Klarinet Archive - Posting 000411.txt from 1997/09

From: Jim Lytthans <lytthans@-----.net>
Subj: Pawn shop prices
Date: Mon, 8 Sep 1997 23:11:56 -0400

Mat Coill mused:
<I was curious what the prices are like in pawn shops?>

Matt,

The shops in the Southern California area tend to be rather high in
price, but they will deal. I guess a shrewd owner knows his prices,
just to stay in business. The last instriment I purchased at a pawn
shop in Anaheim was a nice Sterling Gemeinhardt low B flute, closed
hole. The owner wanted nearly $300 for it, but after about 20 minutes
of playing it, and complaining about "the leaks and bad pads" (there
weren't any), I bought it for $225. So it does pay to haggle.
Generally I find that pawns tend to set their prices at about 40-50% of
a new horn. California is rich in pawn shops, because we are so
bankrupt!
--

Jim Lytthans "Primo Arundo Donax!"
La Mirada Symphony Orchestra
Claremont Symphonic Winds
(http://www.galcit.caltech.edu/~dooley/csw.html)
My home page:
http://home.pacbell.net/lytthans/index.html