Gamblers of trash from LA

Almost each one in India is familiar with the age-old concept of money lender. But this concept is revived and revamped by the father-son duo Rick and Corey Harrison who have made pawning synonymous with their names through their reality show Pawn Stars!

Striking deals and raking moolah from their ability to convert trash into hard cash, Rick and Corey are experts when it comes to spotting anything fake or stolen. On their recent tour of India, the duo chatted with Metrolife about the game and rules of probably the second oldest profession in the world. 

“People in India offered to sell us stuff ranging from old coins to onions," shared Rick recollecting his trip to Taj Mahal. “We wanted to see the monument and it was absolutely stunning,” he added.   

True to their profession, they could not hold their confession for long, “The best part is that we work with our family and the worst part is that we work with our family,” both chuckled and Corey added, “While fighting with grandfather, its always good to have your grandmother on your side!” So working with family is not as easy apart from the leisure of getting to start early.

Rick has been buying and selling articles since the age of 10 and Corey started working at a pawn shop at 9! “My father used to take us to flea markets and I used to buy silver forks and spoons for five dollars,” said Rick and Corey shared, “I started dealing in small pieces of gold initially."

Rick informs that he has “an extensive library” and after decades of being in the trade, he has developed the knack to crack a deal but is firm in stating the basic rule: “Never give the customer so much money that he doesn’t come back to take the article but don't give them too little either else there would be no pawn shops.”

Adding to the list of rules, Corey said: “:Always be ready to walk away from the deal if you feel its not right!”

After mastering the rule book, they have managed to make some of the most lucrative deals. “Back in 1993, a lady walked into our pawn shop and offered some ten photo frames of Red Indians from 1990s. They looked neat and I had no idea what they were worth so I gave her 50 bucks. Later I found all their negatives in the National Archives of United States and the photographs went for over forty thousand dollars,” shared Rick.

On their India tour, while Rick eyed some of the precious things that Old Delhi has to offer, Corey's choice was simple as he looked for “Whatever can be bought in the least and sold for the most,” he said without stating any favourites. Though Rick planned to make some deals in jewellery, “My daughter wants it, girls being girls," said Rick, Corey clearly mentioned,” Its all about the money in the shop which keeps us going!”