Common Questions About Pawning Your Item

• Q: What kind of items can I pawn?

  Anything of value. If your item could be resold for cash, you can pawn it, or sell it with us. Obviously, the more value an item has, the more you can loan against it. We will loan or buy anything of value.

• Q: Will my item be safe with you?

  Each location of Common Exchange has the highest standards of safety and security. Your item goes directly into one of our fire rated safes or secure garages and is not handled, touched or even looked at again until you come back to claim it.

• Q: How much is my item worth?

  Every item we see is unique. Even items with certifications and designations or model years and trim levels are unique from each other. The only way we can know what any item is worth for sure, is to see it in person. We can often estimate by phone, but the only way to be sure is to take a look. We always pay the highest dollar values of anyone in BC.

• Q: Can I pawn my item and then decide to sell it instead?

  We understand that circumstances in life change. If you pawned an item with us and now wish to sell it instead, all you need to do is come in with your claim ticket, pay the outstanding interest, and we will be happy to discuss purchasing the item instead.

• Q: What do I do if I lose my claim ticket?

  When you pawn your item we start a file on you and your item that includes your phone number. This is for your protection. If you lose your claim ticket (and it happens a lot) all you need to do is call us, and we'll put a note on our system to check ID when claiming your item. That way, we know it's you when you come in.

• Q: How long can I pawn an item for?

  A typical pawn is 90 days or three months. Pawning an item is intended to be a short term fix to a temporary financial situation. We work with our clients to avoid getting themselves into the PayDay Loan cycle of servicing debt. Instead our goal is to be a reliable source for short term cash flow assistance.

• Q: What if I want to pawn it for longer than 90 days?

  No problem. Just visit the location you pawned your item with, bring your claim ticket, pay your interest to date, and we'll give you a new claim ticket for another 90 days.

• Q: What happens if I don't claim my item after 90 days?

  Our goal is to work with you to get your item back. Contrary to what many believe; we don't want to claim your item, we want to get it back to you! So we will proactively call you and do our best to get hold of you to return your item to you. If you need more time, no problem we can work with you to give you more time or start a new pawn term.

• Q: What does it cost to pawn an item?

  We strive to be transparent in our fees and costs. There is a one-time $2 fee when you pawn your item, and then 10% per month. So for example, if you pawned jewellery for $100, your fees will be:
  Month 1: $12 ($10 in interest plus your $2 fee)
  Month 2: $10
  Month 3: $10
  That's it. Pretty straight forward and transparent.

• Q: What interest rate do you charge?

  Our interest rates are 10% per month for the value of the pawn. In addition there is a one-time $2 fee when you pawn your item. For example, if you pawned a diamond for $100, your fees will be:
  Month 1: $12 ($10 in interest plus your $2 fee)
  Month 2: $10
  Month 3: $10

• Q: Do you really hope I don’t claim my item after 90 days?

  Absolutely not. We are in the business of providing loans to our valuable clients. We loan that money against an item of value, and we only make money when you collect your item. Therefore it is in both of our interests to work with you to make sure you get your item back.