PAWN SHOPS • TIENDAS DE EMPENOS • Compras y Ventas in Costa Rica

Times are tough these days and many people in Costa Rica are desperate for some quick cash and are having to turn to

EMPENOS • COMPRAS Y VENTAS = PAWN SHOPS!

(check out this video at

youtu.be/yChi2SG_oRc)

Initially I had to wrestle with whether to write about Pawn Shops in the first since the BIG image is that much of it is stolen, but in these tougher times - many things are also brought in by people that just REALLY needing money (sadly we’ll be seeing more and more of that in the near future!!) and besides, I do believe these stores are frequented by police (hopefully undercover) that are looking for and removing the stolen goods.

Plus, after going, I learned there were also LOTS of NEW things as well so I got over it and would easily suggest to people to consider this as an option - especially when you're looking for a cheaper used item - like a camera or even appliances!!

HOW IT WORKS:

You bring your item in (in good physical and working condition of course) and if the Pawn Shop owner agrees to "lend you the money", you make a commitment for the agreed upon conditions. The Pawn Shop agrees to take care of and protect your item - giving you a certain period of time (standard is about 90 days) to pay the item back with a BIG interest (hey - bank interest rates and credit cards are pretty darn high any ways so I can only imagine what some smaller ones are offering you) and as long as you keep making your payments on time, you get it back.  If not, they can sell it to recoup their investment (so do NOT get behind on your payments or you'll have no one to blame but yourself!!!).
WARNING!!!  What they offer you is NO WHERE NEAR what you think it's worth!!!!!!!!

MY EXPERIENCE HITTING THE DOWNTOWN SAN JOSE (Costa Rica) PAWN SHOP • EMPENOS AREA:

A FUN TIME was had by most!!

Before going, I had MANY people about how unsafe it was and to ONLY go with a GOOD Tico friend that you can TRUST as it’s VERY VERY UNSAFE (for driving/walking and especially parking). I went with a taxi driver (that I trust) and a few friends and broke off on my own and felt ok (of course I wasn’t carrying anything but my backpack and pepperspray ALWAYS cocked!!). I think had I just taken him to get there/back, I would have been fine - as long as I wasn’t walking about with my purchases (which if that was the case, I’d probably leave them at the store and once I was ready to head home, have my taxi pick them up)(just keep that “Street Smarts” up!!).

I have seen almost EVERY conceivable item in these pawnshops - everything from appliances, cell phones, electronics items from drills to vibrators (yes!), furniture, computers and tablets (even Mac’s), guitars, jewelry - things used AND New!

You can walk into the store, skim through pretty fast as things are pretty much out there and get out (Power Shop!!!). I found the workers to be quite friendly and helpful and most stores had at least one person that spoke pretty good English.

One of the reasons I was told it was also good to take a Tico with you was I’m SURE you can do better with prices if the Tico is doing the negotiations (withOUT you there). With that said, next time I wanted something more pricey or a bunch of things, first I’d go with the driver who spoke both English and Spanish, find what I wanted and it’s price, make a list (along with which store it was in), then have my driver go back another day (or maybe just drop me off at a restaurant while he went back to do this). If you do it this way, ya GOTTA trust the driver you’re using (email me if you would like some of the people I use/trust).

Your best price will be paying with CASH and I believe most of the places DID take credit cards (at least the larger ones did).

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THE PAWN SHOP•EMPENOS AREA:

There are a BUNCH of pawn shops in the Central San Jose area around Avenida 1 and Calles 14 - 20 (about a 4 square block radius) near Mercado Central (the Central Market)!!!

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LA CUEVA
(LaCueva.co.cr  •  facebook.com/LaCuevaCR  •  2-257-0000  •  info@LaCueva.co.cr)
La Cueva is THE MAIN/largest (under one roof) and oldest (over 40 years) Pawn Shops•Empenos in Costa Rica, selling everything from appliances to Musical Instruments (even Guitarspower tools and LOTS MORE!!  I hear they even sell GOLD??!!!!!
POLICY:  10% interest per month on what they've loaned you - or 5% if it's 100,000-c+/$500 for up to 3 months.
HOURS:  Monday-Saturday - 8am-6pm
LOCATIONS:
San Jose (main office - Downtown) - Calle 10 between Avenidas 1 and 3 - diagonal to the South•West • Sur•Oeste corner•esquina of Mercado Borbón.
Desamparados  -  500 metros South•Sur Clínica Marcial Fallas
Guadalupe  -  Diagonal to the NorthEast•NorEste corner•esquina or the catholic church•iglesia
Heredia  -  75 metros Norte of the Train Station•de la terminal del tren
San Sebastián  -  South•West side of WalMart • Costado Suroeste Walmart
La Cuevita  -  2-255-0534 - 250 metros Norte de la esquina Noroeste de la Iglesia Merced - SPECIAL HOURS - Monday-Saturday - 7:30am-7pm and Sunday•Domingo - 8am-4:30pm

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PreStafull / Pre$tafull is one of MY favs (it feels cleaner!!)
(PreStafull.com  •  facebook.com/PrestafullCR  • 2-231-6050)
The MOST LOCATIONS around Costa Rica (21 locations) carrying everything from appliances to jewelery, musical instruments (including guitars) to power tools and LOTS MORE!!  I hear they even sell GOLD and SILVER (that has been certified.  Note for sellers - it is valued differently considering the authenticity of the precious metals, the karat and weight).  They do NOT buy cell phones, car radios, radio dials and weapons.  
POLICY:  You have up to 3 months to pay the loan off
PAY UTILITY BILLS  -  ICE • Luz CNFL • Cable TV (Tigo • TeleCable) or RECHARGE YOUR Claro or MoviStar CELL
LAYAWAY - You can pay by cash or do Layaway with 30% down and the balance due within 2 months at NO interest!! 
VIP  -  Need discretion?  Just call and arrange it ahead of time for a private viewing.
San Jose-Centro - Calle 10 (2-221-0027) is OPEN 24/7!!! (hmmm - are ALL their locations open 24/7???)
Their 20 other locations can be found at:  Prestafull.com/Sucursales%20Prestafull.htm:
Alajuela  (2-431-5460)Alajuela-Tuasa   (2-431-0255)
Alajuelita  (2-252-7436)
Cartago  (2-553-0913)
Desamparados - Barrio Jardin  (2-219-6078)
Desamparados - San Rafaél  (2-275-1776)
el Roble  (2-664-1644)
Escazu - Centro (2-289-2123)
Guadalupe (2-245-7950)
Hatillo (2-214-4243)
Heredia (2-237-2110)
Lomas de Pavas (2-213-0737)
Palmares (2-452-1379)
Paraiso (2-574-5919)
Paso Ancho (2-227-6281)
Pavas (2-290-7181)
Puentarenas (2-661-0910)
San Pedro (2-225-1580)
San Sebastian #1 (2-226-1645)
San Sebastian #2 (2-226-8641)
Tibas   (2-297-2790)


Here's a link to some other smaller Empeños • PAWN SHOPS in Costa Rica:
CostaRicaServicios.com/inicio.asp?TipoBusqueda=Cat&IdCat=CA1643&Cat=Casas%20de%20Empe%F1o


Casa de Empeños Don Jose
2-255-1223
LOCATION:  San Jose - Calle 2 and Avenida 7


Casa de Empenos la Central
facebook.com/pages/Casa-de-Empe%C3%B1o-La-Central/180169695341285

ALAJUELA:

Dolores wrote about some Pawn Shops in Alajuela at:

CostaRicaBargains.blogspot.com/2014/02/AlajuelaPawn.html

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Places to find USED THINGS - check out my posts at:

GARAGE SALES•VENTA de GARAJE • MOVING SALES•VENTA de TRASLADO • ESTATE SALES•VENTA de BIENES INMUEBLES • THINGS FOR SALE • VENTA de la CASA por la VENTA • REMATE • NOS VAMOS - APROVECHEN la OFERTA!  • GRAN VENTA de GARAJE por MOTIVO de VIAJE
In general - Where to find USED THINGS in Costa Rica
LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2014/07/StuffForSaleCR.html

FLEA MARKETS • MERCADO de las PULGUS 
LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2014/07/FleaMarketsCR.html

ANTIQUES • ANTIGUEDADES
LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2014/04/AntiquesAntiguedadesCR.html

PAWN SHOPS • TIENDAS DE EMPENOS
LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2008/11/pawn-shops-in-costa-rica.html

USED APPLIANCES:

LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2012/03/appliances-where-to-buy-in-costa-rica.html

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HAD SOMETHING STOLEN?  THERE MAY BE A SOLUTION TO FIND IT!!
Goddess forbid if I ever got something stolen, it’s the first place I’d look is on
CostaRica.en.craigslist.org  and  Encuentra24.com -
THEN I'd hit the Pawn Shops.
SOMETIMES the criminal will actually have the chutzpah to CALL YOU and offer to sell the item BACK TO YOU!!!! (some people might keep your mouth shut out of fear that the criminal knows where you're at!!!

PROTECT YOUR COMPUTER!!
After having his computer stolen in Costa Rica and having it tracked through a service and the police caught the person (and WE GOT TO SEE THE PERSON THAT HAD IT THROUGH the computer) - Brandon Pearce

He wrote: "All my important files are encrypted and password protected through Mac Sparse Bundles, so the thieves wouldn’t be able to access any bank accounts or other sensitive information.
All my important files are backed up on-line through mozy.com, including pictures, and the book I’m writing.
All my passwords are stored securely using Keepass.info and backed up through Mozy and Dropbox.com (I Vicki use DropBox which gives you a certain amount free but if you sign up, please say SarongGoddess@gmail.com referred you and I get a little more space for free!!).
Tracking software called PreyProject.com is installed on one of the MacBooks, which takes pictures of the offender and emails them to me along with other information. One of the iPads also has FindMyIPad on it which gives me their exact GPS location. Unfortunately, they need to get on-line for these programs to be of use. 
SOURCE:  BrandonPearce.com/2011/06/what-i-learned-from-being-robbed


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What’s your favorite Pawn Shop??
Post DETAILS below in "Comments" - or email me at:

LivingLifeInCostaRica@gmail.com


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