[limey]

I had an experience that fits in this thread the other day. I took some jewellery that I was tired of and sold it the other day to a second-hand jewellery dealer in the nearest Big Smoke. I had a little scrap silver (two broken chain bracelets and a broken necklace) which the jeweller didn't want. They suggested I go to a pawn shop who would buy it.
Counter Girl at the pawn shop explained that silver is priced in pennies. I said I'd rather have pennies than the scrap bits, what else was I going to do, throw it away? Counter Girl said "it's your choice" as though she really thought that was something I might consider. I was dumbfounded. Eventually, after going through the process of getting registered as their client and being read a stock statement about the items not being nicked, being mine, and me being happy for my details to be given to the police in the event of problems with my items I received a pound (dollar and fifty cents).
(I didn't have any of that rigmarole with £130-worth of jewellery sold to the jeweller).
I absolutely get that they were two very different establishments dealing with two very different types of customer. I absolutely get that I was not a typical punter for the pawn shop and that Counter Girl might have wondered why I was bothering to offload scraps for just a pound. But I repeat: what else was I going to do? Bin it? And I cannot fathom why Counter Girl seemed to think I really might consider that option. Surely their regular punters would be happy for even a pound?



Sent by thought transference