oppressed working class for profit?

What gets me is this notion that the primitive is on the way to riches.

I suspect given all the time and gasoline put into wandering around finding things for re-sale doesn't begin to add up to minimum wage flipping burgers.

What does a DUmmie know about profit margin. That gross, evil thing that should be shared equally with all the workers but not with the "risk takers" and "owners".

[bijou]

Those pawn shops are busy this week

lildreamer316  (1000+ posts)        Tue Sep-30-08 12:14 PM
Original message
Hi and bye.
 Advertisements [?]I am signed on from a friend's computer. Our power was shut off yesterday and will remain off until we can pay the bill.
My car payment is also not going to be paid. (there goes the newly aquired credit rating).

Sorry, everyone, I am thinking my anger at this situation was a teensy bit justified. On top of all that water under the bridge, I put up a myspace for husband's new club and have not been paid for it going on two and a half months now.

I am going to the pawn shop this afternoon. I hope to see you all again at the end of the week.

Thanks for your kind thoughts and prayers from August and before.

Loves!
--lildreamer316

 

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=245x77014

[GOBUCKS]

Those pawn shops are busy this week

lildreamer316  (1000+ posts)        Tue Sep-30-08 12:14 PM

Hi and bye.
 Advertisements [?]I am signed on from a friend's computer. Our power was shut off yesterday and will remain off until we can pay the bill.
My car payment is also not going to be paid. (there goes the newly aquired credit rating).

Sorry, everyone, I am thinking my anger at this situation was a teensy bit justified. On top of all that water under the bridge, I put up a myspace for husband's new club and have not been paid for it going on two and a half months now.

I am going to the pawn shop this afternoon. I hope to see you all again at the end of the week.

Thanks for your kind thoughts and prayers from August and before.

Loves!
--lildreamer316

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=245x77014

Not to fear! A DUmmy prayer chain is cranking up:

MorningGlow  (1000+ posts)      Tue Sep-30-08 01:42 PM
Sending tons of white light

 

I Have A Dream  (1000+ posts)      Tue Sep-30-08 02:23 PM
I'm asking for the Universe to help you as quickly as possible

 

Cleita  (1000+ posts)        Tue Sep-30-08 04:22 PM
I'm sending you as many positive thoughts as I can.

yellerpup  (1000+ posts)        Tue Sep-30-08 04:53 PM
5. Sending strong vibes your way.
The lights are on. Kettles are steaming on the stove.

ThruTheLookingGlass  (1000+ posts)      Tue Sep-30-08 07:38 PM
6. Sending prosperity vibes and visualizing money

 

LiberalEsto  (1000+ posts)        Wed Oct-01-08 09:10 AM
7. Blessings of abundance to you
and may everything work out for the good of all, according to free will.

 

BlueIris  (1000+ posts)        Wed Oct-01-08 06:11 PM
8. I continue to think positive thoughts about your situation.

 

Thoughts....vibes....white light....I can  never keep straight which one is the most powerful benediction. First time I've heard of "asking the Universe"!

Notice that DUmmy lildreamer316, sitting in the dark with the utilities shut off and the repo man crawling in the bushes, has a star in DUmmyland. Priorities.

[Flame]

Those pawn shops are busy this week

lildreamer316  (1000+ posts)        Tue Sep-30-08 12:14 PM

Hi and bye.
 Advertisements [?]I am signed on from a friend's computer. Our power was shut off yesterday and will remain off until we can pay the bill.
My car payment is also not going to be paid. (there goes the newly aquired credit rating).

Sorry, everyone, I am thinking my anger at this situation was a teensy bit justified. On top of all that water under the bridge, I put up a myspace for husband's new club and have not been paid for it going on two and a half months now.

I am going to the pawn shop this afternoon. I hope to see you all again at the end of the week.

Thanks for your kind thoughts and prayers from August and before.

Loves!
--lildreamer316

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=245x77014

Not to fear! A DUmmy prayer chain is cranking up:

MorningGlow  (1000+ posts)      Tue Sep-30-08 01:42 PM
Sending tons of white light

 

I Have A Dream  (1000+ posts)      Tue Sep-30-08 02:23 PM
I'm asking for the Universe to help you as quickly as possible

 

Cleita  (1000+ posts)        Tue Sep-30-08 04:22 PM
I'm sending you as many positive thoughts as I can.

yellerpup  (1000+ posts)        Tue Sep-30-08 04:53 PM
5. Sending strong vibes your way.
The lights are on. Kettles are steaming on the stove.

ThruTheLookingGlass  (1000+ posts)      Tue Sep-30-08 07:38 PM
6. Sending prosperity vibes and visualizing money

 

LiberalEsto  (1000+ posts)        Wed Oct-01-08 09:10 AM
7. Blessings of abundance to you
and may everything work out for the good of all, according to free will.

 

BlueIris  (1000+ posts)        Wed Oct-01-08 06:11 PM
8. I continue to think positive thoughts about your situation.

 

Thoughts....vibes....white light....I can  never keep straight which one is the most powerful benediction. First time I've heard of "asking the Universe"!

Notice that DUmmy lildreamer316, sitting in the dark with the utilities shut off and the repo man crawling in the bushes, has a star in DUmmyland. Priorities.

you'd think if visualizing prosepity and petitioning the universe for money, etc really worked, all the dummies would be the rich ones, instead of the evil repubs!

[JohnnyReb]

Those pawn shops are busy this week

lildreamer316  (1000+ posts)        Tue Sep-30-08 12:14 PM

Hi and bye.
 Advertisements [?]I am signed on from a friend's computer. Our power was shut off yesterday and will remain off until we can pay the bill.
My car payment is also not going to be paid. (there goes the newly aquired credit rating).

Sorry, everyone, I am thinking my anger at this situation was a teensy bit justified. On top of all that water under the bridge, I put up a myspace for husband's new club and have not been paid for it going on two and a half months now.

I am going to the pawn shop this afternoon. I hope to see you all again at the end of the week.

Thanks for your kind thoughts and prayers from August and before.

Loves!
--lildreamer316

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=245x77014

Not to fear! A DUmmy prayer chain is cranking up:

MorningGlow  (1000+ posts)      Tue Sep-30-08 01:42 PM
Sending tons of white light

 

I Have A Dream  (1000+ posts)      Tue Sep-30-08 02:23 PM
I'm asking for the Universe to help you as quickly as possible

 

Cleita  (1000+ posts)        Tue Sep-30-08 04:22 PM
I'm sending you as many positive thoughts as I can.

yellerpup  (1000+ posts)        Tue Sep-30-08 04:53 PM
5. Sending strong vibes your way.
The lights are on. Kettles are steaming on the stove.

ThruTheLookingGlass  (1000+ posts)      Tue Sep-30-08 07:38 PM
6. Sending prosperity vibes and visualizing money

 

LiberalEsto  (1000+ posts)        Wed Oct-01-08 09:10 AM
7. Blessings of abundance to you
and may everything work out for the good of all, according to free will.

 

BlueIris  (1000+ posts)        Wed Oct-01-08 06:11 PM
8. I continue to think positive thoughts about your situation.

 

Thoughts....vibes....white light....I can  never keep straight which one is the most powerful benediction. First time I've heard of "asking the Universe"!

Notice that DUmmy lildreamer316, sitting in the dark with the utilities shut off and the repo man crawling in the bushes, has a star in DUmmyland. Priorities.

you'd think if visualizing prosepity and petitioning the universe for money, etc really worked, all the dummies would be the rich ones, instead of the evil repubs!

I noticed not a one offered to send any money........and, thank goodness, didn't say the "government ought to do something".  They must be slipping.

[GOBUCKS]

I noticed not a one offered to send any money........

Not necessary. The electricity is turned off, but the DUmmies are sending white light.