Pawn shops are fantastic places to sell both valuable and non-valuable items. So, if you wanted to purchase and sell items such as electronics, firearms, jewellery, tools, and other products, or get collateral-based loans; a pawn shop can be your thing.
However, finding reliable Calgary pawn shops online is a herculean task.
So we’ve pulled out a list comparing some of the top-rated pawn shops that can help you with immediate cash and higher payouts. The shops have been handpicked exclusively based on Business History, Public Reviews, Location, Range of Products/Services, Cost, Special Offers, Customer Engagement, and Awards & Recognition among other rating factors.
Here are the shops in Calgary, Alberta best known for pawning your goods:
- Cash Canada
- Rocky Mountain Pawn Ltd.
- Quick Cash Pawn Shop
- Pawnshop Superstore
- Prestige Pawnbrokers
- Great Western Pawn & Loan Ltd.
- The Buy & Sell Store
1. Cash Canada
| BEST KNOWN FOR | Pawn, Buy, Sell service for jewellery, gold, electronics, smartphones, tablets, computers, sports goods, household items; Free metal, gold & jewellery testing service |
| YEARS OF SERVICE | 34+ |
| TELEPHONE | +1 403-235-3412 |
| pawnprincess@cashcanada.com | |
| ADDRESS | 1) 4636 Macleod Trail, Calgary SW, T2G 5E8, Alberta 2) 3233 17 Ave SE, Calgary, T2A 0R1, Alberta |
| WORKING HOURS | Monday – Friday (9.00 AM – 8.00 PM) Saturday – Sunday (10.00 AM – 5.00 PM) |
| RATINGS | 4.3 out of 5 |
Cash Canada has been one of the leading Pawn shops in Calgary since 1987. With its wide presence in Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer, Lethbridge, Grande Prairie, Saskatoon, Medicine Hat and Prince George, it boasts the largest and most established network of pawn shops across the country.
On the one hand, Cash Canada offer pawn loans to small business operators, independent contractors, commissioned salespeople and others. While, on the other hand, the company also caters to people who need high-value pawn loans for high-value items like gold, diamonds, high-end electronics, computers, premium mobiles and more.
We’ve also found that a lot of items found in their stores are in near mint condition and in their original packaging. The company claims that they’ve bought those items through traditional retail sales.
Another thing we liked about the pawn shop is that they provide a free precious metal analysis. All you need to do is bring your jewellery to them.
Pros & Cons
PROS
- Great promotions & sales
- Pay you more to buy gold & diamonds
- Test your gold for free
- Wide service reach
- Get free quote via online form
CONS
- Some complaints about a few overpriced items
Reviews
“Everyone here is very kind and always willing to lend a hand whenever needed. They go above and beyond normal customer service, which is a refreshing change from other stores I’ve been in. Macleod always has a great selection and I find that all products are normally very clean. I was surprised because I’ve been in other pawn shops and they were disgusting. The manager is on the floor extending a hand to his staff and willing to answer the questions of any customer. I’ve personally been at jobs where the manager would stay in the back, never coming out to help me or any other employee, so that shows a great team.
– Bridget Duros
I recommend going to this Cash Canada because it’s the best one in Calgary.”
2. Rocky Mountain
| BEST KNOWN FOR | Pawn, Buy and Sell services for Power tools, Cell phones, Premium watches, Collectables, Hunting rifles, Used estate gold and silver jewellery |
| YEARS OF SERVICE | 38+ |
| TELEPHONE | +1 403-287-8404 SMS only: +1 825-994-5525 |
| info@rockymountainpawn.ca | |
| ADDRESS | 4108 Macleod Trail, Calgary SE, T2G 2R7, Alberta |
| WORKING HOURS | Monday – Saturday (10.00 AM – 5.00 PM) Sunday (Closed) |
| RATINGS | 4.2 out of 5 |
Rocky Mountain Pawn is a classic pawn store that offers cash for a variety of high-quality things including but not limited to jewellery, musical instruments, home audio equipment, computers, video game systems, televisions, cameras, power tools and other relatively valuable items.
The shop, which is run by a family, provides loans and maintains items as collateral until the loan is paid off or forfeited. Moreover, they also offer great discounts on unclaimed items.
Rocky Mountain Pawn has Zero acceptance for broken, abused or otherwise unsaleable items. The owners particularly dislike items with questionable ownership.
Also, if you’ve pawned an item, you can pick it up anytime during business hours. There is no mandatory waiting period; which is good enough to try out this pawn shop.
Pros & Cons
PROS
- Over 38 years of experience
- No waiting period to pick up items
- 8 free parking stalls beside the building
- Only pawn shop in Calgary licensed for firearms
CONS
- Closed on Sundays
Reviews
“I have shopped here for years. The owner(s) are very friendly and helpful. I have chatted with him about watches lots, he is quite knowledgeable and has a great selection and always has some really nice pieces on hand to show off. I also got a laptop from them I am still quite happy with. They always seem to have something interesting to look at. Cleanest pawnshop in the city, if you like second hand goods and dealing with nice people this is the shop for you.”
– Kelly Madsen
3. Quick Cash Pawn Shop
| BEST KNOWN FOR | Pawn, Buy and Sell services for Laptops, Video games, Cell phones, Loans, Power tools, Numismatic collectibles, Guitars, Hunting rifles, Musical instruments, Luxury watches, Purses & wallets |
| TELEPHONE | +1 403-233-7845 |
| ADDRESS | 726 16 Ave, Calgary NW, T2M 0J8, Alberta |
| WORKING HOURS | Monday – Friday (10.00 AM – 9.00 PM) Saturday (10.00 AM – 7.00 PM) Sunday (10.00 AM – 6.00 PM) |
| RATINGS | 3.8 out of 5 |
If you assume all pawnshops are the same, you might be exaggerating. Quik Cash Pawnshop in Calgary provides rapid, convenient, and discreet customer service.
All of that in just 5 minutes!
In Calgary, the firm has two pawn shops: one on 17th Avenue SE and the other on 16th Avenue NW. Their core business is to provide pawn services and buy & sell high-quality items to give its customer a peace of mind.
Quick Cash Pawnshop lends money based on the items you bring in; no lengthy applications or credit checks are part of its process. They claim to provide a competitive approach that guarantees instant cash and higher payouts for their customers.
Pros & Cons
PROS
- No credit checks required
CONS
- Limited information given on the website
Reviews
“John and Kathy were very welcoming as I walked onto the store. I asked if I could pawn an item that was very close to me and they gave me a wonderful amount that I needed to fix my car. Thank you guys so much for helping.”
– David Gauthier
4. Pawnshop Superstore
| BEST KNOWN FOR | Pawn, Buy and Sell services for Seasonal items, Jewellery, Automotives, Sports items, Tools, Musical instruments, Electronic equipment, Art and collectables, Fashion products, Video game systems, Tattoo machinery, Clothing and bags |
| YEARS OF SERVICE | 9+ |
| TELEPHONE | +1 403-248-4547 |
| sales@pawnshopsuperstore.com | |
| BUSINESS LICENSE | # 340259 |
| ADDRESS | 3520 17 Ave, Calgary SE, T2A 0R7, Alberta |
| WORKING HOURS | Monday – Friday (9.00 AM – 9.00 PM) Saturday (9.00 AM – 8.00 PM) Sunday (10.00 AM – 6.00 PM) |
| RATINGS | 4.5 out of 5 |
Pawnshop Superstore is indeed one of the highest-rated businesses in the city of Calgary. It has been expanding its service footprint since becoming a household name in and around the Calgary area.
From lending money on quality goods to selling quality merchandise, Pawnshop Superstore provides unbeatable prices and exceptional service. In addition, the firm provides 24-hour services for Calgarians from Monday to Friday.
While they meet your short-term financial demands, through pawn loans; they also provide sales on items like CDs/DVDs, Fashion products, Video game systems, Tattoo machinery, Clothing and bags etc.
Pros & Cons
PROS
- Lots of discounts
- Instant cash on collateral loans
- No credit check required
CONS
- Limited information given on the website
Reviews
“Awesome store with awesome staff! Great deals all around, they always stay stocked up. Huge shout out to Lucas for helping me pick out a TV and helping me carry it out! We love it!”
– Brendon Perkins
5. Prestige Pawnbrokers
| BEST KNOWN FOR | Purchase, Sale, and Collateral loans, including everything from gold jewellery, Premium watches, Musical instruments, Home appliances |
| YEARS OF SERVICE | 50+ |
| TELEPHONE | 403-255-3335 |
| gerov@telus.net | |
| ADDRESS | 1007 1 St SW, Downtown Calgary, T2R 0T8, Alberta |
| WORKING HOURS | Monday – Saturday (9.30 AM – 6.30 PM) Sunday (on appointment basis) |
| RATINGS | 4.3 out of 5 |
Another business that has made it into our “Best in ratings” list of pawn shops is Prestige Pawnbrokers. Since its opening in 1967 as the first pawn enterprise in the city, they’ve been in Calgary’s top three pawn shops for decades.
The company promises the best prices in town along with a competitive interest rate. They’ve a distinct layaway plan that allows you to repay your loans over an almost indefinite period of time.
Moreover, it will not affect your credit score if you opt not to repay the money or pick up your item.
Their store is generally well-maintained and delivers onto its commitment of quality service. But be aware of the fraudsters impersonating Prestige Pawnbrokers, reach out to them through call or email if you find any suspicion.
Pros & Cons
PROS
- Interest-free layaway
- Comprehensive website
- Exclusive 10% discount for loyal customers
CONS
- Only appointment-based services on Sundays
Reviews
“I sold my phone here today – what a great experience! The shop is super clean and organized, and the person I dealt with was wonderfully professional and friendly. They seemed to have a great selection of guitars and cameras, among many many other things, plus it’s in a super convenient downtown location. Highly recommend checking it out!”
– Amy White
6. Great Western Pawn & Loan
| BEST KNOWN FOR | Pawn, Sell, and Trade services for Musical instruments, Tools, Smart phones, High-end watches, Sporting Equipments, Used estate gold and silver Jewellery |
| YEARS OF SERVICE | 27+ |
| TELEPHONE | +1 403-228-1119 |
| gwp.2000@shaw.ca | |
| ADDRESS | 1413 17 Ave, Calgary SW, T2T 0C6, Alberta |
| WORKING HOURS | Monday – Friday (10.00 AM – 6.00 PM) Saturday (10.00 AM – 5.00 PM) Sunday (Closed) |
| RATINGS | 4.0 out of 5 |
Next on the list is another reliable pawn shop in Calgary, Great Western Pawn. First founded in 1993, it has been doing a profitable business in the same location for over 27 years now.
The company is known to pay top prices for high-end watches such as Rolex, Omega, Cartier, Breitling, Patek. What’s more, they do have a vintage watch section at their store.
Gold, jewellery, and bigger diamonds can be exchanged for cash instantly. Being in business for so many years helped them connect with Calgarians on a more personal level.
So if you’re looking to buy or sell used items or in urgent need of short term loans; Great Western Pawn is all you need.
Pros & Cons
PROS
- Quick short term loans
- Specialists in vintage watches
CONS
- Closed on Sundays
Reviews
“Honest place did a few transactions even paid with email money transfer and kept my Macbook pro for another week till I can come to Calgary and pick it up. The owner is pretty good guy. No problems here!!!!”
– Diego Carbajal
7. Buy & Sell Store
| BEST KNOWN FOR | Buys and Sell services for Jewellery, CDs and Vinyls, Gaming systems, Video games, DVDs and Blu-ray discs, Instruments, Electronics, Tools, Stereo equipment, Sports equipment, Cameras |
| YEARS OF SERVICE | 20+ |
| TELEPHONE | +1 403-252-2897 |
| ADDRESS | 180 94 Ave, Mcleod Plaza, Calgary SE, T2J 3G8, Alberta |
| WORKING HOURS | Monday – Friday (10.00 AM – 9.00 PM) Saturday (10.00 AM – 6.00 PM) Sunday (11.00 AM – 5.00 PM) |
| RATINGS | 3.9 out of 5 |
Buy and Sell Store has been a go-to place for the Calgary community for over 20 years. As the name suggests, they mainly deal with buying and selling quality items from the users for its users.
Unfortunately, they don’t provide collateral based pawn loans at the moment.
But an interesting part about their shop is that they come up with surprising deals almost every day. So if you’ve something to buy or sell, you won’t be disappointed going there.
The list of items they usually take includes CDs/DVDs/Blu-ray discs, sporting equipment, tools and machinery, cameras, gaming systems, electronics, instruments and many more.
Pros & Cons
PROS
- Lots of amazing deals and discounts
- No appointment necessary
- On the spot cash
CONS
- No collateral loans
Reviews
“If you are a Bluray / DVD collector, this is the place! Hundreds of used movies at great prices. Blurays are only $4 a piece and DVD’s are $3 a piece. They also have deals if you buy a bunch!”
– Lee Snowden
How do pawn shops work?
There are two ways pawn shops generally work — you can either leave something valuable as collateral for a loan, for instance, premium watches, high-end gadgets or a smartphone, or just sell the item.
Here’s an illustrative step-by-step process below:
- Value determination
You bring in an item as security, and the pawnbroker determines its value.
- Credit agreement
Then, you’ll be given a credit agreement to sign. We would suggest you read it carefully and ask questions if any. The agreement will set out terms and conditions on how long the loan lasts and how much it will cost you.
- Get the loan & receipt
After that, Pawnbroker will give you a short-term loan with a pawn receipt which you’ll need to keep to prove your ownership of the item.
- Redeeming the pawn
You are free to pay your loan amount and get the item back at any moment by redeeming the pawn. But here the point to be noted is that if you don’t pay back the money within the redemption term, the pawnbroker has the option to sell it to recoup the money.
In other words, it’s the best way to get a personal loan regardless of your credit ratings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pawn shops in Calgary will pay and receive cash for a wide range of products. So, there are certain goods that retailers will pay the most money for such as:
– Popular Electronic Items: Flat-panel televisions, Gaming systems, Computers, Smartphones and Printers
– Precious Metals: Gold or Silver jewellery, Gemstones and Diamonds (Note: Please get several quotes before actually selling your gold, silver or other precious items. See the reason why!)
– Tools: Pawnbrokers usually make high offers for top-quality power and hand tools
– Sporting Equipments
– Musical Instruments
– Luxury and Vintage Watches
Yes you can negotiate prices. In fact, it’s fairly common at pawnshops in places like Calgary. It’s acceptable and expected to negotiate for a greater price after the business owner makes an offer.
However, it’s better to not go overboard or you’ll end yourself terminating discussions before they even begin. Accept the offer if your pawnbroker meets your expectations.
One major advantage of outrightly selling your item instead of pawning it is the higher cash value. If you bring in an item let’s say $500, you’ll get limited cash in collateral loans, but sometimes you’ll get a higher percentage if you sell outright.
So you will have the extra cash you need on the spot. However, the cash amount you receive for your valuable item depends on the pawnbroker as well.
If your credit is bad and you can’t get a regular loan, pawn shop loans can be an appealing option.
But be aware that pawning has certain disadvantages as well. Before you pawn your family heirloom or something of significance to you, think twice before pawning it.
Best Pawn Shops in Calgary
| Pawn Shop | Zone | Our Ratings |
|---|---|---|
| Cash Canada | Calgary SW; Calgary SE | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ |
| Rocky Mountain Pawn Ltd. | Calgary SE | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ |
| Quick Cash Pawn Shop | Calgary NW | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ |
| Pawnshop Superstore | Calgary SE | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ |
| Prestige Pawnbrokers | Calgary SW | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ |
| Great Western Pawn & Loan | Calgary SW | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ |
| The Buy and Sell Store | Calgary SE | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ |
Conclusion
In a nutshell, if you’re looking for any kind of pawn loan, buying or selling used items in Calgary and the surrounding areas, look no further than these 7 pawn shops. So just sit back and dial them to know more!
Do you have any other pawn shops in mind which deserve to be on this list or Have you worked with any of these enterprises before?
Let us know your experience in the comments below.
