More gamers turning to pawn shops due to recession
by Griffin McElroy 
{ Feb 23rd 2009 at 10:00PM }
Sure, it may sound like a depressing trend for gamers to resign themselves to, but really, it's more disastrous news for GameStop. When gamers collectively realize that pawn shops not only offer video games, but also pre-owned Glocks and rings with which to "make that gal an honest woman," they're probably never going to cross the threshold of a GameStop ever again.
[Via GamePolitics]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
The Dark Wayne @ Feb 23rd 2009 10:06PM
i dont think a ring from a pawn shop is going to make an honest person out of anyone
Shmil @ Feb 23rd 2009 10:32PM
I like the ring of "Sell your Shit" Stores
any other suggestions?
ejordan @ Feb 23rd 2009 10:06PM
Pawn shops have good buys on games, and all the fun stuff they have makes it worth stopping by.
Oh, you just said that.
Fx.Dr @ Feb 23rd 2009 10:07PM
"...but also pre-owned Glocks and rings with which to "make that gal an honest woman," "
Which of you have been proposing by gunpoint? If Jack Thompson gets ahold of this, there'll be a shit-fit, I tell ya!
Strategy_Panda @ Feb 23rd 2009 10:10PM
I stop in pawn shops every once in a while. They usually have some weird stuff to look at.
Unrelated: The Chicago Tribune went down hill really fast. It kind of sucks now.
Gun Barrier @ Feb 23rd 2009 10:53PM
I don't know why, but i found this comment humorous. +1 =D
Markez @ Feb 23rd 2009 11:30PM
Is there any way to profit off of newspapers going bankrupt? That'd be a gold mine. Happened back home, now here, and I read a few papers in Philly just declared bankruptcy as well.
Strategy_Panda @ Feb 24th 2009 12:41AM
The paper itself is completely bankrupt though and they keep cutting the content down. They also seem to be shifting the focus from serious news to fashion, lifestyle, sports, celebrities, etc. The news paper is becoming less popular, and now less relevant (to me at least) and is entering a weird self defeating cycle. I read the NYT now.
The Trib owned high profile property in the area though, and someone recently bought the company in what I think was an attempt to sell off some of the properties. I guess that's one way to try and make a profit.
Conda @ Feb 23rd 2009 10:22PM
coincidentally, I just bought a game in a pawn shop today. but that was only because I happened to be there, since a roomate was cleaning out and getting rid of stuff just taking up space, and so we took the stuff to the pawn shop
arriving @ Feb 23rd 2009 10:26PM
GAMESTOP IS A CHAIN OF PAWN SHOPS!
Urza @ Feb 23rd 2009 10:33PM
Especially in NY where GameStop is classified a pawn shop.
Seriously people, use PLAYSWITCH to trade/sell your games.
Gonzo @ Feb 24th 2009 11:42AM
Actually, you get a better deal at a pawn shop and at least they wont ask you to preorder other peoples crap.
Of course kids are still going to go to Gameslop. They're going to need places to rob with those pre-owned glocks.
akute @ Feb 23rd 2009 10:27PM
Man, I never get in the loop!
I used to hate GameStop until the ones I been going to recently have cut back on hiring dooches. That, and GameStop has also been offering a lot of more preorder swag...I'm a sucker for those little extra things that you can get with your game that will also be obtainable on eBay for half price shortly after release.
I do enjoy the smell of a pawn shop, though.
What is the best finds that anyone has picked up at a pawn shop?
OAKside @ Feb 23rd 2009 10:46PM
What's a dooche? Wait, "smell of a pawn shop"? What's going on here...
The pawn shops around here (TX, last visited years ago, as a kid, low on money, curious of these odd shops) were just... not my style. I like my items well cared for and complete if opened/used, and my local pawn shops items are simply "handled" too much. I definitely won't step inside one for my gaming needs (or likely any other), not with online resellers (Amazon and eBay, mostly) these days.
I guess these "pawn shop recession" stories are kind of funny, though. There are so many "better" places to sell stuff, all I can do is lawl.
Fx.Dr @ Feb 23rd 2009 10:47PM
Picked up a killer stereo once.
Except replace "pawn shop" with "dumpster". And "stereo" with "dead body".
Whatever, it was cheap and it's keeping the uneven side of my sofa from wobbling.
WINterfang @ Feb 23rd 2009 11:01PM
Hummmp how can I replace the word pawnshop when you didn't use on your first sentence..
anyway it would be a Killer Dead Body...dude you just had a zombie in your house.
Fx.Dr @ Feb 23rd 2009 11:11PM
@WINterfang
That explains quite a bit. I *knew* that body tasted funny...
Sarge @ Feb 24th 2009 11:37AM
Chrono Trigger (SNES) with box and manuals for $15.
Final Fantasy Tactics back when it was selling for $100+ on Ebay for $15. Also got Saga Frontier, Alundra, and Wild Arms at the same time.
Almost all my SNES RPGs.
Gunstar Heroes for $5.
Numerous NES games back in the day.
Seriously, the local pawn shop was awesome until Gamestop came to town. You could pick up some awesome stuff for cheap. Now, it's usually the stuff that Gamestop has in its bargain bins, although not always.
WhereAmI @ Feb 23rd 2009 10:33PM
man i envy you guys, all the pawn shops have around me is useless jewlery
and by useless i mean cheap
and by cheap i mean it turns green
and by green i mean black
Strategy_Panda @ Feb 23rd 2009 10:35PM
racist
WhereAmI @ Feb 23rd 2009 10:37PM
and by racist you mean a disliker of the super cheap and easily oxidating jewelery
JXCgunrunna @ Feb 23rd 2009 10:47PM
if thats all the bitch is worth, thats all she gets.
if shes a keeper, buy ur rings at a respectable outlet like best buy. they dont sell used... did i just confuse my games with girls? damn
Luke @ Feb 24th 2009 1:06AM
My local pawn shop gives a free game with every system purchase.
Baby J Penn (PSN johnnynumber5) @ Feb 23rd 2009 10:41PM
The main reason I go by pawn shops is for camera equipment. It's amazing how little you can get a high quality tele-photo lens. In my darker days of hardcore substance abuse (heroin) I hocked every game, dvd, console, gun, gizmo, gadget and whatever else I could get my hands on at the time. I still remember the one item I could never get back - a Bose wave Radio my mother had bought me for Christmas one year. We had always grown up very poor and it was such a big deal for her to buy me that and I will never forget the shame that I felt for hocking something that was so much more than just a stereo. Anyway, it's probably why I covet everything I have now like it's the ark of the covenant.
Sorry to get all personal on everyone like that but maybe someone here thats reading this post can take something positive from it.
j.howlett @ Feb 23rd 2009 10:52PM
you sound like one of my relatives we couldn't leave alone in the house. good to hear you're passed that
Baby J Penn (PSN johnnynumber5) @ Feb 23rd 2009 11:15PM
It was always my own stuff that I hocked. At the time I had actually bought a townhouse and paid my way through college. Fell pretty hard once I left school and spiraled out of control quick. This was all probably around 4-5 years ago. After that I went to rehab and stopped smoking weed, drinking and everything else except newports. Still haven't kicked the cigarettes. Thanks for the words though.
Ubercharged @ Feb 23rd 2009 10:45PM
I just sold my DS lite on ebay so I can afford my phone bill... Not a pawn shop but still
WINterfang @ Feb 23rd 2009 10:50PM
Stupid economy, I sold my Pokemon games for Grocery shopping.
JXCgunrunna @ Feb 23rd 2009 10:51PM
NNOOOO... another good system lost...
RIP ubercharged's DS
WINterfang @ Feb 23rd 2009 10:49PM
Pawnshops are the same thing as gamestop, they rip your off, my best friend sell her Marriage Diamond ring for 40 dollars.
Ignatius @ Feb 23rd 2009 11:32PM
Your friend isn't very well versed in the ways of haggling.
Risky @ Feb 23rd 2009 10:52PM
Pawn Shops rock, you can find killer deals on games. I picked up GTA IV for 25 bucks two weeks after it came out. The best part is you can haggle over the price too.
Oh, and they don't sell rings at best buy dumbass.
Quattro @ Feb 23rd 2009 11:09PM
My pawnshop is terrible, they wanted to give me 10 fucking dollars for Fable II like, 2 weeks after it came out. At least if I went to EB I coulda gotten like 30 'credits'.
WiredKnight @ Feb 23rd 2009 11:15PM
Just remember that it's flesh and bone.
WiredKnight @ Feb 23rd 2009 11:19PM
On a side/related note, here in Savannah there's more pawn shops than gamestops.
aj @ Feb 23rd 2009 11:21PM
I've always known about pawn shops. It's a closely guarded secret amongst nerds, because that's the last place that the soulless minions of orthodoxy and buying everything only to re-sell it at triple the price on eBay haven't ruined yet.
When I was a kid, I think I bought just about every single N64 game that ever came out at this cool pawn shop near my house that sold video games for 5$, no matter how new it was. God, that was a great shop.
Reddrive @ Feb 24th 2009 12:07AM
Most pawn shops 'round here "know" how much their stuff is worth and by "know" they are aware of eBay and set their prices almost accordingly. They also offer nothing to buy, often half of what GS would offer in store credit, if even that. Seriously $100 for a 360 in 06? $200 for a Wii in 07?
Fadam @ Feb 24th 2009 12:39AM
I bought Xenosaga at a pawn shop for $10, brand new, 2 weeks after it came out!!! So, yeah, they are worth checking out once and awhile.
greg (peevmyster) @ Feb 24th 2009 1:19AM
We have a small pawn shop here where i live. I picked up Teladega Nights on Blu Ray for 7 bucks. They don't really have many current gen games, but they have TONS of PS2 and OG XBOX games. I see 360 systems in there all the time, but would never dare buy a used one of those. This one has a lot of cool guns though. I saw a Draganov in there last time i was in there.
Alex @ Feb 24th 2009 3:08AM
I would take a pawn shop over GameStop any day. Pawn Shops don't try to sell used games for a whopping $2 off the "new" price.
milan @ Feb 24th 2009 3:13AM
What, no pwn shop comments yet?
juju187 @ Feb 24th 2009 5:03AM
pawn shop in my town is terrible, $5 for ANY game pawned and they still sell crackdown at 25 dollars .....
Darthvona @ Feb 24th 2009 8:12AM
Hey I recognise that Pawn shop in the picture!
It's on Argyle Street in Glasgow - just along the road from where I'm sat right now
http://gallery.nen.gov.uk/image61623-yhgfl.html
level250geek @ Feb 24th 2009 9:57AM
Never go back to Gamestop? Are you mad? They may not have the best quality assurance, but at least they look at the back of the disc before accepting the trade. I've even had them say "Thanks, but no thanks," to me when I tried to trade in not-so-gently used goods.
But a pawnshop? They'll take anything. I've never bought a game from a pawnshop, because the one time I almost did I thought to check the back of the disc first and--surprise, surprise--it was the most scratchtastic disc I had ever seen. Seriously, it looked like two rabid cats had gang-raped an opossum on it.
ilgoat @ Feb 24th 2009 10:30AM
Why sell your games for 10cent on the dollar when you can trade them and get full value back from sites like www.commuto.com? I guess some ppl really need the money, but to sell a game you bought for $60 and get back $5 seems like a terrible idea. And I know pawn shops aren't paying more than that.
zk13 @ Feb 24th 2009 2:12PM
A long time ago, I took my Playstation to EB Games...or Gamestop...can't remember which one. This was back when the PS1 was still in production; I just wanted credit for a new one, as mine had been making weird noises. Still worked, but...yeah. Needed a new one. I was offered $10. They didn't even ask if it worked, nor did they test it out. Just told me it was worth $10 trade-in credit, less than that if I wanted cash.
Went to a pawn shop, they gave me $40. Cash.