Pawn Shop Performer Blog

A Quick Sleight of Hand

You're very familiar with the drill. A new customer comes in and wants to sell that old gold chain. You inspect it - you test it - you weigh it - you calculate the purchase price - and you make the offer on behalf of the pawn shop you work at. But maybe you're too familiar with the drill. This is because at a later time - you get called into your bosses office. The chain you purchased is a fake. What? I tested it twice. It couldn't be. I know what I'm doing.

Of course you do - but the fact remains - it's still a fake. Why am I giving you this scenario? For a very specific reason. According to Jewelers Security - because of the price of gold - and because of the current economic conditions - bait and switch artists are drastically on the rise. If you happen to be a member of the Pawn Shop Performer(tm) http://www.pawnshopperformer.com/ coaching program, you are already well aware of how to monitor for this type of activity. If you're not, you still need to know this.

The bait and switch is a very old trick. However, it is still carried out every day very effectively, and bait and switch activities in scrap gold purchases are on a sharp rise. Consider adding one more step to your familiar drill. If the item being purchased leaves your sight - even for just a few seconds - all bets are off. You should re-examine and retest the item. Why should you do this?

Because bait and switch artists are fast - very fast. A quick sleight of hand - a temporary distraction. Out goes the real one and in comes the fake one. I've seen this many times on closed-circuit video and some of these crooks were so good I actually had to slow down the replay to make sure I was seeing what I was seeing. No kidding - they're really that good.

There's another way you can safeguard yourself against the bait and switch.

As soon as the offer is accepted on the item - it is placed out of reach. Completely out of reach. Discuss this procedure change with your store owner or manager. Make sure that everyone coming in contact with scrap gold sellers - and everyone showing retail jewelry to the public - knows this procedure, follows it closely, and turns it into a habit. This procedure will serve you well and will protect you from the bait and switch artists of the world.

This is only one of the hundreds of procedures outlined in detail in the Pawn Shop Performer(tm) http://www.pawnshopperformer.com/ coaching program. The program was created by me - a pawnbroker for over 30 years - specifically for you, the pawn shop employee. The program is designed to show you many out of the ordinary methods you can use in your career and in your life to be a more successful person. Ask any member of the program - it works.

If you take your career and yourself seriously you may want to consider becoming a member of the Pawn Shop Performer(tm) http://www.pawnshopperformer.com/ coaching program. And that's no bait and switch. Keep your eyes wide open and be careful out there.

In Commitment to your Success,
Stephen Krupnik

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**The contents of this blog post are not to be considered as business advice.
Always consult your employer before beginning or changing any procedures in your career.**

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