Have you ever seen a cue at a Pawn Shop that seemed way too good to be legit (meaning, not stolen)?

[vintagecollectibles831]

I understand that Pawn Shops are required to hold an item for around 60 days(?), before they put it out for sale, but have you ever wondered if a pool cue that you just scored an amazing deal on was stolen?

Here is my way of thinking on the topic. A thief brings in a stolen pool cue to a pawn shop, not knowing what it is, and just takes whatever they are willing to offer them for it.

The cue could have come from anywhere, so they may not have stolen it locally. Meaning, that the Pawn Shop that the cue was sold at may not have been checked for the stolen cue.

I know that it is horrible of me to say, but I would just be so bummed to find out that the cue I just scored for a really amazing deal, turned out to be stolen.

And, this scenario makes me feel bad, but hopefully the person who owned the cue may have passed away, and left it to his wife, or kids, who may have not known anything about pool, or the value of cues. Then they sold the cue to a pawn shop that also knows very little about cues, other than maybe a few popular brand names, like Meucci and Joss.

So, I am not sure which is the more likely scenario, but I do know that it seems extremely rare to find a really great deal on a pool cue, at a pawn shop, anyways.

It is also not just pawn shops. I wonder the same thing when I see some random stranger offering a pool cue, for example, for an insanely great price. Surely stolen in most of these cases, right(?), but what about deals found in a pawn shop?

Thanks for any thoughts.

 

[ShootingArts]

You never know the history. Sometimes someone is desperate. The person at the pawn shop doesn't know value and the owner is forced to take a lowball price. The pawn shop may turn around and sell at a still bargain price after they make a huge profit percentagewise.

Also, often spouses are less than honest about what they paid for something. "I got this great deal on this pool cue, $75. Then when the husband is dead or gone the wife sells the twelve or fifteen hundred dollar cue cheap!

Used to be I would tell my wife "look at what I got for only $1500!" She would go ballistic for ten or fifteen minutes then I would tell her to take it easy, I only paid five hundred. "Oh that is better." She would chill almost instantly. Thing is she would have been just as mad if I told her I paid five hundred to begin with but then I wouldn't have the fallback position.

Hu

 

[maha]

same could be said for the one you might buy here. its always buyer beware. and if it turns out to be stolen and they can prove it then you have to forfeit it to them.

op should not even buy anything from someone that isnt new and in a retail store if he feels bad if it could possibly be stolen. anything can have been. i dont get your concern. it isnt your problem as a buyer unless you have info to suspect something.

 

[Paul_#_]

Hmmm, how about on Reddit r/BilliardsMarkeplace? There was discussion about stolen goods regarding these sales but I have not been able find those comments since. Heres a helluva lot of Cuetec Cynergy SVB Generation One Dakota Editions for $500 where new is $675 and there is a Generation Two out now. So, maybe a reasonable price but how did he get so many Cuetecs?

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[MitchAlsup]

Also, often spouses are less than honest about what they paid for something. "I got this great deal on this pool cue, $75. Then when the husband is dead or gone the wife sells the twelve or fifteen hundred dollar cue cheap!

Used to be I would tell my wife "look at what I got for only $1500!" She would go ballistic for ten or fifteen minutes then I would tell her to take it easy, I only paid five hundred. "Oh that is better." She would chill almost instantly. Thing is she would have been just as mad if I told her I paid five hundred to begin with but then I wouldn't have the fallback position.

Divorce cases see a lot of "Judge:: Have the wife sell the Porsche and split the money" and she sells it for $2.00

 

[Brother Ron]

I keep watching at garage sales and estate sales.

 

[measureman]

The old pool room scam is a nice looking women comes in the room with a nice cue and gives a real sounding story on how she got it and wants to sell it.
Lets say it's a real nice Schon cue and she wants $200 for it.
Someone buys it and 10 minutes later a couple of big bruisers come in and singles you out that his girlfriend stole the cue and they strong arm you to get it back.

 

[boogieman]

Most pawn shops are actually pretty legit as far as stolen stuff. They register stuff with the police, take ID of people selling/pawning etc. They are businessmen first. I'm not saying it doesn't happen, but a business owner is pretty protective of their cash cows. This isn't a movie.

A pawn shop would be more likely to buy things that people stole from big box stores, things still wrapped in plastic if they do shady stuff.

It can happen, sure, but odds are it's legit and I think if something ends up being stolen they have to reimburse you the purchase price... may vary with locality.

 

[vintagecollectibles831]

same could be said for the one you might buy here. its always buyer beware. and if it turns out to be stolen and they can prove it then you have to forfeit it to them.

op should not even buy anything from someone that isnt new and in a retail store if he feels bad if it could possibly be stolen. anything can have been. i dont get your concern. it isnt your problem as a buyer unless you have info to suspect something.

So, buying a $750 cue for $60, for example, would not be suspect?

 

[vintagecollectibles831]

Hmmm, how about on Reddit r/BilliardsMarkeplace? There was discussion about stolen goods regarding these sales but I have not been able find those comments since. Heres a helluva lot of Cuetec Cynergy SVB Generation One Dakota Editions for $500 where new is $675 and there is a Generation Two out now. So, maybe a reasonable price but how did he get so many Cuetecs?

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Maybe the seller is a Cuetec dealer. There is a Viking dealer who sells brand new Whyte Carbon shafts for $480. They are $600 new. I got one from him for $350, that I think was only test hit.

 

[maha]

yea 60 would be suspect but more likely a thief would have googled it and not asked that little.
but that doesnt happen often in pawn shops they google everything and you dont get real steals unless they make a mistake.

that may be a clue its stolen but it isnt your circus. you buy it and put it away and dont go flashing it around if you have any doubts. or you may get accused.
or simply take a pic of the person and cue you bought it from.

 

[maha]

The old pool room scam is a nice looking women comes in the room with a nice cue and gives a real sounding story on how she got it and wants to sell it.
Lets say it's a real nice Schon cue and she wants $200 for it.
Someone buys it and 10 minutes later a couple of big bruisers come in and singles you out that his girlfriend stole the cue and they strong arm you to get it back.

simple, call the cops.
and tell them then to prove it is their cue.

 

[Mensabum]

You never know the history. Sometimes someone is desperate. The person at the pawn shop doesn't know value and the owner is forced to take a lowball price. The pawn shop may turn around and sell at a still bargain price after they make a huge profit percentagewise.

Also, often spouses are less than honest about what they paid for something. "I got this great deal on this pool cue, $75. Then when the husband is dead or gone the wife sells the twelve or fifteen hundred dollar cue cheap!

Used to be I would tell my wife "look at what I got for only $1500!" She would go ballistic for ten or fifteen minutes then I would tell her to take it easy, I only paid five hundred. "Oh that is better." She would chill almost instantly. Thing is she would have been just as mad if I told her I paid five hundred to begin with but then I wouldn't have the fallback position.

Hu

We need to get together and write a book about how to deal w the little missus.

 

[Mensabum]

Hmmm, how about on Reddit r/BilliardsMarkeplace? There was discussion about stolen goods regarding these sales but I have not been able find those comments since. Heres a helluva lot of Cuetec Cynergy SVB Generation One Dakota Editions for $500 where new is $675 and there is a Generation Two out now. So, maybe a reasonable price but how did he get so many Cuetecs?

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If you're in the right place at the right time, or perhaps have a good friend or relative who works 'wherever,' maybe those are all close outs or 2nds or clearance cues. They might liquidate stock when new series comes out.
Maybe his brother-In-law snuck em out the back door.
I've gotten lucky a few times like this. Right place, had the coin, right time.

 

[Mensabum]

So, buying a $750 cue for $60, for example, would not be suspect?

I've bought a few cues when players get down and are desperate for cash. You can find some deals if you're around that environment much.
Used to happen quite a bit.

 

[billiards_watch]

What happen to the good old days of a Black Boar find or a Balabushka find at the pawn shop.

It's 2025 and we're going bananas for a lot of Cuetecs. LOL Anytime you see that much Cuetecs in one place then it must be stolen.

I'm assuming those are rare?

 

[CocoboloCowboy]

How long Pawn Shop hold item to resell is different State to State.

Most Pawn Briker know value of item they loan money on.

Never saw a Great Pool Cue in pawn shop, at low price.

Most Pawn BrokerS are SHARKS in business to not loan much value on anything.

They deal with most people witt try h no money, no credit, and looking for loans from group of people in Pawn Biz. They are like organized crime loan sharks with store front.

 

[vintagecollectibles831]

Divorce cases see a lot of "Judge:: Have the wife sell the Porsche and split the money" and she sells it for $2.00

Lol, that reminds me of this movie where this rich divorced lady gives this nice kid her ex husbands Sports Car, out of spite. Can't think of the name of the movie right now, but I think it was an 80's movie.

 

[vintagecollectibles831]

The old pool room scam is a nice looking women comes in the room with a nice cue and gives a real sounding story on how she got it and wants to sell it.
Lets say it's a real nice Schon cue and she wants $200 for it.
Someone buys it and 10 minutes later a couple of big bruisers come in and singles you out that his girlfriend stole the cue and they strong arm you to get it back.

Wow, that sounds horrible, and scary.

 

[straightline]

Pwned shops used to be real cool until they got their hands on The Blue Book Encyclopedia Britannica. Unless the the neighborhood's shady, even the stolen stuff's going rate.