Pawnbrokers are constantly looking for new items for pawnshop collections. Sports memorabilia items ranging from autographed baseballs to collectible cards and even jerseys seem to be always in demand. So, pawn shops value these sports treasures too.
What can be the potential value of your sports memorabilia at a pawnshop?
How would you know the potential value of what you have? It pays to do a little preparation before you take your items to the pawnshop.
Do your homework
It’s good to do extensive research about the item you want to pawn. A pawnshop can tell customers about the value of an item. However, you should do the research yourself beforehand so that you’re comfortable with the negotiation. You just need to spare some time and energy to find the market value to do the research and set your expectations. Also, you should know that items from the junk-era don’t bring great value. If you have rare autographs, find out how many similar autographed items exist, where the item are signed, and other details. This information will be helpful for assessing the resale value.
Gather Your Paperwork
If you are about to bring items that are autographed, it is helpful if you have certificates of authenticity. This saves the pawnbroker tons of time to be spent in assessing the value of your item. In absence of certifications, you can get a copy from trusted verification houses like PSA. Their website also has free tools for grading items on your own. Make sure you do detailed research to save time.
Your Items should be presentable
It’s important for your items to look presentable, clean, and nice before you take them to a pawnshop for quick cash or loan. You should clean your collectibles, taking care not to damage them. Make sure there is no debris and fingerprints on the covers of encased items. Stained, dusty, and dirty items don’t leave a good impression. So, keep clean and presentable.
Negotiating at a pawnshop
If you don’t like the offer that your pawnbroker makes in the first place, you can negotiate and ask for more information about how the pawnbroker arrived at their assessment so that you can make a deal and turn your collectibles into cash!
