Actual good finds at pawnshops/thrift stores?

[NavyVet1204]

Have any of you ever actually found a good rod/reel at a pawnshop for a decent price? I normally only go to a pawnshop or thrift store just to see what I can find and all they ever have is combos that it seems like they recovered from the titanic. They always price them astronomically and on top of that the condition is always poor too.

Edit: I told a lie, I did actually find a lews Mach 1 combo at a local pawnshop about a year ago for $89 that was in pretty good shape, but I passed on it as I had just ordered a new Abu combo from bass pro. I think the lews Mach 1 combo retailed for $139 at the time too.

[Randy Price]

I bought a LNIB Daiwa 2500 Fuego LT for $ 50.00 at a local pawn store.  Thought that was a decent buy.

[FishTank]

Found a Shimano Calcutta 251 for I think $35.  It's been awhile.  Got it at a junk/antique store but pawn shops are to me just crazy.  I avoid them at all costs. 

[MAN]

I think in the older days they seemed to either not have the knowledge of what they had due to lack of resources or would bargain with you just to get a little more than they payed before the interested customer left the store. But these days a couple clicks and they know EXACTLY what they have and its value.  Most also have EBAY accounts they run on the side that assure they will get at least ebay market value.  Case in point the ones down here don't bargain anymore and deals are few and very far between.   

[Log Catcher]

I believe it was on here I saw a post where somebody went in to a pawn shop and found a combo that had been stolen from him.

[J Francho]

The only thing I ever see in pawn shops around here are vape junk and what looks like stolen tools. 

[Derek1]

4 hours ago, J Francho said:

The only thing I ever see in pawn shops around here are vape junk and what looks like stolen tools. 

So true. 

[jbsoonerfan]

7 hours ago, MAN said:

I think in the older days they seemed to either not have the knowledge of what they had due to lack of resources or would bargain with you just to get a little more than they payed before the interested customer left the store. But these days a couple clicks and they know EXACTLY what they have and its value.  Most also have EBAY accounts they run on the side that assure they will get at least ebay market value.  Case in point the ones down here don't bargain anymore and deals are few and very far between.   

This^^^^^ Long gone are the days of pawn shop "deals" since they can look on ebay and see what they can get for it there.

[Spy]

I have gotten some fantastic deals on new reels from pawn shops utilizing auctions to move inventory, in fact they rank as some of my best scores ever on that platform. Maybe the pawn stigma keeps bidders away?

[new2BC4bass]

I didn't know pawn shops and thrift stores carried fishing gear.  Never seen any in my area.  Guess Ollie's is a thrift store.  I have purchased plastics and crankbaits from them at good prices.

[redmeansdistortion]

Your best bet for fishing gear is garage sales and estate sales.  When I was younger with a lot less disposable income, I made some pretty nice scores.  This was before the days of widespread internet usage, but back then I used to get tackle for pennies on the dollar.  Typically pawn shops will stock things that sell fast, like tools and consumer electronics since they don't take up inventory space for long.  Fishing tackle can sit unsold for a long time in that respect.  Furthermore, you have to look at the area the pawn shop operates and the likelihood it will have tackle.  More urban areas probably won't have it, but if you're in a small town somewhere, it might be worth it to at least stop and look.

[MyKeyBe]

 I've had pretty good luck with fishing clothes from thrift shops. Columbia fishing shirts, Nike and Under armour dri fit type shirts, Nike and Adidas golf shorts. Stuff like that.

[J Francho]

Thrift stores aren't the same as pawn shops.  Thrift stores are a great source for clothes, especially kids that go through them in a few wears.  There's a couple here that specialize in jeans, and you can get what I would never spend on jeans for much less.  I don't think I've ever seen fishing gear at a thrift store, and I've been to many of them.

[new2BC4bass]

14 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Thrift stores aren't the same as pawn shops.  Thrift stores are a great source for clothes, especially kids that go through them in a few wears.  There's a couple here that specialize in jeans, and you can get what I would never spend on jeans for much less.  I don't think I've ever seen fishing gear at a thrift store, and I've been to many of them.

Do you have an Ollie's in your area?

[Deleted account]

I find fishing flea markets and other such gatherings are a better place to get bargains than pawn shops and thrift shops, state sales are also a good source, but the finds are going to be hit or miss, mostly miss "Oh look, another glass turtle!, how much for the Niagara Falls spoon?"

 

[Bankc]

No.  Not fishing stuff.  I like to frequent pawn shops and thrift stores, and have found a lot of good stuff in both over the years.  I've even made a fair bit of money buying and reselling stuff.  But never anything fishing related.  If they have anything, it's usually a 30 year old, beaten up combo that they want quadruple what it's worth.  

[J Francho]

53 minutes ago, new2BC4bass said:

Do you have an Ollie's in your area?

No.