10+ Surprising Things You Didn’t Know You Could Pawn
When it comes to making money fast, it's hard to beat pawning stuff at your local pawn shop.
Pawn shops have been around for ages, and if you have valuables, they can be a source of speedy cash. And there are tons of popular things you can pawn that I've written about on WebMonkey before.
But my previous article on pawning covered some of the most basic and popular categories. That's why today, I'm taking it one step further and covering some of the top things you didn't know you could pawn.
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12 Things You Didn't Know You Could Pawn
1. Cars & Motorcycles
One of the most surprising things you can pawn that a lot of people don't know about is classic cars or expensive motorcycles.
In fact, if you're dealing with a large, established pawn shop, there's a chance they make a bulk of their money from car and vehicle sales. That's because the margin for flipping cars can be quite massive, especially if it's an older car in great condition.
If you've seen the show Pawn Stars, you've probably seen what pawning cars can look like as well:
You could also elect to sell your car or motorbike to the pawn shop if it's interested in an outright sale as well. But pawning it could work if you need quick money and can then repay what you borrow.
2. Rare Trading Cards
Sports cards like baseball and basketball cards are one of the more popular trading card types you can sell. Old rookie cards can be particularly valuable, provided they're in mint condition and for the right players.
But you can also pawn other types of trading cards, like rare Pokemon cards or even Magic The Gathering cards.
Just note that the pawn shop might not have experience in some more niche trading cards. In this case, you're probably better off selling your cards to a comic and games store rather than pawning them.
I actually did this with some Magic The Gathering and Yugioh cards of mine years ago, and I was able to get $50 for a very small collection of pretty basic cards.
3. Loose Diamonds & Jewelry
People pawn stuff like gold and silver coins all the time at pawn shops. But did you also know you can pawn loose diamonds and other expensive jewelry?
This is actually a great item to pawn as well since almost any pawn shop should be interested. Wedding rings, necklaces, rings, and even things like luxury watches are prime candidates.
The main downside is that pawn shops might really try to undercut you on price here to maximize profits. So don't be afraid to scout out a few shops in your town to get several offers.
Pro Tip: As an alternative, you could also sell your diamonds and jewelry on Worthy.com, which runs a professional online auction for your jewelry instead.
Worthy is safe, secure, and saves you the hassle of having to negotiate with pawn shop owners who might try and undercut you pretty unfairly.
4. Sports Equipment
Sports equipment is another thing pawn shops buy all that time you might not have thought about. And I'm not just talking about basic stuff like hockey equipment or football gear.
Some pawn shops accept all sorts of goods, including:
- Treadmills
- Training bikes
- Dumbbells and metal weights
- Benches
- Golf clubs
- Used Peloton bikes
In short, if you have some pretty expensive sports gear or equipment, you might be able to pawn it for some fast cash.
5. Vintage Goods
Vintage goods are often collectors items, so there's quite a bit of resale demand.
This could be something as simple as an old typewriter, your stamp collection, an old clock, or even old postcards. Condition is very important in the value of what you're selling, and if the item you're selling still functions, it's even better.
6. Vinyl Records
Have a large vinyl record collection that's just collecting dust somewhere? In that case, you might be able to pawn it for some cash if you're ready to let go of your collection.
Many vinyl records don't sell for much these days. But if you have any limited-edition vinyls or signed ones, they could be worth a lot of money.
Selling your vinyl record player alongside the collection is also an easier sell, and of course, more popular albums might be able to fetch more money.
7. Rare Collector Items
Like vinyl records and vintage goods, another surprising thing to pawn are rare collector items. And if you live in a large city, you shouldn't have a problem finding a pawn shop that's interested in this sort of stuff since they can find buyers pretty easily.
Historical artifacts like old coins, antiques, fossils, and old maps and books are some great examples of collectors items you can pawn. But even other collector items like armor, firearms, model cars, and other historical memorabilia can be of value.
8. Artwork
Another thing many people don't realize they can pawn is artwork. But in reality, this is one of the easier things to pawn if you have valuable artwork and certificates of authentication to prove it.
Very expensive artwork is also where pawn shops can make a lot of money by giving you a much lower price, so be careful with getting low-balled and make sure you know the approximate worth of pieces you're pawning.
9. Tools
It's easy to think of used tools as not being worth too much. However, certain types of tools are incredibly expensive. And if yours are in good shape, you might be able to pawn them off pretty easily.
Examples of some tools you might be able to pawn include:
- Pressure washers
- Chainsaws
- Complete toolkits
- Woodworking tool kits
- Lawn mowers
- Riding mowers
- Welding tools
This isn't likely to work at very small pawn shops that stick with more common goods. But if there's a larger shop in your city, it doesn't hurt to try!
10. Camping Gear
A lot of camping gear is quite expensive, so the resale value is high if your gear is in good condition. Items like camping tents are a great choice here, again, provided the condition is good and you have all the pieces.
Camping accessories like stoves, hatchets, fishing gear, or even a canoe or kayak can be fair game as well.
Extra Reading – How To Get $500 By Tomorrow.
11. Bikes
There are plenty of places to sell used bikes you can turn to, ranging from local selling apps to used bike stores. But you can also pawn bikes for cash at many stores, especially if your bike is in good condition.
Road bikes are a great candidate here because the price tag is higher, but don't be afraid to bring in your basic mountain or BMX bike either.
Also double-check what bikes are selling for on local marketplace like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. You might be able to get a better cash-sale deal with one of those platforms that pawning your bike away.
I actually sold an old bike on Facebook Marketplace way back, and even though you don't get near full-retail value, it's quick and easy money.
12. Hunting Gear
This follows the same logic as camping gear since most hunting gear is quite expensive. So, if your gear is in decent shape, you might be able to pawn it pretty easily.
Firearms are a very prime example, and plenty of pawn shops are willing to accept them. The same goes for hunting stands or tents, camo suits, and other gear.
Bows and crossbows are also things you can pawn you might not have thought of, and even gear like hunting backpacks might be pawnable.
Extra Reading – What To Pawn From Around The House.
Even More Items To Consider
Here are a few more items you can pawn if you're still looking for options:
- Gaming systems
- PC monitors
- Phone accessories
- Autographs
- Comic Books
- Luxury clothing
- Instruments
- Laptops
- Shoes
- Antique furniture
Extra Reading – The Best Selling Items On Facebook Marketplace.
Final Thoughts
I hope this list of things you didn't know you could pawn helps you find a few items around your house that you can turn into fast cash.
There are so many ways to sell or get rid of stuff to make extra money. And while they don't always pay top dollar, pawn shops have been around for a long time for good reason.
Just be sure to compare all of your options. And, never be afraid to shop around so you can get as much money as possible.
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