Today’s Pawnshops Are Bright and Super Helpful Shachobi Gives One a Try [Nishitsu Ad]

Shachomi! Listen! The other day I found a shop with “pawnshop” written on it! Isn’t that unusual?

It really is! But pawnshops deal with money, so don’t they have a kind of intimidating image?

I know! But this shop felt really bright and clean, not pawnshop-like at all.

Really!? Now I’m curious! Let’s go take a look.

So Aocchi and Shachomi came to “Brand Garden Hanshin Nishinomiya,” a pawnshop and buying specialty store.

H-hello! 🙋

As soon as you step inside, you’re welcomed by a bright, spotless lobby There are even two air purifiers installed, so the air feels clean too!

The lobby sofa is actually made by Karimoku! You can really feel their hospitality toward customers.

Wow, a Karimoku sofa, the kind people say lasts a lifetime! 😂 Of course I’m going to sit on it, haha.

Farther inside, there are two semi-private booths. Even if other customers come in, you won’t feel their eyes on you, so you can talk comfortably.

The manager of this lovely pawnshop is Nakajima, who has a gentle smile. He’s a professional appraiser with 17 years of experience! Apparently, he’s also a qualified tax accountant. Could he be the first person in Japan with a tax accountant qualification running a pawnshop!?

The manager doesn’t seem like a pawnshop person at all either 😍

If someone really scary-looking came out, I might run away, but with him I feel at ease…

Okay, Nakajima, please tell us all about it!

What kind of place is a pawnshop, exactly?

It’s a place where you can borrow money using an item as collateral. This is called “pawning.” Since we lend based on the item, anyone aged 18 or older can receive a loan. Unlike consumer finance companies, there’s no credit check, and there are no appraisal or cancellation fees either.

I see! When you suddenly need to borrow money, you tend to think of consumer finance, but a pawnshop might feel safer 😊

If you really want to borrow money quietly, it’s less likely your family will find out, and there won’t be calls to your workplace either. By the way, what kinds of items do people often leave with you?

For men, bags, watches, and necklaces are common. For women, precious metals are the most common, but we also often take bags and watches. Oh, engagement rings and wedding rings are common too.

I see! I was wondering if I had anything at home I could leave here, but I do have a ring! Could you take a look at it as a test?

Shachomi handed over the wedding ring she was wearing.

Because the items customers leave are important to them, they are handled carefully while wearing white gloves. Also, they don’t take your item somewhere out of sight without permission, so you don’t have to worry.

Other items are fine too, like the Apple Watch on your wrist right now, or that iPhone! You don’t need to reset them, and it’s okay even if they’re still under contract.

What, I can leave them as they are!? Then I’ll leave these two too.

Shachomi, you’re being stripped of everything you have 😅

Camera equipment is fine too!

No, that’s my work equipment, so… 💦 Without this, I can’t keep Nishitsu running… 💦

You say that while handing it over 😭 Now you don’t have anything you were carrying left!!

Thank you for all the items, haha.

Items that can be pawned range widely, including precious metals and electronics like these, so if you’re not sure, you can ask them for advice. Now, let’s have them appraised.

I wonder how much it’ll be… I’m nervous…

The appraisal was finished in about five minutes. And here it is! These are the appraisal results for Shachomi’s four items A reassuring, or rather surprising, appraisal amount 😲😲😲

Wow, I can borrow this much? 😳

The loan amount, or pawn deposit amount, is generally around 80% to 90% of the purchase price. Within this range, you can freely decide how much you want to borrow.

Then I won’t hold back… Please lend me the full amount.

The money was put through a bill-counting machine right in front of us, then handed over. At this time, you also receive a paper called a “pawn ticket”, which records the loan details. The pawn ticket lists not only the amount and the number of items left, but also the one-month interest and the due date.

I had the image that pawn tickets look very serious, but Brand Garden’s pawn ticket has bright, pop-style colors and looks like a point card. Even if it accidentally fell out of your wallet, you probably wouldn’t panic…

The items you leave are carefully wrapped in thick zippered bags and cushioning material, then stored in a sturdy pawn storage facility that has passed inspection by the Hyogo Prefectural Public Safety Commission. They also have SECOM security.

The storage period is basically three months, so if you pay back the borrowed money and the interest up to that day by the deadline, we will return your items.

If it’s set at three months, it seems like it would make you think, “I should pay it back without dragging it out!”