Poking around in your local Escondido pawn shop can be fun when you don’t really know what you’re looking for, but if you have a general idea of what you want there are ways to get in and out of the door quickly to avoid wasting time searching for something specific only to leave fruitless. Before you head out to an Escondido pawn shop like Gems and Loans, be sure to check out the tips below for getting the most out of your experience—especially when you have an idea of what you’re looking for.

Research what you’re looking for

Let’s say you want to buy a rare coin that you think might be available in your local pawn shop. Before you head to the shop, research the coin and get a grasp of how much you should expect to pay for the item. This applies to any product you’ll find in a second hand store, and can help you save money if you find that the in-store price is listed at a different rate than it would be elsewhere. If you think you can get the same product for less at another store, don’t be afraid to ask if the shop would be willing to price match. However, don’t expect them to price match what you want to pay for the item if you can’t prove that it’s going rate is much less, or if the item isn’t available anywhere else. Sometimes you pay for convenience.

Know what you need

If you’re jewelry shopping, as so many often are at Gems and Loans, make sure that you know what you need in the item you’re shopping for. Often, we see people that are jewelry shopping for someone else but don’t have a good idea of what they want for the person they’re shopping for. Take some time before you head to the store to figure out what the person’s taste is, what message you want to send with the item, and whether or not they even have their ears pierced (you would be surprised how many people don’t know, and try to buy someone earrings).

Be open to suggestions

People often overlook the expertise of pawn shop employees in thinking that they might not know what they’re talking about, but the truth is that most pawn shop employees specialize in the sale of items often found in pawn shops. The staff at pawn shops like Gems and Loans can help you choose the right piece of jewelry, or find the perfect appliance and tools needed for your home. Don’t be afraid to ask them questions about the different products you might see in the store, because it might even change your opinion on what you think is best for you.