Weird pawn shop experience

So I drop in to a local pawn shop yesterday. It used to be mom and pop owned but they sold to one of those EZ Loan & Pay type places. They had AU Peace dollars for $25 so I picked one out that had a cool tone.

The lady proceeded to grab it out of my hand, holding it incorrectly, and headed to the checkout area. She handed it to a guy who DROPPED IT on the floor and let it clang around behind the counter. I jokingly said, "Well, I don't know if I want it now."

"Oh yeah like it was perfect before that." says the lady.

I ask if they take Amex and they said yes. Said they needed to see my ID and I obliged. Handed my ID back and the guy says, "Oh, if you want to use a credit card we need to input your info into our system."

I said, "I'd rather not. Do you take a debit card then?"

He said, "Sure, but same thing. We need your ID to input your info into our system."

That was a red flag for me.

I said, "Nevermind then thanks anyway".

I've never been asked to have my personal info documented when buying anything with a credit card (other than a gun). It'd be different if I happened to be selling something to them but I was just buying. Am I being paranoid or was that a little weird?

 

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I'm not surprised that they'd ask for ID -- there's an incredible patchwork of local and state laws around pawnshop transactions, especially involving "jewelry" or PMs -- but I am a bit surprised that they'd say you don't need it if you're paying cash. And on top of that, a chain outfit can presumably impose whatever additional corporate requirements they like.

I would've walked, too. No need to pay $25 for a dropped circulated Peace dollar, unless it's a much better date or variety. I can't picture any toning that would make up for a fresh rim bump.

 

I would have walked because of her attitude.

I am becoming a grouchy old man in my 40's. I have very little tolerance for poor customer service, and find myself voting with my feet in such situations, if not ask for the manager and talking to him/her about their poor employee.

 

It's the law in most states. Pawnshops and Cash For Gold types have to collect accurate data on customers for antitheft reasons. They even need to record a description of your appearance.

 

Same here, but i'm only 38. it gets harder everyday to tolerate a lot of things

 

But why not for cash customers?

I had the impression that these laws addressed people who were selling items to the store, not those buying them. Sure, I can imagine they'd want to be able to keep track of property that turned out to be stolen, but I thought that was what the hold period was for.

 

You're absolutely right. I would have walked away for the same reasons @Johnnie Black did. There's literally no reason to ask for ID with a debit card transaction, and asking for ID as a condition of the sale is against the merchant agreements that businesses agree to with every major credit card.

 

Some pawnshop owners go a little too far when applying the laws because they can't count on all of their employees to use the same common sense.

What would you do if some of your employees acted like Chumlee?

Chris

 

Every customer, buying or selling, regardless of tender. Georgia law does not differentiate. If they weren't going to keep the record for a cash sale, they're violating the law.

http://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/2010/title-44/chapter-12/article-3/part-5/44-12-132/

 

Pretty good law to keep me away from pawn shops in that state....

 

There it is, then. What do you want to bet that they're just as "relaxed" about accounting for cash sales when it's time to cough up taxes?

 

Let me know if you can find a state which isn't equally restrictive. I'm unaware of one.

Yeah, that, too.

 

http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/can-retailers-ask-id-with-credit_card-1282.php

 

NH, in my state most pawn shops only require an ID when pawning or selling something. Although towns, cities are also able to add to their own regulations to the states. So while it's certainly possible it exists somewhere, I've never once anywhere in the state been asked for ID while buying something from a pawn shop.

 

That explains it for sure. Thanks for sharing.

It's been a 4 or 5 years since I purchased anything at a pawn shop and the last time I didn't have to go on the record.

Had they explained the state law I may have made the purchase but that never came to light.

 

I bought a BU 1899-O Morgan in my local pawn shop for $20 the other day, heck they even put it in a little craft envelope for me. I'd be damned if I paid $25 for a circulated silver dollar that had been dropped and then they ask me for personal info.

 

In my state the pawn shop laws have changed over time. I'll check what they are now and post them.

 

OK, you found one.

 

Yeah. One of my relatives from neighboring state purchased some mechanics tools from a pawn shop a few years back who asked for ID when purchasing. A few weeks later they begin getting calls from the person who defaulted on the loan for the tools wanting them back. They got really nasty making threats saying that they had their name and address. My relative was rightly pissed at the pawn shop for giving up his personal information and putting himself and his family at risk.

If producing an ID is part of the cost of buying from a pawn shop then I'm not going to even consider them.

 

Then you're OK with being a part of the commerce chain for stolen merchandise, or at least an advocate of making that easier for the thieves. That's what this is about, not the ease with which you can buy stuff.