Post by udxtdk9 on Oct 11, 2005 23:48:43 GMT -6
While sitting at the computer I have my little 13" TV on TCM watching Sidney Lumet's masterpiece "The Pawnbroker" with Rod Steiger giving an incredible performance as a concentration camp survivor who is in the pawn business. They just showed the scene where the prostitute needing more money for her pimp, offers herself to him after taking off her clothes.
Now having spent more than 30 years in that business, which would partly explain why I have so many watches, both in the house and my safe deposit box, from older Patek Phillippes, Gerard Perragouxs, Rolexes, and the such, to Seikos and other more moderately priced watches. I can attest that these things actually happen on a regular basis. I think I should point out that when I first started in the business, I would actually go home each night emotionally drained and nearly in tears from what I saw during the day. Of course, as time went by I realized that a lot of the customers were putting on a show by bringing there many children in with them and other little tricks they would use. So as time went by, I did become somewhat immune to most of it. Being this is a "PG" forum, I will not start telling stories, but it is both humorous and sad, what people finding themselves in a bad position are willing to do. I will say one of the strangest, and most tempting, was a regular female customer that I always found very attractive who came in with a female friend one day so that they could both pawn some items so they could throw a party. Now in reality, any item is only worth so much as a maximum amount, and still if you had to sell it, make a profit, which of course it is all about. I tried to get to their amount, even showing the items to an employee that was better with diamonds than I am. We were about $100 short of what they requested. They both leaned over the counter, looked me in the eye, and said, "we'd do anything to get the amount we asked for." I must admit I paused for a minute before saying that I had already stretched the amount as much as I could. After completing the transaction, and they left, the employee looked at me and said with astonishment, "do you know what was just offered you. and you are single?" I said that I knew, and while very tempted, it wasn't a good idea to mix business with that kind of pleasure. I could tell many stories like this, and some much more graphic. Human nature never ceases to amaze me.
It's late, I'm tired, and certainly rambling again!
I hope this topic, and post is OK, but if not, please delete. Just thought some might be interested.
Cheers.
Now having spent more than 30 years in that business, which would partly explain why I have so many watches, both in the house and my safe deposit box, from older Patek Phillippes, Gerard Perragouxs, Rolexes, and the such, to Seikos and other more moderately priced watches. I can attest that these things actually happen on a regular basis. I think I should point out that when I first started in the business, I would actually go home each night emotionally drained and nearly in tears from what I saw during the day. Of course, as time went by I realized that a lot of the customers were putting on a show by bringing there many children in with them and other little tricks they would use. So as time went by, I did become somewhat immune to most of it. Being this is a "PG" forum, I will not start telling stories, but it is both humorous and sad, what people finding themselves in a bad position are willing to do. I will say one of the strangest, and most tempting, was a regular female customer that I always found very attractive who came in with a female friend one day so that they could both pawn some items so they could throw a party. Now in reality, any item is only worth so much as a maximum amount, and still if you had to sell it, make a profit, which of course it is all about. I tried to get to their amount, even showing the items to an employee that was better with diamonds than I am. We were about $100 short of what they requested. They both leaned over the counter, looked me in the eye, and said, "we'd do anything to get the amount we asked for." I must admit I paused for a minute before saying that I had already stretched the amount as much as I could. After completing the transaction, and they left, the employee looked at me and said with astonishment, "do you know what was just offered you. and you are single?" I said that I knew, and while very tempted, it wasn't a good idea to mix business with that kind of pleasure. I could tell many stories like this, and some much more graphic. Human nature never ceases to amaze me.
It's late, I'm tired, and certainly rambling again!
I hope this topic, and post is OK, but if not, please delete. Just thought some might be interested.
Cheers.