If someone wants to purchase a musical instrument, either for themselves or as a gift, they often head straight to a music store and pay full retail price for the item. Others, unwilling to pay more than they must, search newspaper classified sections or online marketplaces. Wise buyers spend their time searching through the inventory of pawn shops to find what they need. Pawn shops often carry a variety of high-quality and brand-name instruments for a fraction of the original retail price. Below are some tips to help you get a great price on a musical instrument from a pawn store.

Know What You Want

Before you purchase an instrument from any seller, you should research what's available and narrow down what type, brand, size, and model year of the instrument you want. For best results, your list should include five or six different acceptable possibilities.

Check-In Often

Once you know what you're looking for, check-in at the pawn shop every week or so to see what's in stock. Pawn store inventories change daily, so the more frequently you check, the better your odds of finding your dream instrument are. Leave your name with the proprietor and have them contact you if any of your choices arrive.

Negotiate

One of the benefits of a pawn store is that they often have multiple pre-owned and vintage items you can inspect at once. Online and newspaper listings require you to drive all over town, and retail shops charge full and even marked-up prices.

However, pawn shop owners are in business to make money, too, so don't assume the listed price is a bargain. In fact, you'll need to negotiate firmly to get the best price. Show them you are interested and are anxious to buy the item, but only if the owner meets your price, or at least meets you halfway. If you can wait, go back to the pawn shop a week or so later and see if the item is still there and the price has decreased. 

If you're in the market for a musical instrument, you can often get a terrific deal on a used one if you frequent a pawn shop. Stop by Platinum Pawn Tampa in Southwest Florida. They serve customers throughout Hillsborough County and beyond with reliable service and fantastic deals. In addition to musical instruments, they also buy and sell gold, jewelry, and electronics. They are also a terrific resource for fast and easy cash loans. Call them at (813) 443-4622 to ask about store hours or visit their website to view their current inventory.