#13 Experience 10 new things in Provo: Go to a Pawn Shop

For some reason, I've always thought it'd be cool to go to a pawn shop.  And I never had.  Until today.  I guess I was a little bit scared or turned off by how they're portrayed in the media.  That, and I read a book (a kids book that I read with my 5th graders) in which the boy gets totally ripped off when he sells a Babe Ruth baseball card to a pawn shop.  So I guess I artificially had created a negative experience.  But I still wanted to go!

Today that happened. I had the awesome experience of going to TWO pawn shops!  P&S Pawn and EZ Pawn.

I was in search of a mountain bike.  You see, I had a mountain bike once (that I used mainly for street riding), but it was stolen.  Now I have a flat-handled road bike.  And it's great for street riding!  I love my bike.  But I experienced mountain biking for the first time and would love to go again.  Alas, I am a poor grad student and have little money for a bike.  My budget was $20-$50.

Although both places had several bikes, they were not what I was looking for.  Either really nice and expensive, or the wrong style of bike.

I learned, however, that if I ever need the following items, I could go to a pawn shop:
guns
leather jackets
silverware
used DVDs
watches

Honestly, I don't understand the stigma about pawn shops anymore.  They're just like going to any thrift shop to buy something.

And if that makes you play the song "Thrift Shop" in your mind, never fear!  That was playing in my head, too.  Here's the edited song for your listening enjoyment: