You step behind the counter and lift a small velvet pouch. Two older rings slide into your palm. The buyer watches you test the colour and weight. Their hands tap the counter like a slow drum. The market news is quiet in their voice, but the price in your head has already moved. Keep test tools ready and clean Watch for modern hallmarks and laser stamps Know spot price sources and margins you need Practice fast karat checks with acid or a clip tester Photograph items before a

Think a handwritten note is enough? That mistake can cost you hundreds or more. Myth vs fact: Paper proves everything Myth: A receipt from a private sale is all you need to prove authenticity. Fact: A private receipt helps, but it's weak alone. Receipts show a past sale. They do not prove the instrument's history or that it is original. Stronger documents add trust. Myth vs fact: Serial numbers are useless Myth: Serial numbers don’t matter for used instruments. Fact: Serial n

Selling a console at the wrong time can shave hundreds off your price. You might think holidays are always best. Often they are not. Low price window — off-season (worst time) You get the lowest offers when demand is flat. That is usually in late winter and late summer. New game launches are rare. Shoppers are focused on other gear. What that means for you: expect lower trade-in values and fewer buyers interested in older models. If we talk about risk, the main risk is time —

What is this iFixit microsoldering course and why should you care? You read that a hands-on course is running in March 2026. It teaches tiny solder work on circuit boards. For a pawnshop person, that skill helps spot fixes, estimate repairs, and decide what to buy or repair. How will learning microsoldering help you price a board or device? You spot a phone or laptop with a loose port or a burned component. If you can see repair steps, you can estimate parts, time, and risk.

A cheap guitar can hide a costly problem—what looks like a small ding can ruin playability. What’s going on You see a used electric guitar that looks good in photos. The price feels right. But photos lie. You need a short checklist to avoid a guitar that sounds or plays poorly. Why it matters A guitar with hidden trouble can cost as much to fix as buying a nicer used instrument. Bad necks, worn frets, and faulty electronics are common. Catching issues early saves time and mon

Don’t lose value by selling gear that looks or sounds tired. A few smart steps make your guitar or amp worth more and sell faster. What matters first Condition and sound drive price. Buyers check the frets, neck straightness, electronics, and finish on a guitar. For an amp, they listen for hums, crackles, and clean gain. Clean gear gives a better first impression and shows you cared for it. Quick prep checklist (do these before photos) Wipe down the body and hardware with a s

Ever bought gear that looked fine but sounded flaky? A used audio interface can hide problems behind good photos. You can avoid that pitfall with a short check you do in person. What’s going on Used audio interfaces are common. People sell them when they upgrade or stop recording. Many work fine. Some have hidden faults: ports that stop, noisy preamps, or firmware problems. A few fixes are cheap. Some are costly or impossible. Why it matters An interface is the hub of your so

Think the fastest way to sell your guitar is to halve the price? That can leave money on the table. What buyers actually pay for Buyers look at sound, playability, and condition first. Brand and model matter, but not as much as how the guitar feels and sounds. Heavy wear, fret wear, or buzzing lowers the price fast. Good strings and a fresh setup raise interest and can add value. Quick checklist before you set a price Clean the guitar and polish the fretboard. Change strings

Mistake: a cheap case and a shed will cut resale value fast. What’s going on Musical gear loses value when it looks or sounds bad. Small damage and bad upkeep are the usual killers. You can stop most of that with low-effort steps. Why it matters If you keep gear in better shape, you sell it faster and for more. Buyers (and shops) check finish, hardware, and playability first. A clean instrument with the original case and receipts brings a big premium. What to check and keep n

A phone that gets hot fast often hides bigger trade-offs. A recent teardown of the RedMagic 11 Pro shows what you might actually be buying when a device looks flashy but runs scorching. What’s going on A teardown video looked inside a gaming phone built to dump heat. The builders stacked cooling parts in a way that helps raw speed. That fixes one problem but creates others you can feel in your hand. Why it matters: hot phones tell you about wear, repairs, and future trouble.