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Showing posts with label home video game consoles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label home video game consoles. Show all posts

Friday, March 7, 2014

Spring Forward









Daylight saving time (DST) or “summer time” is upon us. Yes, spring hasn’t even arrived yet and there is already talk of it being summer time. So, tonight, or rather tomorrow at 2 am, it is time to “spring forward” your clocks. Don’t get confused - it’s only summer time in terms of telling time and not the season. That doesn’t clear things up any, does it? This is making us dizzy. Let’s start over...

Daylight saving time (DST) starts Sunday, March 9th. Remember to “spring forward” and turn your clocks one hour ahead. The official time change occurs at 2 am, but if you don’t happen to be awake at that time, just know that when you do wake up Sunday morning, you have basically lost an hour.

Here’s some fun facts about DST: You may have noticed that we called the event “daylight saving time.” It is a common mispronunciation for people to say “daylight savingS,” (with an S). This mispronunciation is so common that it goes unnoticed. We’re not sure that it really makes a much of a difference in the big picture - but it could win you a round of trivia. 

As of 2007 the United States has infallibly changed our clocks by springing forward the second Sunday of March and “falling back,” to standard time the first Sunday of November. The only places within the United States that do not acknowledge the time change are Arizona, the Navajo and Hopi Indian Reservations which include Arizona and part of Utah and New Mexico, Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. 

Here in Florida, because of our southern location, DST is not very useful nor does it have much affect on how we use our daylight hours. For that reason, there is political opposition to DST in our state. 


All we know for now is that beyond daylight saving time, the best savings in Florida are at Queen of PAWNS. Whatever the political debate is on DST, we think nothing is more satisfying than adjusting the time on a new-to-you luxury watch from Queen of Pawns. (We believe we have our priorities in order, don’t you?) Speaking of time, once again we are noticing how time flies, because March is our BIRTHDAY MONTH! It will be 19 years on March 25th since we opened our first store in Florida. All month we will be having surprise sales and radical discounts on our top quality merchandise. Be sure to stop by, say, “Hi,” or “Happy Birthday,” and have some fun “springing into savings,” at Queen of PAWNS.

Queen of Pawns - South Florida




Queen of Pawns - Central Florida



All Our Stores are Open:
Monday - Saturday 9am - 7pm
Sunday 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM



Friday, February 28, 2014

Appreciation









National Write a Letter of Appreciation Week is March 1st through the 7th. Expressing gratitude for anything in our lives can be a rewarding practice, so we decided to write our own letter of appreciation and we are addressing it to you:

Dear Awesome Customers of Queen of Pawns,
Another 12 months has passed and that adds up to 19 years of doing business in Florida. Without you, we wouldn’t be having another birthday. Let us break down what that really means...

Your loyalty allows us to help people who are in a pinch for money and or need a little extra cash. When you come to Queen of Pawns for a loan or make a purchase, you allow our talented team to serve you.

Thanks to you, we have a purpose to get up in the morning and get to do what we love, everyday. Where would we be without you, our awesome customers? Who knows, but we wouldn’t be here, doing what we know best to make a positive impact on the world around us.

We look forward to seeing you again soon. Thank you for coming to us and entrusting Queen of PAWNS with your pawning needs year after year. To further express our appreciation, we are offering you a super special “thank you discount.” From now until the end of the month, just send us a Facebook message mentioning this letter of appreciation and receive our super special “thank you discount.”

Most sincerely,

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Get Your Valentines Jewelry at Face Value












Cartier, Gucci, Bvlgari and Tiffany - all designers we love at Queen of PAWNS, and jewelry we sell based on pennyweight. What is a pennyweight, you ask? Read on and we’ll explain in a moment.

With all due respect to designer jewelry, when it comes to reselling, there is an inherent depreciation. The jewelry is just as spectacular as it was brand new, only as a resell item, there is no overhead of marketing. When we purchase precious items, we pay market value of the materials within each piece. We inspect diamonds and gems, determine authenticity of the metals and take into consideration any obvious signs of wear and tear. One of the most reliable methods we use to determine the authenticity of, gold for example, is the nitric acid test; performed right in front of the seller. (See our previous post, “Don’t Be Fooled, Know Your Gold, Part I”.)

Not to create confusion, but luxury watches are another story. Certain designers and manufacturers have established standards and quality in the construction of their watches that have come to be expected from them. Names DO make a difference in the world of luxury watches. That said, Queen of Pawns has gorgeous, luxury watches, of all kinds, at unbeatable prices. For more insight to what makes a watch a luxury item, see our post, “How Watches Tell Time.”

Now about pennyweight.

Once we determine the percentage of alloy and authenticity of a precious metal, we can then find the current market value after using a scale that measures in pennyweight. One pennyweight equates approximately 1.555 grams. It is a common weight used amongst jewelers in the valuation and measurement of precious metals. It’s abbreviation is usually dwt. On a daily basis we are familiar with the market value of metals and gems. Jewelry is put in our showcases priced accordingly, with only a small percentage more to cover our expenses.


The good news is, at Queen of PAWNS, you can have the designer jewelry without the designer price tag! Keep this in mind as you shop for your Valentine these next few days. Get the “Wow!” without making your wallet say, “Ow!”


Queen of Pawns - South Florida




Queen of Pawns - Central Florida



All Our Stores are Open:
Monday - Saturday 9am - 7pm
Sunday 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Keep the Party Going!












The winter holiday parties are past us and that sometimes leaves us wanting more. What do we have to look forward to? Queen of PAWNS has an answer and that would be VALENTINE’S DAY! Keep the party going with a fun Valentine’s Day bash. There’s just enough time before the holiday for you to plan something spectacular. We’ve got a few ideas for a successful event...

  • Create a themed party, for example: Awkward Prom Night - invite your guests to wear their worst bridesmaid dresses or tackiest formal wear they can find at a thrift store. Or, have everyone dress as a character from a favorite movie such as the Wizard of Oz, Indiana Jones or James Bond. Then, have a related movie playing in the background with the sound turned off. Browse through our movie collections at the Queen of Pawns nearest you for ideas and inspiration.
  • Set the ambiance with white, red and pink string lights. Fill martini glasses with red, white and pink jelly beans. Sprinkle rose petals. Grab a friend who is talented with the camera and set up a photo booth, but call it the “kissing booth.” Need a tripod for your photo booth? Give us a call, we probably have a few in our inventory.
  • One word: Karaoke! Pick up a karaoke machine at Queen of Pawns and clear a “stage” area in the corner of your living room. Be prepared to break the ice and step up as the first performer in case everyone else starts off shy.
  • For parts of the evening when karaoke isn’t king, be sure to have your playlist loaded and ready. Boost your sound system with stereos, speakers and iPods from Queen of Pawns.
  • Have a sundae ice cream building station, complete with bananas, candy sprinkles, nuts, cherries and home made whip cream.
  • Have a bowl of plastic “bling” waiting right by a mirror. This sort of thing can be picked up at any party superstore, and sometimes even at dollar stores. If you can’t find adult sized plastic bling, gather costume jewelry from friends and thrift stores beforehand. But for the real thing, come to Queen of Pawns and we’ll help you pick out something unforgettable for the one you love.

If you are waiting for the right time to give a special gift to your special someone, this might be the perfect opportunity. Show them and everyone at the party how much you care with something luxurious from Queen of Pawns. Now is a good time to start your shopping and just a reminder, if you need a layaway option, we got you covered. Let us know how we can help make this Valentine’s Day the best one ever.


Recently, some of our customers showed how much they care by donating new, unwrapped toys to the “Toys For All,” toy drive that we participated in with Azteca Americana 43. With our customers’ help, the toy drive collected over 1300 toys! On Saturday, January 11th, those toys were distributed at a community celebration in Clewiston. The smiles shined like beacons as children opened their gifts. It was a fantastic event, complete with food, activities and live music performances. Everyone loves a good party, Queen of PAWNS extends a very heart felt thank to those who helped make the “Toys For All,” toy drive and the community party such a success.

What a fun day!
Here, party goers lined up at the QoP tent for free hot dogs.




Queen of Pawns - South Florida


Sunday, January 12, 2014

New Year, Clean Credit









A new year is a great impetus for doing something good for yourself. We’re not talking about the cliche gym membership or unrealistic diet plan, Queen of PAWNS suggests taking a little time to give your finances a look over and make-over. Sometimes, lack-luster credit can affect things as simple as renting a home or getting a new job. Here’s some tips to tackle this project, one step at a time.

FIRST - Get your free credit report.
There are a couple things to be aware of when getting your free report.
  1. The FTC website is the only reliable online source. To get a free credit report online, the only recommended site is annualcreditreport.com, which is maintained by the FTC. Other websites with similar names are not to be trusted. If you prefer, you can also get a free credit report by calling 1-877-322-8228.
  2. Never give a credit card number for a free credit report. If an organization is requesting a credit card number for whatever reason, they are not to be trusted. A FICO score is different from a credit report and you will need to pay for that.
  3. All credit reporting bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) offer one free credit report per year. We suggest you spread these requests out over 12 months. Go to annualcreditreport.com and request one report from, for example Equifax. Four months later, get another report on the same site from Experian and four months after that, request a third report from TransUnion. 

Before going any further, scour your reports and dispute any information that is inaccurate, giving special attention to late payments and collections.

Acquiring your credit reports is also an important step in protecting yourself from identity theft. This is a topic we discussed in a previous post, Let’s Talk About Identity Theft. 

Now, time to CLEAN UP. 
Keep Credit Card and Loan Balances Low.
Your debt to credit limit ratio - which is the amount you owe as a percentage of your outstanding limit - accounts for 30% of your credit score. To put it simply, don’t run up a big balance. If you have nearly met your credit limit, call your card company and ask for your limit to be raised. If you qualify for a larger limit, it will decrease your credit limit ratio, thus improving credit score. Be careful not to use that extra credit though. Ideally, use no more than 25% of a credit card’s limit.

Pay On Time.
35 percent of your credit score is based upon your timeliness for paying ALL your bills. Not just credit cards. So pay on time, even if it is only the minimum.

Older Is Better.
If you must charge, use an old card. 15 percent of your score is determined by how long you have had an account. The older your history the better, as it builds a lender’s confidence about your financial habits. Don’t cancel unused cards - this wipes their history from your record. Just put them in a safe place and keep track of all your accounts.

Keep a Healthy Mix.
Yes, older credit cards are important to keep open. At the same time, keep open credit lines or loans to a minimum. Managing a wide range or mix of credit account types wisely - from credit cards to installment loans (such as auto loans, personal loans and mortgages) shows responsibility. It can also shift a FICO score up a bump. Your mix of credit cards, retail cards and installment loans account for 10 percent of your score.

If You Must Apply, Do So Strategically.
10 percent of your credit score is determined by your pattern of applying for new accounts. It doesn’t bode well in the eyes of potential lenders when you apply for a lot of credit - to them, it looks like you could drown yourself in debt. Be strategic in your reason for acquiring new credit. When applying for car, home or business loans, keep all applications within a two week period. This strategy will bundle all those applications together and count as only one request on your record. 

Stay In Touch.
Communicate with your credit card companies, lenders and other debtors. If a bill cannot be paid on time or you have run into unusual circumstances such as illness or natural disaster or you simply want to see if there is an option for lowering your payments, call your companies, you may be pleasantly surprised. Also, if you have been a good customer, don’t be afraid to ask about protocol to request a goodwill adjustment. This could result in the mark of a late payment being removed or something of the like.


At Queen of PAWNS, we care about our customers. As a pawn shop, we are here to be of financial assistance when we can. In addition to offering solutions for fast money or  shopping for affordable luxury items, it is our hope that discussion topics such as how to keep your credit tidy will be useful in helping you keep your financial life a little more optimistic. 


Queen of Pawns - South Florida




Queen of Pawns - Central Florida



All Our Stores are Open:
Monday - Saturday 9am - 7 pm
Sunday 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM

Saturday, January 4, 2014

In a World of Change, Some Things Are Consistent












“Change is constant,” this we all have heard before. We thought it would be fun to take a peek at some American cultural changes since our first Queen of PAWNS store opened in 1995.

President Bill Clinton was living in the White House. A U.S. postage stamp cost 32 cents and a gallon of gas was just over a buck. The technology of DVD’s are first announced and how can anyone forget, the George Forman “Lean Mean Grilling Machine,” was released. Claudia Schiffer and Elle Macpherson were the world’s fashion icons, and  one of the funniest lines of the time was Seinfeld’s Soup Nazi’s, “No soup for you!” 

Since 1995, we opened four more stores, and just these past couple weeks another great change took place...our Kissimmee location is now open Sundays! Colossal, don’t you think? We thought it was worth a mention that all of our stores are now maintaining the same hours of operation. Monday through Saturday, doors are open from 9am until 7pm and Sundays 10:30am to 3:30pm.

On the counter point of change, there are several things that remain the same, day after day, year after year. One thing is our 10% pawn, another is our consistent, superior customer service and one more we should point out is that Valentine’s Day always lands on February 14th. You weren’t expecting that little reminder, were you? If you are considering something extravagant for someone you love, like a pair of diamond earrings or a luxury watch, come in and see us. At Queen of PAWNS we understand all too well that even with our amazing and affordable prices on top-of-the-line merchandise, it happens that even the best of us need a little more time to budget for slightly higher ticket item purchases. That’s why we have our free layaway plan. Now is the time to start your Valentine’s Day shopping and if you find the perfect gift that says, “I love you,”  but also want to be responsible with your monthly spending, then layaway is an ideal solution. With only a 10% deposit of the ticket price, we can hold on to your gift for 60 days or until the balance is paid. 


Let us know how we can help, because even though the rest of the world is spinning in change, Queen of Pawns is reliably accommodating and Valentine’s Day is assuredly on it’s way.


Queen of Pawns - South Florida




Queen of Pawns - Central Florida



All Our Stores are Open:
Monday - Saturday 9am - 7 pm
Sunday 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM

Friday, December 6, 2013

Snow-Free and Festive












Who says you need snow for it to feel like the holidays? Create your own merry and bright by filling your front yard with holiday cheer. No, not string lights, although great, but we’ve got a different idea. Show the world your festive spirit with DIY wooden holiday lawn ornaments! Queen of PAWNS is here to tell you how. 

From playful to devotional, lawn ornaments can vary in size, but often are at least 3 feet tall. If you are a condo dweller, you can do smaller figures for your porch or balcony. There is also the option of creating wooden cut-out wreaths or other hanging decorations of all sorts for your front door. You don’t need years of experience as a wood worker to make these decorations from paint and plywood. What you do need however is, the inspiration to take on a festive project and the tools to make it happen. 

If you like to draw and have a basic engineering mind, you might want to tackle the design part of this process all by yourself. If you need patterns that have already been drawn out, accompanied by instructions for construction, they can be purchased in any woodworking specialty store on online. There are also several free options online for instructions and/or patterns. Here’s some ideas to get your creative juices flowing...

For projects that instruct without providing downloadable patterns, check out HGTV’s links for Lawn Reindeer and Rustic Nail-Head Christmas Trees.


If you are not comfortable drawing outlines for shapes yourself, find a picture of an image that you like, such as a Santa, angel, tree...anything, make an enlarged copy of it to any size you want your final piece to stand. Then, cut out the shapes and lay them on top of your plywood. Trace around the shapes with a pencil. Here is a link to a free pattern, complete with instructions of another reindeer - free reindeer pattern.

However you approach the pattern part of your lawn ornament project, once the design is drawn, you will need to cut the wood. Mostly what we have suggested so far would require 3/4” plywood. You can use whatever wood suits the size of your final figure best.  For delicate and smaller designs, 1/4” wood is more appropriate. To cut your wood, of course, will require a saw. For curves and smooth turns, you need to use a band saw, jig saw or scroll saw. Below is a brief description for each of those.

Bandsaws are good for smaller sizes of wood, so they wouldn’t work well on uncut plywood or kitchen counters. They cut smooth and quick with interchangeable blades that allow for different curvature. Wider blades are better for straight cuts. 

With jigsaws, you bring the tool to the work. They can be used to make straight or curved cuts. If making straight cuts, you may want to use a metal straight-edge or guide. 

Scroll saws are kind of like a very light duty bandsaw-jigsaw hybrid used to make intricate cuts. Its use is limited to thinner materials. Blades can be changed on scroll saws to work on metal, wood or plastic. 

Of course, all of these saws as well as other tools such as sanders and drills can be found at Queen of PAWNS*.

Finally, to show off your lawn figures at night - highlight them with outdoor grade spot lights or string lights.

Enjoy the creative process and let your merry shine bright!


*When looking for something specific, call the Queen of PAWNS nearest you to check inventory.


Queen of Pawns - South Florida
3380 south military trail
Lake Worth, Florida 33463
561-434-4858

1180 South Military Trail
West Palm Beach, Florida 33415
561-343-4149

6080 Okeechobee Blvd.
West Palm Beach, Florida 33417
561-656-4149

Queen of Pawns - Central Florida
5831 South Orange Blossom Trail
Orlando, Fl 32839
407-722-8811

1700 West Vine Street
Kissimmee, FL 34741
407-201-3930

All Our Stores are Open:
Monday - Saturday 9am - 7pm
Sunday 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM

Monday, November 25, 2013

A Day Like No Other













It’s not a national holiday, but some people plan for it all year. It’s a day not for the timid or weak, complete with a thrill of the hunt, racing hearts and sweating palms. While the rest of the world sleeps off their over indulgence of a Thanksgiving feast, those of us committed to beating full retail prices are out celebrating BLACK FRIDAY! And Queen of PAWNS is no exception. We will be opening the doors to all our locations at 5 am, November 29th and we will remain open until 7 pm. Bring your gift list with you and get ready for some serious savings. Everything in the store will be marked 50% off regular price! No other day of the year will bring you more possibilities to purchase top quality items at such rock bottom prices. 

The day after Thanksgiving our friendly staff will be waiting for you to assist with your holiday shopping. Over the past year, our blog has provided several “cheat sheets,” to help you be better equipped and a more informed shopper for those higher ticket items. To make things a little easier we are including some useful links to these past entries.

If you are considering purchasing a television, be sure to read this first: SUPERBOWL XLVII - Kudos to the Host City, New Orleans!

This entry about watches and how they work will be helpful if you are considering any kind of watch: How Watches Tell Time.

Don’t even think about blindly shopping for gold. Before purchasing this precious metal for your precious someone, be sure to read our two part series: Don’t Be Fooled, Know Your Gold, Part I & Part II

Not all home video game consoles are created equally. In case you missed it, last month was dedicated to home gaming systems: Which Home Console Suits You Best.

Shopping help for home video games are found here: Simplify Your Search for the Perfect Home Video Game.

Of course, our staff is well informed and very helpful, so it is not necessary for you to be an expert in anything before making a wise purchase at QoP. We generated this list of useful links because want you to feel confident and empowered in your gift giving this season; we also know that there are certain types of shoppers who won’t even buy a toothbrush without doing extensive research. (We promise, we won’t mention any names!)


Come on by our biggest and most grand sales event of the entire year. How many ways can we say, “HUGE SAVINGS!”? Before you go anywhere else, shop at Queen of PAWNS for our BLACK FRIDAY Sales Event. Be the smartest gift giver amongst your friends and family. But before that, have a beautiful and abundant Happy Thanksgiving!


Queen of Pawns - South Florida

Queen of Pawns - Central Florida

All Our Stores are Open:
Monday - Saturday 9am - 7pm
Sunday 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM

Saturday, November 2, 2013

Royal Layaway Until Christmas











Santa’s elves got nothing on us. Queen of PAWNS spins our own Christmas magic months before the holidays are on most people’s minds. Our workshops are always open and stocked with fantastic gifts for all boys and girls, young and old alike. Yes, QoP realizes that the Turkey hasn’t even landed and we’re already talking about Christmas, but we have an important message that is becoming more and more time sensitive with each passing day.

The holidays can be a very stressful time for many of us. Work often becomes more hectic, holiday parties and family gatherings can be demanding - and then there’s the gift list. With the average household budget getting tighter and tighter, it can be quite a challenge to reward every good boy and girl on your list with gifts worthy of their packaging. We at Queen of PAWNS cannot control most of these stress factors, but what we can do is help you budget for beautiful gifts that will dazzle and show just how much you care about your family and friends.

Aside from huge savings daily on top shelf items, we also offer a free layaway plan especially designed for Christmas to help you prepare up to SIX MONTHS in advance for your holiday gift giving. If you find that perfect item, but don’t have enough cash that day to purchase, it can still be yours to give! All you need to do is once you picked out your item, put down a 10% deposit* of the current price and before you know it, your item is paid off! (Layaway policy listed below.) Of course, at this point, the holidays are less than 60 days away, that is why we are in your ear NOW.  

Another great opportunity to take advantage of even steeper discounts will be our Black Friday sales event, of course the day after Thanksgiving. Stay tuned for more details!

*LAYAWAY POLICY:
Deposits are non-refundable.
10% minimum deposit at time of purchase.
Layaways must be paid off and picked up no more than 60 days after date of initial deposit. 
Layaway terms are extendable only in writing.
Once a layaway term expires, deposit will be forfeited and items will be put back on sales floor.
There are no extra layaway or service charges.
Layaways are non-cancelable and non-refundable.
Layaway articles are removed from the sales floor.


Queen of Pawns - South Florida




Queen of Pawns - Central Florida



All Our Stores are Open:
Monday - Saturday 9am - 7pm
Sunday 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM