To buy or not to buy ....

Today I received a phone call from the police who were in search of a ... I'd better not be too specific in this post ... machine that I purchased from a high profile national pawn shop. It seems that this machine was custom made for a company and was stolen and sold to the pawn shop. Needless to say I was more than happy to help, and I photographed the machine and emailed the images to the police.

But this raises an issue that has bothered me for some time. Should we be buying tools or machinery from these shops when we're aware that some of it is probably stolen? My shed is full of tools from these shops, and I've always felt a little doubtful and sometimes guilty about who they belonged to ("their rightful owners" as SilentC once put it) and whether they were "converted":wink: or stolen.

What'd'ya think?

I always feel a little unsettled by the things in pawn shops. It just seems like everything in there is from someone who is having a hard time. They have either had to sell their own:rolleyes: stuff for next to nothing, or someone else's. I don't know what they should do instead. Not sell other peoples stuff at least. Living in Fitzroy for a while I had several instances of finding stolen stuff in the pawn shops 100 metres away. They certainly didn't walk far to unload it. And I had to buy back my stuff for what the pawn shop payed for it, even though the police knew the bloke who did the stealing and pawning. The shop is never out of pocket it seems.:(( I wouldn't buy stuff from them, but hey BUYING is not against the law.:shrug:

I sprung a guy once climbing the fence to get into the backyard. Took ten years off his life. Not that I care about that.:rolleyes: Rang the police and told them a guy was wandering the street jumping fences and they picked him up coming out of another house with his bag full of stuff. :doh: I live in nice quiet Belgrave now.:rolleyes:

Dunno why anyone would buy powertools from a pawn shop. The only ones I have ever seen have had the absolute guts flogged out of them, and the asking price was about 90% of new price.:?:?

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Originally Posted by Geoff Dean

Dunno why anyone would buy powertools from a pawn shop. The only ones I have ever seen have had the absolute guts flogged out of them, and the asking price was about 90% of new price.:?:?

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I think that generally you're right. But the particular shop I buy from has had some incredible bargains over time. Moreover, when you know what you're looking for and you know how to "read" power tools, you don't get caught out. For instance, my last tool purchase from this particular shop was a Hitachi lithium Ion circular saw and a Hitachi 18v lithium Ion impact driver, in new condition, in cases with instructions and so on, and with three batteries for a total of $400.00. These usually retail for over $600 each. So you can see the attraction....

1. Protect yourself. If your tools are engraved with your details, (mine aren't! :doh:) they'll return more easily.
2. All second hand products are suspicious - crime converters, ebay, trading post, garage sales, bloke in the pub, offers on online forums:o
3. If you're careful you can get decent second hand quality. I've bought a couple of tools from crime converters, ebay etc Generally I only buy stuff which is for occasional use - jigsaw, sander etc.
4. My feeling is that its likely that the proportion of second hand tools (or any other products) which are dodgy is quite small and I don't think its in any one's interests to destroy the second hand market because a few people abuse it.

I'd go further on the 'protect yourself' routine.

Take photos/scans (if possible) of all machinery and serial numbers.

These pawn shops have to upload a list of serial numbers to the local authorities on a regular basis, and they match the serials to stuff that's been reported nicked. It's a useful way of getting stuff back. And yes, engraving your name, etc on the item certainly helps.

The photos will also help with insurance claims - it should suffice as proof of ownership.

Cheers,
Dave

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Originally Posted by tea lady

I always feel a little unsettled by the things in pawn shops. It just seems like everything in there is from someone who is having a hard time. They have either had to sell their own:rolleyes: stuff for next to nothing, or someone else's.:rolleyes:

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It's a hard question, but not everything in the shops is there as a result of 5 finger discounts. Although I often wonder, I've both bought and sold stuff at these places. In fact I have been more successful in selling certain stuff there than in the trading post, ebay, auction houses or garage sales. In the end what do you do with stuff that is still useful but you just don't want to throw out? Op shops in some states wont touch electrical items and nobody trades in stuff anymore.

www.freecycle.org

You advertise stuff you want to give away and people come and pick it up. You can advertise for stuff you want too. Over the last couple of years, I've given away kitchen stuff, computer cables, kids toys and bikes, carpets,.... and I've been given timber, tools, a box of nuts and bolts, a slide for the kids cubby house (yet to be built!) screen doors, heavy duty mesh for the chook run, kids toys and bikes...

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Originally Posted by Geoff Dean

Dunno why anyone would buy powertools from a pawn shop. The only ones I have ever seen have had the absolute guts flogged out of them, and the asking price was about 90% of new price.:?:?

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:wts:

Would rather buy cheap, new tools from Bunnies. At least you can take them back and get some service if they are not up to scratch.

you can get cheap nasty stuff that is up to scratch

Mongrels!!
Take your money and assure you the goods are legit.
Refuse to co-operate when stolen goods are identified until you get the police involved.
Accept goods without questionin proof of ownership.
I'm told one prominent national chain automatically moves jewellery to more distant stores to avoid possible local identification.

Don't like or trust 'em one bit.:no::no::no: