Beware of Babe Ruth Balls With Bogus PSA-DNA Documentation

[David Atkatz]

Originally Posted by steve B

Since the ball was fake, it was probably more like " so I need to sell this Babe Ruth ball. I paid 5k but I really need a thousand right now"

Nobody forces anyone to sell stuff to a Pawnshop.
How much profit is fair? How much to advertize, keep the rent paid, lights on, staff paid, healthcare paid for, taxes paid on inventory, cost of inventory itself......Nobody complains when WalMart makes 5x cost on an item, but if a small business does it they're preying on people.

A bank can charge 12-30% for essentially the same thing - providing loans via credit card. I'll bet if the guy asked for a loan he'd have gotten more and at a better rate than the banks would give him. Tried getting a personal loan lately?

And if someone really paid 5K for a ball wouldn't they have a better chance of getting good price from the dealer they bought it from, or on Ebay.
If someone had 5K to actually spend on a ball, and is desperate enough to need a pawnshop it's likely the problem is one of their own making.



Steve B

Nonsense. A pawnshop, by its very nature, preys on desperate people who, for the most part, have no place else to go.

When's the last time you saw the three balls hanging in an upscale part of town?

[steve B]

In the slightly upscale areas they call them "consignment shops"
In very upscale areas they're "antique shops"
There's a place on Beacon hill in Boston with the three balls hanging outside. Pretty ritzy neighborhood. (Pun not intended - nor accurate, it way on the other side of the common and a few blocks off) I couldn't even get buzzed in, and from the looks of the stuff inside I couldn't afford it anyway.

In whatever field you're in do you ever tell a client/customer "I've made enough money this week, so your purchase/job is free" or even "at cost".

Lawyers, doctors, pawnshops. They're all in business to make money. If it weren't for the pawnshops, where would those desperate people go? It may be a poor deal, but if it's the only available deal then that's pretty much it.
If you can't get a loan but have stuff with some value you go to a pawn shop or some other sort of dealer in used things. Only the pawn shop will give you next weeks lunch money for your TV.
The lawyers office will charge what $200/hour for having a student look up something? And yet they're respected and the pawnbroker isn't.....

And all they do is make a decent profit off people who likely snorted/smoked/drank/gambled their paycheck, thus keeping them temporarily away from needing to commit crimes to eat or feed their habit.

Yes, I'm in a cynical mood. It may pass.

Steve B

[David Atkatz]

Originally Posted by steve B

It may be a poor deal, but if it's the only available deal then that's pretty much it.

Steve B

Yep. That's pretty much it.

(BTW, a "consignment store" is not a pawnshop. Neither is an antique store.)

[sports-rings]

Nonsense. A pawnshop, by its very nature, preys on desperate people who, for the most part, have no place else to go.

I guess you can say the same things about lawyers, doctors, consultants, repairmen and lots of other people out there.

I am not disparaging any of those professions, just wanted to make the point that they provide needed services, provide employment, pay taxes and should be able to make a profit.

[drc]

The PSA/DNA and JSA LOAs both have the respective company wallmarks in the paper. Easy to check.

[Mr. Zipper]

Originally Posted by steve B

And all they do is make a decent profit off people who likely snorted/smoked/drank/gambled their paycheck, thus keeping them temporarily away from needing to commit crimes to eat or feed their habit.

This isn't really accurate.

My brother is a police detective. In general, the police hate pawn shops. Why? Because they are an easy outlet for stolen goods. By the time the shop discovers it is stolen merchandise, the seller is long gone and likely snorted or smoked up the cash they got out of the deal.

Many law enforcement people feel the unintended effect of pawn shops is they increase burglary.

[steve B]

Originally Posted by Mr. Zipper

This isn't really accurate.

My brother is a police detective. In general, the police hate pawn shops. Why? Because they are an easy outlet for stolen goods. By the time the shop discovers it is stolen merchandise, the seller is long gone and likely snorted or smoked up the cash they got out of the deal.

Many law enforcement people feel the unintended effect of pawn shops is they increase burglary.

Could be that's how it works wherever he is. There are some bad pawn businesses, just as in any other business. All the ones I've been to require a valid ID to sell or pawn. (From overhearing while I was looking at the stuff sor sale)
I have sold to card shops, and never been asked for ID. and was always paid by cash rather than check.

I've only bought something known to be hot once, but did it because I knew the owner and had his contact info, so it was more of a recovery than a bad purchase. -Bicycle, stolen over a weekend, reported to most local bike shops Monday/Tuesday offered to me Thursday for $50 bought for 20 plus I got the sellers ID Turned over the bike and ID info to the owner that evening. A nice ending to a crummy week for him. The seller had lame excuses the police didn't believe, but which also meant they couldn't act. The bag of drugs in his backpack when they questioned him was a different matter....


Steve B