“Reality television shows like ‘Pawn Stars’ have certainly done a lot to improve the image of pawn shops in the public’s mind,” says Blackburn. “With the economy continuing to struggle, many people also want to sell gold, sell jewelry, and sell diamonds for extra cash. Thanks to investigative news reports, sellers now know that their local pawn shops usually pay more than big, nationally advertised, gold buyers and jewelry buyers.”

The Fox News report states that a common transaction at pawn shops during the holiday season is a customer temporarily pawning fine jewelry for extra cash to purchase presents. The customer then retrieves their jewelry and pays off the collateral loan a few months later when their tax refund arrives.

“We have seen this kind of holiday loan arrangement a lot the past couple years,” says Blackburn. “Our customers understand that a pawn shop loan can often be less than what they would pay for a cash advance on their credit card. In addition, they can take out a pawn shop loan without having to worry about a credit check or putting their credit rating at risk. San Diego pawn shops don’t report transactions to any credit agency.”

Blackburn also adds that more people are visiting pawn shops today because the price of gold, silver, and diamonds is still high. Therefore, customers can sell jewelry, sell coins, and sell bullion for more than they could have in previous years. In addition, more and more luxury shoppers are purchasing pre-owned luxury items like Rolex watches, instead of buying them brand new.

To learn more about San Diego Jewelry Buyers and its luxury pawn shop service, please visit them online at: www.SanDiegoJewelryBuyers.com.

“Pawn shops have traditionally been associated with rundown neighborhoods and shady dealings — think of that violent scene in the movie “Pulp Fiction.” An online pawn shop, Pawngo aims to change that perception. But can the site bring a fresh, perky attitude to the inherently depressing tradition of selling one’s valuables out of desperation?”

Is this an accurate way to begin a Pawngo review? It seems that this writer and other journalists have never walked into any of the hundreds of wonderful pawn shops that exist across the United States. These pawn shops are anything but a depressing experience or located in a run down district. Their pawn shop owners take pride in building a valuable business presence in the community and serve thousands of local residents with professional and ethical service. Just look at what you see on the TV show “Pawn Stars“.

When it comes to San Diego Pawn Shops, San Diego Jewelry Buyers (SDJB) has taken the lead in serving upscale customers, including San Diego business owners, with instant cash loans up to $250,000 on qualified collateral such as diamond jewelry, gold bullion, and other precious gift assets. Located in San Diego’s famous Gaslamp Quarter, SDJB is a luxury pawn shop with over a hundred 5 stars reviews and a dedication to customer service that is shared by fellow pawn shop owners across California and the country. We encourage journalist to visit some pawn shops an collateral loan providers in their community. They likely will be surprised at what they find.

There will be a live DJ raffling off bottles of Veuve Champagne served with Caviar, 1-hour Massage Vouchers, and other prizes every 15 minutes, between the music. Dancers dressed in “Roaring 20′s” costumes will be dancing to LIVE piano, demonstrating the Charleston and inviting participants from the audience to learn the steps. Come join the fun and be sure to come in your “Great Gatsby” party attire. This is a public event you won’t want to miss.

The party will take place at The Bareback Grill at 624 E Street, downtown San Diego, next door to our store, San Diego Jewelry Buyers, at the corner of 6th and E. Live piano will be playing from 7:00 to 10:00 PM, but the party may continue well into the night.

This party is being held to celebrate the opening of our new luxury boutique, “Authentic Luxury Goods”, located at 919 6th Avenue, two doors down from our flagship store, San Diego Jewelry Buyers. This party will be open to the public, with a VIP guest list of store customers, friends, employees, and members of the Yelp community.

Carl Blackburn, owner of San Diego Jewelry Buyers (SDJB), was interviewed for the San Diego Union Tribune article. Blackburn is a well-recognized and respected San Diego pawnbroker in San Diego, having appeared in a KUSI TV news report on how to sell gold smartly and avoid gold scams. In the Tribune article, Blackburn tells reporter Penni Crabtree that during difficult economic times he often sees business owners who want to pawn personal assets so that they can make payroll or real estate investors who need some cash to tide them over until a property sells.

According to Blackburn, his average cash loan is $200, but he has given loans up to $50,000. San Diego Jewelry Buyers offers cash loans up to $250,000 on qualified collateral. In addition, the pawn shop purchases diamonds, fine jewelry, Rolex watches, and other precious gift assets outright. Recently Blackburn purchased a rare Van Cleef & Arpels platinum pendant and earring set, featuring a 5.09 carat D-color Flawless diamond and 5.64 carats of museum-quality Columbian emeralds. In the past, such important jewels were only acquired at auctions at Sotheby’s and Christie’s. That Blackburn’s San Diego pawn shop was able to purchase such expensive and precious fine jewelry is a testament to how far the pawn shop industry has risen above the seedy image Hollywood has shown in films over the years.

Blackburn points out that the interest rates at San Diego pawn shops cannot be compared to those of bank loans obtained to finance a car or home. “San Diego Jewelry Buyers offers short term loans which can be as short as one hour and as long as 4 months and 10 days (renewable), so obviously our rates have to be higher, closer to the rates banks charge on credit card cash advances,” says Blackburn. “It is not a practical form of financing over the long term, but, when all the banks are closed at 8 p.m. on a Friday night, customers can walk out of here with a loan that can help them turn that corner.”

San Diego Jewelry Buyers’ luxury pawn shop is located in the downtown San Diego Gaslamp. For more information, please visit their website at SanDiegoJewelryBuyers.com.

Located in the Gaslamp Quarter of downtown San Diego, SDJB leverages over 30 years of industry experience and fine jewelry expertise to make certain that customers receive the fairest cash offers and loans for their diamond/gemstone jewelry and premiere brand watches. Serving La Jolla, Rancho Santa Fe, Solana Beach, Carlsbad and other surrounding communities.

While Orange County jewelers, LA pawn shops, and Riverside jewelry stores serve their communities in many important ways, many residents are finding that when it comes it buying and selling pre-owned jewelry, silver and gold coins, sterling silverware and hollowware, and designer luggage and fashion accessories, they can both make more money and save a lot more cash by making the trip to visit San Diego Jewelry Buyers.

SDJB suggests that out-of-town customers who want to make the most out of their trip to San Diego Jewelry Buyers take an inventory of all the luxury items that they have to sell for which SDJB pays top dollar. Then they should also consider what designer items they want to purchase for themselves or as gifts for others. That way customers can both make and save big money. For more information, please visit the following links:

Orange County Jewelers & Pawn Shops
Riverside Jewelry Stores & Pawn Shops
Los Angeles Jewelry Stores & La Pawn Shops

San Diego Jewelry Buyers serves Orange County, Los Angeles County, & Riverside County, including the communities of Villa Park, Anaheim Hills, Laguna Beach, Yorba Linda, Newport Beach, North Tustin, Irvine, Laguna Hills, Ladera Ranch, Dana Point, San Clemente, LA, Long Beach, Glendale, Santa Clarita, Pasadena, Inglewood, Burbank, Lancaster, Torrance, El Monte, Palmdale, Corona, Palm Springs, Temecula, Indian Wells, Rancho Mirage, Lake Elsinore, Murrieta, Canyon Lake, Cathedral City, and other area communities.

There is a good reason why those who sell gold visit local pawn shops, where pawnbrokers specialize in buying gold. Investigative news reports across the country have shown that pawn shops and local dedicated gold buyers like San Diego Jewelry Buyers pay gold sellers the highest prices for their gold. National mail-in companies though have consistently been shown to pay the lowest amounts for gold coins, scrap gold, and gold jewelry.

Many complaints have been levied at large national gold buyers, ones which have been well-documented in media reports on “gold scams” and in reports to the Better Business Bureau. Mail-in gold buyers rely on the fact that most people, once they have been issued a check (even if it is a low amount), will keep the cash rather than go through the hassle of asking for their gold back. Many of these national gold buyers also give a low-ball cash offer first, hoping that the gold seller will just take it. But if the seller complains, they will increase the price of their offer–yet still below the cash offer which most local pawn shops and gold buyers would pay.

Fortunately, for San Diego residents, they don’t have to play such games when they sell gold. Nor do they have to mail-in their gold to a big national buyer with huge overheads. They have one of the best gold buyers in the country located downtown in the Gaslamp: San Diego Jewelry Buyers (SDJB). Featured on KUSI TV News, SDJB is the gold buyer and gold refinery that Californians trust when they sell gold.

Burberry is a British luxury fashion house, manufacturing clothing, fragrance, handbags, and fashion accessories. The company has branded stores and franchises around the world. Burberry was founded in 1856, when Thomas Burberry, a former draper’s apprentice, opened his own store in Basingstoke, Hampshire, England.

In 1911, Burberry became the outfitters for Roald Amundsen, the first man to reach the South Pole, and Ernest Shackleton, who led a 1914 expedition to cross Antarctica. A Burberry gabardine jacket was worn by George Mallory on his ill-fated attempt to scale Mount Everest in 1924.

In 1914 Burberry was commissioned by Britain’s War Office to adapt its officer’s coat to suit the conditions of contemporary warfare. This resulted in the creation of the “trench coat”. After the war, the Burberry trench coat became popular with regular folks and remains so today.

During the 1970s, the Burberry brand became popular with rebellious British youngsters and football hooligans. However, in the 1990s Burberry began rebranding itself with advertisements in top fashion magazines like GQ, Esquire, Vogue, Tatler and Harper’s Bazaar, with ads that include celebrities such as Kate Moss, George Craig, and Emma Watson.

Today, Burberry operates under 5 brands: Burberry London (the primary brand), Burberry Brit, Burberry Prorsum, Burberry Sport, and Thomas Burberry. Luxury San Diego pawn shops like San Diego Jewelry Buyers pay top dollar for pre-owned Burberry items.

Question: How does a pawn work?

Answer: A pawn is another term for a collateral loan. Pawnbrokers lend money on items of value ranging from gold and diamond jewelry, musical instruments, televisions, electronics, tools, household items, firearms and more. Some pawn shops might specialize in certain items. Loans are based on the value of the collateral. When a customer pays back the loan, his or her merchandise is returned. A customer also could choose to surrender your collateral as payment in full. Pawn shops may offer extensions/renewals (where permitted by state law).

Question: Why would someone go to a pawnbroker to get a loan?

Answer: Pawnbrokers offer the consumer a quick, convenient and confidential way to borrow money. A short-term cash need can be met with no credit check or legal consequences if the loan is not repaid. Pawnbroking imposes a discipline on the borrower that other lenders do not. Pawn loans do not cause people to overextend credit or go into bankruptcy.

Question: How much should I expect for a loan on my item?

Answer: Loan amounts vary according to the value of the item. There is no minimum dollar amount allowed on a pawn transaction but the maximum amount might be set by state pawn laws. Your loan amount will be determined according to other factors as well such as demand and condition of the item. Not all pawn stores are the same and price will vary.

To read the rest of the Q & A, please check out the article by clicking on: Pawn Shop Q & A.

WALB News in South Georgia is reporting on a new trend that we have also seen occurring in San Diego; that is, signs of an economic recovery are showing up at some pawn shops. The report from the peach state rightly mentions that pawn shop activity is often a good indicator of the economic pulse because many people use them like banks for loans or cash advances.

For the last year, pawn shop owners have been reporting that most customers were pawning items to get quick cash. There’s still a lot of that happening, but store owners say they’re starting to see more shoppers looking for bargains on items many would consider luxuries.

To back up their report WALB notes a big crowd of customers were doing business at Albany’s Dawson Road Jewelry and Pawn in Georgia. “We have seen an increase in the amount of traffic coming through,” Owner Jason Sheffield said. “Needing money to get through the week, to make it to next week’s paycheck. Then you got some people who might run across hard times in their business,” he added

But in recent weeks Sheffield is seeing more people buying gold jewelry and other luxury items at up to 50 percent less than retail. While many people are still pawning items, Sheffield states that his his store’s redemption rate has been close to 70% recently, meaning most people are able to pay back their loans and recover their pawned items.

Cash for gold isn’t just a hot trend in San Diego. Shoppers around the country have been trading in their gold bling for quick cash. In an article recently published by The Denver Post, the newspaper lists the following tips for when selling your gold jewelry:

—Unless the piece is of a high-quality maker, such as Cartier or Tiffany’s, you’re looking at scrap gold pricing. Forget what you paid for it.

—Remove gemstones from your gold jewelry unless they’re too small to sell separately.

—Know the price of gold the day you’re going out to sell. The New York gold markets close at 1 p.m. Pacific time, so sell your gold in the afternoon.

—Weigh your gold jewelry in bulk. Keep similar karat gold together. You might get a better price.

—Do the gold math. Know the 100 percent value to see if offers are fair to you.

—Get gold buying offers from several stores, whether jewelry or pawn shops.

—Avoid online gold buyers. Unless you’re selling in high volumes, you’ll not likely get a better price.

—Never let strangers view gold jewelry at your home. Consider a bank and safety deposit box for security.

—Walk away if you don’t like the gold buyer’s offer. Gold is constantly on the move.