You meet a seller at a cafe counter. In Vancouver, offers usually move most on condition, completeness, and how easy it is to test. They hand you the box and the phone. It looks clean. The screen lights up, but looks too good to be true. Check Activation Lock (Find My iPhone) is off. Verify the IMEI/serial matches the box and seller info. Inspect the screen and body under good light for cracks and gaps. Test touch, buttons, speakers, mic, camera, and charger port. Confirm bat

Fast checks Bring whatever supports ownership and condition (receipts, boxes, service notes). Make the demo easy: charged battery, correct cables, and a quick real-world test. Include accessories that make it complete (charger, case, remote, keys). Disclose flaws up front — surprises widen discounts more than known issues. Compare against sold prices, not asking prices. Decide if you want speed today or maximum value with more effort. If testing isn't possible, price the unce

Fast checks Separate pieces and note repairs so you're inspecting the actual material. Treat markings as clues, not proof — verification decides purity and value. Weigh comparable pieces together so you're not guessing on pricing. Decide whether you're comparing melt value or resale value before negotiating. Keep matching sets together to avoid confusion and mispricing. If stones matter, treat them as a separate question unless documented. Price dents, missing clasps, or repa

Fast checks Bring whatever supports ownership and condition (receipts, boxes, service notes). Make the demo easy: charged battery, correct cables, and a quick real-world test. Include accessories that make it complete (charger, case, remote, keys). Disclose flaws up front — surprises widen discounts more than known issues. Compare against sold prices, not asking prices. Decide if you want speed today or maximum value with more effort. If testing isn't possible, price the unce

Are private buyers moving money away from crypto and into gold, and what does that mean for the items you bring into a pawnshop? In Vancouver, offers usually move most on condition, completeness, and how easy it is to test. The recent story "Individuals Favor Gold Over Bitcoin" showed retail demand shifting toward the precious metal. That matters because retail demand is the quickest thing to move local second‑hand prices. Fast checks Separate pieces and note repairs so you'r

Fast checks Bring whatever supports ownership and condition (receipts, boxes, service notes). Make the demo easy: charged battery, correct cables, and a quick real-world test. Include accessories that make it complete (charger, case, remote, keys). Disclose flaws up front — surprises widen discounts more than known issues. Compare against sold prices, not asking prices. Decide if you want speed today or maximum value with more effort. If testing isn't possible, price the unce

Fast checks Power it on and stay in the menus long enough to catch random shutdowns or throttling. Test every port you'll use (charging, USB, audio, video) with a known-good cable. Confirm account/lock status is cleared before money changes hands. Check battery health and verify it charges smoothly without disconnects. Watch for screen flicker, audio dropouts, or touch/trackpad lag during a short demo. Price missing accessories (charger, case, dongles) like real costs, not mi

You come across a popular tablet model that looks pristine but a teardown video shows repairs are harder than they look. In Vancouver, offers usually move most on condition, completeness, and how easy it is to test. That split between surface condition and repair reality is why price decisions should be risk-based, not emotional. Fast checks Power it on and stay in the menus long enough to catch random shutdowns or throttling. Test every port you'll use (charging, USB, audio,

Fast checks Bring whatever supports ownership and condition (receipts, boxes, service notes). Make the demo easy: charged battery, correct cables, and a quick real-world test. Include accessories that make it complete (charger, case, remote, keys). Disclose flaws up front — surprises widen discounts more than known issues. Compare against sold prices, not asking prices. Decide if you want speed today or maximum value with more effort. If testing isn't possible, price the unce

You find a tempting listing for a used audio interface—good brand, low price—but a few things can turn that bargain into a repair bill. In Vancouver, offers usually move most on condition, completeness, and how easy it is to test. Apply risk tiers to the model and seller, then run targeted checks so you only pay for working gear. Fast checks Sight the neck and confirm the truss rod responds normally. Play every fret to catch buzzing, dead spots, or worn fretwork. Check tuning