Training Adult Vocational Specifically as it Relates to the Pawnbroker Industry

¶ … improve or hinder the effectiveness of non-workplace-Based training programs for the American pawnbroker industry?

Overview of the Industry:

In the United States, there are two main functions of a pawnbroker. The first is making small loans, secured by personal property. The second function is the sale of merchandise.

According to the Florida Pawnbrokers Association, loans are the high profit center for pawnshops. "The retail side also generates an average of 27% of the shops revenue. The Association stated, "In 1996, the nation's 9,100 pawnshops generated $4 billion in revenue."

Pawnbrokers are regulated in the United States mostly at either the state or local area. While there is no uniformity among the regulations, laws, or ordinances, it seems most are issued licenses, required to make reports to law enforcement, and obviously prohibited from trafficking in stolen merchandise.

The amount the pawnbroker is permitted to charge as fees and interest vary, but is usually regulated. Interest rates seem to average between 2% to 21/2% per month. Loans are secured by the value of personal property. The personal property varies greatly, and includes jewelry, tools, electronics, musical instruments, photographic equipment, sports gear, bicycles, and other variable items. Pawnbrokers make loans on top quality merchandise, knowing that someday that item might be for sale on their shelves. Some pawnbrokers are permitted to trade in firearms.

The National Pawnbrokers Association said, "Between 70% and 80% of the items pawned are redeemed. Many pawnshops that cater to a repeating customer base have redemption of pledged property of over 90%.

The amount loaned is usually about 30% to 50% of the value of the item being used as security. The value is based on a worse case scenario.

When a customer of the pawnbroker defaults on a loan, the item is then sold for less than its retail value. Unlike regular retail stores, there is room for bargaining. Other customers of the pawnbroker from all income levels find pawnshops as a good place to find good deals on used but quality merchandise. Some pawnbrokers also supplement their inventory with new goods, making their stores more complete for their customers.

II. Licensure, Laws, and Regulations

All pawnbrokers are regulated on the local or state level. The Federal Securities and Exchange Commission regulates the activities of pawnbrokers on the national level if it is a public company.

Each municipality has adopted laws, rules, or ordinances designed to regulate the pawnshop. The governing authority issues a license, and collects a fee for that license. Pawnbrokers must then follow the authority's regulations, or face a forfeiture of its license. Pawnshops are required to make reports to law enforcement, and cooperate with local police departments. Failure to do so could cause the loss of a license, and in effect, putting the pawnshop out of business.

Many laws regulating the pawnbroker require the posting of a surety bond. Others require sufficient insurance to make certain the secured property is covered in case of a loss due to fire or theft. For example, the City of Boulder, Colorado requires pawnbrokers to:

Post a surety bond in the amount of $5,000

Provide proof of fire and property damage insurance policies upon the property the applicant holds as pledge in the minimum amount of one-half its' pledged value.

Pawnbrokers, through national and state associations, support regulation. Legitimate pawnbrokers take all appropriate actions to prevent receiving and lending against stolen property.

III. Cash Society

As incredible as it may first seem, there is a cash society in America. There are 25 million households (which is the equivalent of 75 million people) do not have bank accounts. Some of this group include the elderly; poor; and immigrant. The immigrant population often does not trust banks, as the country they immigrated from may have a corrupt banking system, where the money is stolen from depositors.

The pawnbroker fills the need of those that need quick cash. Those that live in a cash society cannot get traditional loans at banks. They cannot qualify for credit cards. Pawnshops serve as a source of credit to millions of Americans. They provide small, secured loans -- $50 to $100 --for a brief period -- two to four months. Traditional banks or loan companies do not look for or accept this kind of business.

IV. Training Needs

Although a Pawnbroker is identified as a retail trade operation by the U.S. Department of Labor, there is little - if any -- formal training available for pawnbrokers or their employees. Various searches find no training or educational opportunities designed specifically for pawnbrokers.

Training seems limited to that provided by law enforcement agencies. For example, the Fort Lauderdale, Florida Police Department Detective Division provides training for pawnbrokers. This training is solely to learn how to comply with the local laws and to cooperate in the search for stolen property.

A new law in Texas requires pawnbrokers to provide mandatory computer training to employees, but there is no definition of the training source or type of training.

The number of Pawnshops in the United States is rising. Some estimates are estimates as high as 14,000 active pawnshops in the U.S. Yet there is no source of training. It appears training is desperately needed by this group.

V. Delivery of Training

The type of training needed by pawnbrokers and their employees could be identified in four main areas. Those categories are:

Compliance with all regulations and laws.

Valuation of personal property used as security

Retail selling of unclaimed merchandise

Business operations

The delivery of the training is most likely needed in multiple formats. This would include home study, courses, books, audio tapes, and seminars. There is no adult vocational / technical school that is dedicated solely to those who may wish to learn about pawnbroking. Those already employed within the pawnbroker industry cannot to get any professional training to increase their knowledge. It seems more like a "learn as you go" training method which is, at best, poor.