How to Buy Video Game Consoles and Games at Pawn Shops

Pawn shops are a good place to find video game consoles and games at greatly reduced prices. However, you do need to take some precautions. The consoles and games are pre-owned and pre-used, and they’ll vary in quality. Here are things to look for.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Good observational skills
• Good observational skills

Buying Game Consoles

1. Call different pawn shops to see what they have. Inventory moves quickly. Whether they have certain consoles or games available is hit and miss.
2. See how dirty the vents are on the console. Dusty vents will cause the console to overheat and freeze, and newer consoles quickly heat up. When picking a console, find one with clean vents.
3. Look at the manufacturer’s date on the console to see if it’s a newer or older model. You can find the manufacturer’s date near the serial number on the console. Older models don’t have the newest hardware and software and may not be able to download online updates.
4. Check for any physical damage on the console. It could have been dropped.
5. Examine the controllers. If they’re wireless, see if there are any wires showing and if there are any crimped or repaired wires. For non-wireless controllers, look at the cords to see if any wires are showing and if there are any crimped or repaired wires. For all controllers, see how worn out they are. Look for hand prints and overused toggles.
6. Make sure all of the connecting cords to the TV and wall outlet are there. Check to see if wires are showing or if the wires have been crimped or repaired.
7. Ask the broker to hook the console up to a TV to see if it works. Pawn shops have this capability.
8. If everything checks out, you can go ahead and buy the console.

Buying Video Games

9. Check to see if the box contains the right disk. Sometimes disks are put in the wrong box.
10. Check the disk for any cracks or scratches.
11. Make sure the game’s manual is included.
12. Use the disk before you buy it. The disk may not have cracks or scratches, but the code on the disk can have errors due to mass production.
13. If everything checks out, you can go ahead and buy the game.

Tips & Warnings

• For newer consoles and games, it’s possible to save up to 10% at pawn shops. You can save 50-75% on older games and consoles.
• You buy at pawn shops as-is. There are no warranties.
• You can’t tell if you’ve bought a modded (modified) console just by looking at it. If you’re caught with a modded console on Xbox LIVE, you will be banned.