Are you willing to pawn your computer but don’t know if a pawn shop buys electronics like computers?
Pawning and selling are two different terms, and they are often misused.
Pawning means giving a valuable item to a pawnbroker and getting a loan in return.
If you fail to pay back the loan within a specific time limit, the broker has all the rights to sell your item.
Let’s take a look at whether pawn shops buy computers and how to pawn your computer.
Do Pawn Shops Buy Computers?
Whether a specific pawn shop will buy a computer or not varies from shop to shop.
Some pawn shops do buy and pawn electronics like computers and laptops, while others don’t.
The reason pawn shops usually refuse to pawn computers is that they can be quite large in size.
Also, transporting and selling bulky computers often becomes difficult and risky.
How Much Do Pawn Shops Pay To Buy A Computer?
Once you have visited the pawn shop and found the one that accepts computers, the next step is to evaluate the price.
Different computers and laptops are bought and sold at different prices, depending on the laptop’s specifications, quality, storage, condition, and brand.
Moreover, the desire of the pawnbroker matters a lot.
On average, a pawn shop will pay over $200.00 to buy a laptop in good condition.
However, offers as high as $1,100 have been made, depending on the version, model, specifications, and condition of the computer.
How To Pawn Your Computer At Pawn Shops Effectively
If you are planning to sell a computer at a pawn shop, here are some steps and things to consider before selling one.
1. Create The Backup
First of all, you should create a backup of your computer’s files and save all the information somewhere else, either by creating a duplicate or by transferring the data.
You need to restore all the stored details.
Here is all you need to do:
- Turn on your computer.
- Press the settings icon, and double-click the power button.
- The System and Maintenance option will be displayed. Tap the SAVE AND RECOVER option.
2. Wipe All The Data And Information
Once you have transferred and saved all your personal information, the next step is to remove the data from the previous disk.
You must wipe all the data from your computer or laptop before giving it to the pawnbroker because otherwise, they can access your sensitive information.
Moreover, there are high chances that they will sell the computer to the next person without deleting the data, resulting in a privacy issue for you.
Therefore, it is extremely important to wipe your computer completely before selling it or pawning it at the pawn shop.
Ensure you have removed all the pictures, files, and documents and logged out of all the software.
Similarly, double-check that no saved passwords or information are present.
As a safety measure, you can also factory reset the computer.
3. Clean Your Computer
If your computer has dust and oil stains all over, it will look old, dirty, and cheap.
If you want to sell your computer for a decent price, make sure to clean it.
Pawn shops can refuse to buy a filthy, dirty computer or pay very little for it.
Therefore, clean your computer thoroughly externally to get rid of the accumulated dirt and stubborn debris particles.
You can clean the hardware with a clean, soft cotton cloth.
Cleaning the screen is always a difficult task as the wrong method can turn the screen black and render the computer useless.
An easy solution is to use Windex, which cleans the screen thoroughly without damaging it.
These are some essential things to do before taking your computer to the pawn shop for selling or pawning.
Why Should I Buy A Computer From A Pawn Shop?
If you don’t want to sell but buy a new computer instead, it is highly advised to visit the nearest reputable pawn shop and buy your computer from there.
Here are a few reasons you should buy computers from pawn shops:
1. Sold At Comparatively Low Prices
One of the prime reasons you should prefer to buy computers and electronics from a pawn shop is that they sell high-quality items at much lower prices than the actual retail prices in the market.
Particularly, if you want to buy a gaming computer, pawn shops are the best option, as you can get a customized gaming computer there.
Therefore, you don’t need to buy a new computer and then change its drives and discs for high-end gaming.
2. High Quality And Good Condition
The best part about buying things from pawn shops is that you know that whatever you are buying is of high quality.
Pawnbrokers never buy or pawn something worthless.
Therefore, whatever they are selling is always of good quality.
3. Allow You To Test Working Conditions
Apart from ensuring that the computer is of high quality, you can also check the computer’s efficiency by turning it on and testing it.
As a result, you become pretty sure of what you are buying and are spending money on something worth it.
4. Often Come With A Warranty
Pawn shops also offer a warranty on the computers, particularly the gaming computers you buy from them.
Most gaming computers are very expensive, so sellers offer a warranty against the significant investment you make.
What Factors Do Pawn Shops Consider Before Buying a Computer from You?
No one will buy a computer or anything from you without knowing its market worth and demand.
Here are a few things that pawnbrokers eye on before buying a computer from someone.
It includes:
1. Specifications Of The Computer
Probably the first thing that anyone looks at before buying a computer is its specifications and then calculating its resale price.
For example, they look at the RAM of the computer, its internal storage capacity, processor type, CPU version, screen size, size and type of hard drive, etc.
All these specifications make a visual difference in the price and worth of computers.
Similarly, the brand matters a lot.
2. Model Of The Computer
Once the pawn brokers are done with the inspection of the specifications, the second thing to capture their attention is the model of your computer.
If it is a recent model, somewhere between one and three years old, there are high chances you will get a sound amount for selling or pawning that computer.
A general rule of thumb is that the older the model gets, the lower the price will be.
If your computer is more than five years old, a pawn shop would probably not buy that computer unless it has some really good specs.
Apart from that, if you are selling a laptop, then the battery life and battery condition matter a lot as well.
Therefore, if your laptop’s battery life is less, it is better to get a new one before selling it.
Spending a few bucks on a new battery will increase the retail rate by multiple folds.
3. Physical Look
The overall look and appearance of the computer make a marked difference in deciding the value.
Therefore, try cleaning your computer before taking it to a pawn shop, and get a polish coat if possible.
It will end up doing wonders by increasing the price.
4. Box And Documents
Lastly, find the computer’s original box and its accessories and documents (if any).
They play a great role in increasing the overall price of the gadget.
Which Computers Get The Most Cash From Pawn Shops?
Different computers are charged differently depending on their specifications and model.
Generally, the computers manufactured by big names like Dell, HP, Lenovo, Microsoft, Apple, and Acer are bought for a comparatively higher price than the local ones.
Similarly, the category of computer matters a lot, too.
Computers manufactured by Alienware or Origin are far more expensive than normal computers.
Therefore, pawnbrokers pay more cash for them than simple desktop computers.
Do All Pawn Shops Buy Pawn Computers?
Not all pawn shops don’t buy or pawn computers.
It varies from shop to shop and shop type.
Pawn shops find it a bit too risky to buy computers and similar electronics as you never know when they will suddenly stop functioning.
In addition, computers are not counted in the list of high-value utensils.
Therefore, pawn shops usually prefer to buy and pawn expensive metals, jewelry, gold, silver, firearms, tools, etc., which don’t have a risk of getting damaged, and their resale price increases with time.
How Do Pawn Shops Put A Value On Electronics Like Computers?
There are various factors that pawn shops look at before putting a value on any electronic equipment, be it a computer, a laptop, or an iPad.
First of all, they look at the market demand for the item.
Mostly, the electronics brought to the pawn shop are for selling purposes and not pawning.
Most pawn shops buy electronics less than two years old with updated technology.
Secondly, they look for the completeness of the box and technology.
They would expect you to bring all the accessories along with the electronic device.
For example, if you are taking your computer to the pawn shop, bring its charger, console, headphones, etc. with it.
Is It Better To Pawn A Computer Or Sell It?
Whether you need to pawn the computer or sell it depends only on you.
If you don’t need the computer anymore, or you have an alternative option, it is better to sell the computer and get a sound amount of money.
If you want a loan for a short period, and can’t afford to buy a new computer or laptop, it is better to pawn the computer and get it back after repaying the loan.
Do Pawn Shops Wipe The Computer Before Selling It To The Next Person?
Most pawn shops don’t wipe the computer or factory reset it before giving it to the next buyer.
You have to remove your own data.
However, if they have used the computer themselves, they would probably wipe it to remove their data.
Therefore, removing all the data and sensitive details yourself is better before giving it off to the pawnbroker.
Best Online Pawn Shops To Go For
If you want to pawn your computer, then here are some of the online pawn shops to use and get the instant load.
These websites are among the most trusted ones to try out:
- YouPawn
- Pawn America
- Pawn Up
- Maxpawn
- Nationalpawnshop
If you want to find a pawn shop near your location, you can look for them at:
A Few Advantages Of Pawning The Computer
Now that you are up with whether a pawn shop buys a computer or not let’s discuss some of the advantages of pawning.
- Unlike bank loans, you get instant loans by pawning an item.
- There is no fuss about credit policy in pawn shops.
- You can get as many loans as possible by pawning your items.
- It doesn’t impact your credit rating at all.
- The item remains safe and secure at the shop.
Conclusion
Pawn shops buy computers and laptops, but not all will do so.
Mostly, they prefer to buy the latest high-end computers in good condition that are not more than two years old.
If you want to sell your computer at a pawn shop, make sure it is clean.
Get it polished and thoroughly but carefully cleaned with Windex.
Also, take its box and related accessories to the pawnshop to get the maximum money against it.
If you want to sell it, there are various online pawn shops to look for.
However, whether you want to sell the computer or pawn it is entirely your decision.
NEXT: Are Apple Computers Worth It? (10 Reasons They Are)