How to crack Pawn Shop Codes

[wild cowboy]

Never have understood how some sellers (whether pawn shop, craigslist, ebay or wherever) seem to be under the impression that what they paid has anything to do with how much something is worth?

something is worth what people will pay, what you have in it is irrelevant

what if you had a Ferrari and you paid $10 for it, how does that relate to what it is worth?

what if you had the same Ferrari and paid far more than it is worth and then went to sell it? - it is still worth what other similar Ferraris are, in both cases - the same amount!

for these reasons, I don't care what the pawn shop paid, I just offer 10 cents on the dollar or 25 cents or whatever, based on it's new price, and if they are serious about selling, I will be buying!

 

[wild cowboy]

everyone says they have really high prices on torque wrenches, maybe I should go hock some of my $9.95 HF torque wrenches at the sacrifice price of $15

 

[land]

Thanks for the info! I'm gonna check this out next time I go to the local pawn shop.

 

[Fugio]

I don't know...

Also, Some places don't use codes at all or they are on a UPC bar and only the computer knows how much the have in them...

-BWP

I have a barcode reader on my keychain for that. There's also apps for your smartphone that can translate barcodes. Heck, some people can even read them directly!

A barcode is just a font, nothing more. But like wingdings, it's a font that we can't easily read.

If you want your own barcode font, you can just google the file. Here's where I downloaded mine from:
https://www.charmsoffice.com/charb.ttf

Just take that file and drag it to your MS Word fonts folder with all the others.

 

[Fugio]

Another pricing trick you'll see at flea markets and thrift stores is price tags with weird ending numbers. So instead of $19.95 you'll see $19.91.
The reason for is is that they want the first and last number of the price to match. That way, if someone tries to rip them off by erasing the first number of the price (like making it into $9.91 in this case), they will see that the first and last numbers don't match and will know that something is fishy.

 

[BirdMobile]

Another useful piece of information for all you pawn shoppers.
Shops are less likely to give you a good deal around gift-giving holidays (Christmas, Fathers and Mothers days, and Valentines). Their reasoning is that business will be more brisk as more people shop for gifts, so it's easier to sell closer to full price.

 

[woody 73]

Another useful piece of information for all you pawn shoppers.
Shops are less likely to give you a good deal around gift-giving holidays (Christmas, Fathers and Mothers days, and Valentines). Their reasoning is that business will be more brisk as more people shop for gifts, so it's easier to sell closer to full price.

I don't know bird seems to me at least that everyday must be X-mas for the pawn shops in my area.

 

[whitedogone]

I don't understand how to break them codes. My wife said she didn't hire me for my brains

See if you can do something with these:

 

[whitedogone]

another

 

[^&right]

My pawn shop story - 1988, El Paso, Went into a pawn shop and bought a like new Marlin .444 SS for $150. It had a few burred screws and the trap door was jammed shut, but otherwise was 100%. Don't ask me why. I got it for $150, spent $30 at a gun smith and had a mint rifle to show for it. Also picket up a nice .243 Model 700 for $180, scope included.

Go into pawn shops around here and they want 125% of new price for absolute junk. Didn't even try to bargain. Reading this thread now I know why. Good info here!

 

[whitedogone]

I don't understand how to break them codes. My wife said she didn't hire me for my brains

See if you can do something with these:

Anybody?

 

[Local]

I only have one good pawn shop in my area for tools. The rest are a rip off unless I want to pay 20 bucks for a used snap on 17mm.

 

[ffast65]

Great info here. Pawn loans seem to be growing in my area and this should help.

 

[espyking83]

All the shops around here dont know jack **** about tools. All they know is name brands, their prices are outrageous. Rusty junk most of the time, ratchets are locked up or missing teeth and the open ends on wrenches are just destroyed. When I point out the defects while im talking them down they always say 'blah blah has a lifetime warranty', and I always reply 'try to warranty that ****, driver will shoo you off the truck with a broom. Thats why the last owner pawned it.... Thats why it has been sitting here for 5 years.' I always tell them I'll give them 10% off my next offer, lol. Most pawn shop workers/owners are neanderthal s, absolute morons who manage to make a livinf off of crack heads and irresponsible people. If they had half a brain it would actually be quite lucrative foe them.

 

[justme-]

Pawn shop in my town gets his revenue from jewelry and coins. He has several new or almost new combo kits in the boxes priced just under retail and the few other tools he has are generally junk - HF or worse - for Snap On prices.
Last thing I bought from him was about 14 years ago - got a Bostitch nail gun from the pre - safety era which were/are illegal to sell in this state. Got it for a reasonable price after some discussion (since I was planning on using it in another state building a cabin and a shop) and sell/leave it up there. Got another shop a reasonable drive away that has no retail front despite being a pawn shop, they only take in pawns. Only found 1 within driving that was worth doing business with, and they used to do a lot in musical instruments, and home electronics. Tools and such were not their specialty so they had good prices on them.

 

[ishiboo]

I have a barcode reader on my keychain for that. There's also apps for your smartphone that can translate barcodes. Heck, some people can even read them directly!

A barcode is just a font, nothing more. But like wingdings, it's a font that we can't easily read.

If you want your own barcode font, you can just google the file. Here's where I downloaded mine from:
https://www.charmsoffice.com/charb.ttf

Just take that file and drag it to your MS Word fonts folder with all the others.

The issue is that the barcode itself does not contain the information, it's usually a single number incremented for every item, that references a "file" in their computer (a database) with the actual info.

You don't even need a barcode reader to get the number, usually it's printed below the barcode incase the barcode can't be read.

 

[Bobcat753]

If you stop by where I work I'll give you a discount. Just mention garage journal. We price all tools fair. We try to be at 50% or more off retail on tools unless its brand new or darn close. Then it's only about 20-35% off retail.

 

[keywestpoppi]

And I just wanted to add another information: I was visiting some pawn shops here at the FL keys. It seems that all of them are using different systems.

 

[shortykorte]

Interesting that someone pays attention. Yes, depending on the pawn software, there is a code. I would be surprised if everyone used a similar code though but people do you "password" as their password.
As a owner of a pawn shop, I tried to treat good people fair, a-holes I preferred not to do business with and with some it cost them. You also find out who your friends are when you need a favor in return. The one thing that surprised me is the prices and attitudes most pawn shop owners have. Who wants to buy a used item with no warranty for new prices? Not me. Also, they must not have good accountants because thats dead money their paying taxes on.
In defense of the pawnbroker, you have people wanting things dirt cheap, pisses you off when you have it at a great price already. Also, you take a lot of risk with the stuff you receive. People will gladly bring you their **** that seems ok when you check but actually has something wrong. It goes both ways.
Be a frequent looker or customer. Get to know the pawnbroker, treat them fair and they hopefully will treat you fair. You will learn which ones are truly a-holes and not to recommend business to.

 

[IAMSatisfied]

Very interesting topic.

I rarely have set foot in pawn shops because I hate 1) window shopping ridiculously priced junk (for the most part), 2) hate dealing with skinflints and 3) I hate to haggle. That being said, I find that there are rare items that the managers don't know the value of OR just don't show up that often that increases the perceived value of an item.

I've found that my local pawn shop uses the code SNOWFLAKEX, but the code reflects NOT how much they PAID, but HOW LOW the employees are allowed to go on price. The code also shows WHEN they put the item on the floor. Most of their codes are six or seven digits long, the variable being in the bottom price. I.e., the last four digits show the date, (two digits for month, two for year), and the first two or three digits show bottom price.

Offering a cash price w/o a receipt will more likely work with smaller, privately held stores, but may not work so well with chains. There's a not-to-common bike at my local chain pawn store that they have marked (in the code) with a low dollar of $350, which is a *fair* price for what it is. I will talk with the manager today (I've already spoken to the employees and hit the bottom-dollar-wall) and see if he is any more flexible with a cash offer & no receipt. I'm looking for win/win. I'll let you know what I find out.

 

[egdede]

Made me realize Blackandwihite pit hasn't posted for 3-4 years : (

 

[InsanePyro]

You can seriously rip off buying at a pawn shop,they want top dollar for their tools.

Yeah, far better deals to be had elsewhere

 

[PugetDude]

Made me realize Blackandwihite pit hasn't posted for 3-4 years : (

He eloped with Tampa.

 

[driftpin]

Buying tools at a pawnshop is like looking for a virgin in a whorehouse.

 

[Malaworkerbee]

Pawn stores here just tell you the date they're bought, and progressively reduce prices on later days. The price they paid for it will always be just a bit lower than the final sale price. After that day they clearance it out for what they paid.

No other codes that I've seen.

I've gotten good deals at pawn stores. But they do price a lot of things ridiculously. No I wont pay $400 for a 2004 era porta-band that's been beat to hell. No that abrasive chop saw that has rust damage and looks like a truck ran over is not worth $250

Things I have gotten cheap

• Ridgid 6 gal vertical pancake air compressor $40
• 12" Drill press for $40
• Milwaukee Gen 3 M18 fuel drill with a 5.0 battery for $60
• Milwaukee M12 Stapler $45
• Milwaukee M18 vacuum with battery $40
• Ridgid Oscillating sander $90
• Mitutoyo Digital Caliper $20
• Roomba $10 (Clearance, needed battery)
• LG 55" 4k TV $50 (Clearance, needed a new power board)
• Nintendo Switch $100 (needed new charger)
• Sony PS4 1TB $100 (needed OS reinstalled)
• Schecter C-1 Hellraiser Guitar $170
• Orange Mini amp $80

Tons more. I love pawn store shopping. Probably heading out to one tomorrow.