Shoppers Looking For Deals Wherever They Can Get Them

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By Sade Malloy

Summary

It's the gift giving season. Lots of people looking at sales, layaway plans and they're also going to pawn shops. So much so, one pawn shop reports a huge increase in sales and that's not all Action News found out, business is so good it's actually running low on merchandise.

Story Published: Nov 21, 2009 at 6:59 PM PST

YAKIMA -- It's the gift giving season. Lots of people looking at sales, layaway plans and they're also going to pawn shops. So much so, one pawn shop reports a huge increase in sales and that's not all Action News found out, business is so good it's actually running low on merchandise.

Shoppers are looking for a deal and a way to get that dollar to stretch.

"The economy is getting tighter, they can lie to us and tell us it's getting better but it isn't," says Claire Stoner, shopper.

More and more people like Stoner are using pawn shops, he comes to Valley Gun & Pawn once a week to check out the merchandise. Turns out he's in good company because business is up 30% from last year.

"Our business is just booming no matter what's going on out there to us it's going to get better and better," says Jesus Estrada, Valley Gun & Pawn.

On average, pawn shops can cut the original retail price in half but sometimes you can get a deal even better than that.

Action News asks,"Why is it important to be able to barter?"
"You get it cheaper, you can trade this for that," says Monte McBride, shopper.

You can always negotiate, Valley Gun & Pawn says the price you see isn't always what you pay.

"A new XBOX 360 for $300 you get it for $139 and we can always go down more, $115 or $120 we'll work something out with you," says Estrada.

It's a deal a lot of locals can't pass up. The store has been so busy they're running low on tools, the shelves have even been completely empty.

"I buy everything here tools, fishing equipment, hunting equipment everything," says McBride.

This is the store's second year and based off their growth in customers and the downturn in our economy, it's definitely not their last.