Some of the unique items that have been featured on the show are as follows:
Antique Civil Wars rifles
Antique Confederate Money
a 2007 volvo semi truck worth 100k (pawned not sold)
an authentic Shelby race car (found in an abandoned storage unit worth $30,000)
a 12 person Hot Air Balloon
an 1800's cannon that actually works.
One of the best things I think about the show though other than the historical aspect, which are very interesting, is the way free market capitalism works.
1. A customer comes in needing a service which the pawn shop provides freely. He either wants to find out about an items worth or he wants/needs to sell the item.
2. Both sides hopefully have done some research into the items value ahead of time, but usually they find an expert to do this for the both of them. The expert gives his opinion and usually a " retail value" of the item.
3. Then the customer and the service provider usually have some sort of back and forth negotiation and agree on a price that will make both happy. The customer is usually satisfied and the shop owner usually has bought a product at a wholesale price where he hopes to resell the item and make enough profit to cover his costs and make a profit. Many times though just as should happen in the free market they have a disagreement in the value and the customer takes his item home with him in hopes of either keeping it or finding another buyer.
While I am sure their are probably some "regulations" that cover these "exchanges" most of it is left up to the customer and the shop owner as it should be. Both should be responsible for his or her action in the exchange. While I have seen many people who watch the show say that the pawn shop takes advantage of the customers, I disagree. Both sides are in the negotiation for themselves.
The value of any item is what someone else is willing to pay for it. Thats how a Free Market works. I used to collect baseball cards and still probably have 5000+ from the late 1970's thru the 1980's. When I was younger I used to get the collectors guides and religiously see how much my cards were worth. Then on occasion I would need some cash for something, usually totally worthless such as candy or money to go to the movies or play basketball. I would head down to the baseball card shop and try to sell a valuable card. Well the first time I did it I was sorely disappointed. I was trying to sell a Pete Rose card that was supposedly worth $20 or something and the "idiot" card shop owner was only willing to pay something in the neighborhood of 8 bucks. Thats was when I came to understand a free market. An items worth only what someone else is willing to pay for it in a true free market. Of course usually after going all the way down there, I succumbed to the market and sold my card for $8 to curb my urges for SweetTarts. :(
That also reminds me of a saying that Rick from Pawn Stars says. He says something to the effect of "people have a real problem understanding that just because somethings old it doesnt mean it should be valuable. I have 300 million year old rocks in my backyard and I still have to pay people to haul them away."
Anyone want to buy 5000 baseball cards? They are really valuable!
This Is my daughter with Chumlee from Pawn Stars. :)
