14 businesses in and around Vancouver that buy used goods from the
public, or sell them on your behalf. For each one: what they buy, what they refuse, and
exactly how the transaction works — because a pawn loan, a consignment split and an outright
sale are three different things.
Verified 2026-09-24 from each business's own website. Prices, terms and what
they take change without notice. We are not affiliated with any business listed here, none of
them pay to be included, and we receive nothing if you sell to them.
If you are thinking about pawning something
A pawn loan is borrowing, not selling: you get your item back only by repaying the
money plus all interest and fees by the date printed on the ticket, and if you miss that
date the shop keeps the item and sells it.
Before you hand anything over, get three things written on the ticket: the interest
rate, the total redemption figure in dollars, and the deadline. Across all
fourteen cities we checked, almost no pawn shop publishes its rate anywhere on its website —
so the only place you will see it is on the paperwork in front of you.
If you want money and do not want the item back, ask separately for an outright purchase
price and compare the two. They are different numbers for different transactions, and a shop
that offers both will not necessarily volunteer which one it is quoting.
What will they actually pay?
We do not publish an average payout, because nobody publishes one. Any site quoting
you "typically 60% of retail" invented it. Across 189 businesses in fourteen cities, a
handful publish a consignment split, one publishes a per-gram gold table, and not one pawn
shop, scrap yard or electronics buyer publishes what it pays relative to resale value.
What we can tell you is the shape of it. Consignment pays the most and pays last, often on a
declining scale as the item sits. An outright sale pays least and pays today. Metals and gold
are weight times purity minus a spread nobody states, so the only real number is the one at
the scale. And for a great deal of what comes out of a cleared house — flat-pack furniture,
book-club paperbacks, old encyclopedias, out-of-season sports gear, adult clothing more than
a few years old — the honest answer is that nobody in these fourteen cities will pay anything
for it at all. The refusal lists below are the evidence.
Pawn shops in Vancouver
Two completely different transactions under one roof. Read the box above before you go into any of these.
Buysgold and natural diamond jewellery, watches, electronics, musical instruments, cameras, video games, Native art
Won't taketools, bicycles
The dealA Commercial Drive fixture. They make pawn loans — their site invites you to "borrow against jewellery you own" — and they also buy outright and resell, and take trade-ins on used electronics. Their site states plainly "No Tools & Bikes", so do not haul a toolbox down there. No interest rate, loan term or redemption period is published anywhere on the site; they direct you to call or come in.
Where2641 Commercial Dr, Vancouver, BC V5N 4C3
Because no rate or term is published, ask for both in writing before you pawn. A pawn loan is credit secured on your item: miss the redemption date and the item is forfeited. Their posted hours are short (10am-4pm), and the Vancouver by-law bars any dealer from taking your item in after 6 p.m. in any case.
Buysgold, jewellery and diamonds, watches, musical instruments, electronics, other high-value items
The dealBoth a short-term collateral loan and an outright purchase. Their site: "Whether you need a short-term loan or want to sell outright, we make the process quick, safe, and discreet," and elsewhere that they "buy, sell and lend from quick and easy small collateral loans to large scale transactions." Over 35 years in Mount Pleasant. They accept e-transfer. The loan term, redemption date and what happens on default are not published — ask before you sign.
Where3021 Main St, Vancouver, BC V5T 3G6
Their site advertises "the lowest interest rate in Canada at just 5% for large loans" but does not state 5% per what period. Per month and per year are very different costs. Get the rate, the period, the term and the forfeiture date written on the pawn ticket before handing anything over, and note that they also buy outright if you want the transaction to end that day. I could not confirm the claim, made elsewhere, that they belong to the BC Pawnbrokers Association, so it is not stated here.
Buysgold and silver, jewellery, luxury watches, diamonds
The dealDowntown on Granville Street. They offer collateral pawn loans, advertised as "Instant Cash Pawn", and separately they buy outright, stating they pay cash for anything of value within limits. The site's copyright line reads "Pawn Buy Sell"; their contact email is charliescurrencyexchange@gmail.com, which is why this shop appears elsewhere as Charlie's Currency Exchange. Posted hours are Monday to Saturday 9am-7pm and Sunday 12-6pm, though the Vancouver by-law still prevents them taking anything in between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Where827 Granville Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1B7
They advertise "the most competitive pawn percent rate in the city" but publish no rate, term or redemption period. Do not accept a loan until those three numbers are written on your pawn ticket. Pawning and selling outright are different transactions here, so be explicit about which one you are doing.
Buysgold, silver and platinum jewellery, diamonds and precious stones, laptops, gaming consoles and LED TVs, power, hand and air tools, generators, power washers, boat motors, guitars and amplifiers, ATVs, motorcycles, jet skis, boats
The dealTwo separate transactions, and the difference matters. They buy outright — their site says they purchase gold, diamonds and watches for cash — and they make pawn loans. Their own words on the pawn side: "If the customer does not want a loan, they can also choose to sell their item to the pawnbroker." The pawn loan is secured credit. They publish loan principals between $10 and $100,000 based on collateral, no credit check, a term running 0 to 90 days with payment due at 3 months, a flat rate of 7.5% per month, a stated APR of 90%, and a one-week grace period on loan items. Their own loan calculator example shows a $100 loan over 3 months carrying a monthly interest charge of roughly $7.50. If a pawn loan is not repaid, the item is forfeited and the shop keeps and resells it — a pawn is not a sale, and you do not receive the balance of the item's value.
Where13573 King George Blvd, Surrey, BC V3T 2V1
The 90% APR is the cost of borrowing, not a discount on the item. They also buy outright, so you can ask for both numbers — the loan offer and the purchase price — and compare them before deciding. In-house staff include a gemologist and a goldsmith.
Buysdesigner handbags, designer ready-to-wear, footwear, fine and costume jewellery, small leather goods and accessories
Won't takeitems outside their accepted designer list
The dealThree published routes. CASH: 30-50% of the resale price, paid by wire transfer within 1-7 business days. STORE CREDIT: 40-60% of the resale price. CONSIGNMENT: 50-80% of the resale price for pieces priced $500 and above, with a minimum 4-month consignment period and a higher 60-70% payout on premium brands (Hermes, Chanel, Louis Vuitton and similar) at buyer discretion; payouts are processed twice monthly, with notification within two weeks of a sale and payment details 2-3 business days after. No pawn loans. You can drop off up to 15 items with pricing emailed in 3-7 business days, or submit an online quote request and allow 3-10 business days.
Where418 Davie Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 2G3
Their "Closet Buys" service, for 25 or more items, is offered in-home with a dedicated buyer assessing on-site — the only one of these designer resellers that will come to you. Note the gap between routes: the same bag pays 30-50% as cash within a week versus 50-80% on consignment over at least four months. Acceptance is at their discretion even for listed brands.
Buysantiques and collectibles, jewellery, fitness equipment, office furniture, restaurant equipment, industrial and commercial equipment, vehicles, retail stock and unclaimed freight
The dealAn auction house and liquidator rather than a shop: they sell your goods on your behalf and you are paid after the sale, not on the day. Their site says they can "help you liquidate your assets either at your facility or ours," which makes them one of the few options for a whole houseful at once. Commission rates, buyer's premium and seller's fees are not published anywhere on their site — you must ask.
WhereLangley North: 19757 92A Avenue, Langley BC V1M 3B3, 604-881-2253. Langley South: 22652 Fraser Hwy, Langley BC V2Z 2T8, 604-881-2253. Surrey: Unit 101 - 11539 136th Street, Surrey BC V3R 0G3, 604-325-2253. Also onsite auctions in Nanaimo, 250-751-1250.
No commission, buyer's premium or reserve policy is published, so get the full fee schedule in writing before you commit goods. Auction proceeds are uncertain by design: a piece can sell for far less than a dealer would have paid outright.
Buysdesigner and contemporary womenswear, handbags, shoes, accessories
Won't takeGap, H&M, Reitmans, Oak & Fort, Dynamite, Uniqlo, Shein, DKNY, RW&CO, Brandy Melville, BCBG, anything dirty, worn or needing repair, items more than 3 years old, unless Chanel
The dealTwo routes and you choose. OUTRIGHT BUY: 25% to 60% for contemporary and designer brands, with a minimum payout of $300 — below that they will not buy outright. CONSIGNMENT: 40% to 80% depending on the item's price, with a $500 minimum earnings requirement per season. No pawn loans. Drop-offs Tuesday to Saturday 11am-5pm. They also run a "Ship to Us" mail-in service covering up to $50 CAD in shipping on approved orders, quotes on designer bags and accessories within 3-5 business days, and virtual appointments.
WhereFive BC locations: South Granville, West Broadway and Main Street in Vancouver, plus Surrey and Victoria.
No public premises listed. We could not find a street address or phone on their site — contact them through it before making any plans.
Condition standards are strict — their own line is "No one is buying something dirty, worn, needing repair or is more than 3 years old... unless it's Chanel" — so a wardrobe cleared from a long-closed closet may be turned away. The consignment route pays a higher percentage but you wait for the sale and must clear $500 in a season; the outright buy pays less and ends the transaction that day.
Won't takefurniture that is not clean, structurally sound and ready for display
The dealConsignment only — the page describes no outright purchase. The split is tiered and published: for the first 60 days it is 60% Antique Warehouse / 40% consignor; after that it becomes 70% / 30%. You email clear photos with dimensions, condition and provenance to their consignment address; if accepted, "delivery to, and pickup from, our showroom is the responsibility of the consignor." Minor repairs or cleaning are billed at $100 per hour and deducted from your proceeds, and work over $300 needs your prior approval unless it is required for safety or structural reasons.
Where226 S.W. Marine Drive, Vancouver, BC
Getting the piece there and, if it does not sell, getting it home again is your responsibility and your cost — they state this plainly. Your share drops from 40% to 30% after 60 days, so a slow-selling piece pays you less the longer it sits, and repair charges come out of your money. (A second number, 604-322-0373, is also listed on their consignment page.)
Buysski and snowboard equipment, bikes, camping gear, golf clubs, hockey equipment, outerwear and footwear, surfboards, tennis racquets, baseball and soccer gear
Won't takedamaged items, safety helmets, climbing gear, most weapons, propane and gas canisters, bear spray, archery equipment, diving gear, used undergarments, swimwear, socks and sandals, stained or unhygienic clothing, snowboards and skis over 8 years old, golf clubs over 10 years old
The dealOutright purchase only, no consignment: "We will work with you face-to-face when purchasing your gear and pay you in cash the same day." You bring the gear to the buying desk and they assess it there. Government-issued photo ID is required (passport, BCID or Canadian driver's licence; expired, photocopied or temporary licences are rejected) and you must be 18 or older. No payout percentage is published, and pricing varies with what they currently need in stock. On items donated rather than sold, they state 50% of the proceeds go to the Nature Trust of BC.
Where102 West Broadway (at Manitoba St.), Vancouver, BC V5Y 1P3
The refusal list is long and safety-driven — helmets, climbing and diving gear and anything damaged will not be bought at any price, and older skis, snowboards and golf clubs are often refused on age alone. They state that price estimates cannot be given over the phone or by email. Sort out the refused categories before you load the car.
Buysgold, silver, platinum and palladium, bullion coins and bars, collectible coins, banknotes, scrap precious metal and jewellery, watches, diamonds and gemstones
The dealA fixed-premises buyer on Kingsway with a "Sell to J&M" section covering each category and appraisal services, stating over 50 years in business. They price against live precious metal buy and sell prices rather than a fixed schedule, so an offer on scrap gold moves with the market that day. No spread, fee or percentage is published.
Where1654 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC V5N 2S1
Because they buy against live metal prices with an unpublished spread, ask for the quote broken down — weight, purity and the price per gram being applied — and compare it with at least one other fixed-premises buyer. Scrap gold is melted and the transaction cannot be reversed, so get a separate valuation of anything antique or sentimental as an object before selling it for metal.
Buyssteel, cast iron and wrought iron, copper, brass, aluminium, stainless steel, lead, zinc and nickel alloys, household appliances, car parts, end-of-life vehicles
The dealYou drive in, staff direct you and help weigh the load, and you are paid by weight at the day's rate for each metal. No appointment needed. Their own advice is to separate your metals as much as possible, because "collective loads are paid for the lowest commodity" — a mixed load is paid at the rate of the cheapest thing in it. Cash is paid in $5 increments, and they state they always offer the full amount by cheque as an alternative.
Where8081 Meadow Ave, Burnaby, BC V3N 2V9
You must drive in with a four-wheel vehicle and produce a valid driver's licence or other government-issued ID — bicycles, motorcycles and taxis are not allowed, so you cannot walk or cycle a load in. Prices move with global metal markets and are not published in advance, so phone for the day's rate before driving across town. Sorting copper, brass and aluminium out of a mixed load before you go is the single biggest thing that changes what you are paid.
Buyscopper, steel and iron, aluminium, brass, lead, zinc and nickel, old appliances, air conditioners and water heaters, metal lawn equipment, metal fencing and shelving
Won't takerefrigerated appliances whose refrigerant has not been removed
The dealOpen to the public with no appointment needed; they weigh the load and pay on the type and weight of metal. Warehouse hours are weekdays 7:00am-4:30pm and Saturday 8:00am to noon, with drop-off available Saturday and Sunday 7:00am-3:30pm. Payment method — cash or cheque — is not stated on their page, so ask when you call.
Where11760 Mitchell Road, Richmond, BC V6V 1V8
Their stated rule: "All material suppliers will be required to provide a valid government issued photo ID (valid driver's license or other official form of ID) to sell scrap metal to us." Turning up without one is a wasted trip. Fridges, freezers and air conditioners need the refrigerant removed before they will accept them, which is a cost you pay first.
Buysvinyl LPs and singles across all genres, CDs, selectively, cassettes
Won't takeclassical vinyl, opera vinyl
The dealCash on the spot, or store credit worth more. They state they pay "anywhere from 1/3 and up to 1/2 of the value of a record" in cash, with the better end going to records that are more valuable or easier to sell, and they add 30% to the cash figure if you take store credit — so $100 cash becomes $130 in credit. Common CDs are typically $1-2 each, 50 cents to $1 if lightly marked; common cassettes around $1, more if collectible. They are "open to all styles and genres except classical and opera."
Where2016 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, BC
They will not quote from a list over the phone or by email — the records have to be seen. For a large collection they do house calls "just about anywhere in the Greater Vancouver area (and beyond for more sought after collections)", but they prefer to discuss what is in the collection first. Classical and opera are refused outright, which rules out a great many inherited collections.
Buysused books, from single volumes to entire libraries
The dealTheir own words: "We are always buying books, from individual volumes to huge libraries." They ask that you "call first to arrange an appointment if you are hoping to bring in more than one box of books." The payout basis is not published, and no payment methods are stated on their site.
Where344 West Pender St., Vancouver, BC V6B 1T1
No percentage or price guide is published, so there is no way to know in advance what a box is worth. Call before you load the car if you have more than one box. They note their social media is only sporadically monitored and prefer email (thepaperhound@gmail.com).
Take government photo ID. Several of these businesses say plainly
that they cannot buy from you without it, and that a health card will not do.
Phone ahead with the specifics. Make, model, age, condition. Most
refusals happen at the counter over something that could have been settled in a
two-minute call.
Get more than one number if the item is worth more than a hundred
dollars or so. Offers on the same item vary widely.
Ask which transaction you are being offered — a purchase, a
consignment or a loan — and get it in writing.
MUNICIPAL RULES ARE WHAT ACTUALLY AFFECT YOU. I could not verify the claim that British Columbia has no pawnbroker statute in force, so that claim has been removed rather than published. What is confirmed is Vancouver's Secondhand Dealers and Pawnbrokers By-law No. 2807, consolidated for convenience to 16 September 2025 (amended to include By-law No. 14443), read directly from the City's own consolidated text at https://bylaws.vancouver.ca/2807c.pdf. BRING PHOTO ID OR YOU WILL BE TURNED AWAY. Both secondhand dealers (buying outright) and pawnbrokers (lending) must confirm your identity by "picture identification" and record a complete description of it and the name of the authority that issued it (ss. 2.2(b), 3.2(b)). The by-law defines picture identification (s. 1.2) as one of the following, bearing a photograph of the holder: a valid driver's licence issued by a Canadian province or territory; a BC Services Card or other photo identity card issued by the Province of British Columbia; a passport issued by a legitimate government; a certificate of Indian status; a certificate of Canadian citizenship; a conditional release card issued by Correctional Services Canada; or a valid Canadian permanent resident card. A credit card, a bus pass or an expired licence does not qualify. The dealer must also record your name, residence or street address and birth date; a complete description of the property including make, model and serial number; the price paid or the amount advanced; the precise date and hour; and any identifying marks (ss. 2.2, 3.2). Other confirmed by-law facts: - You must be at least 18. A dealer must not purchase from, and a pawnbroker must not take a pawn from, anyone under 18 (ss. 2.15, 3.15). - No evening deals. A dealer must not purchase property, and a pawnbroker must not take property in pawn, between 6 p.m. of one calendar day and 6 a.m. of the next (ss. 2.13, 3.13). A shop may be open, but it cannot take your item in. - Anything whose serial number or other identifying marking has been wholly or partially tampered with or removed will be refused outright (ss. 2.14, 3.14). - Police reporting is daily. Shops on electronic registers transmit entries to the Chief Constable electronically (ss. 2.11, 3.11); shops on handwritten registers must hand-deliver a photocopy to the Chief Constable at the Vancouver Police Department, 3585 Graveley Street, between 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. on each business day (ss. 2.10, 3.10). Registers are kept within BC for seven years after the last entry (ss. 2.9(b), 3.9(b)). Selling second-hand goods in Vancouver is a recorded transaction, not an anonymous one. - Holding period. A shop cannot repair, alter, dispose of or remove an item for the longer of 35 business days (electronic register), 49 business days (handwritten register), or the number of business days the police direct, not exceeding 90 days (ss. 2.19, 3.20). If you pawned rather than sold, s. 3.19 preserves your right to reclaim the item inside that window by paying the debt and interest owing. - A shop licensed as both must physically separate purchased goods from pawned goods and individually tag each item to show the date and whether it was purchased or taken in pawn (s. 2.21) — a useful sign of a properly licensed operator. - In the Downtown Eastside, both secondhand dealers and pawnbrokers may only remain open from 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. (ss. 2.23, 3.21). Burnaby, Surrey and Richmond license under their own bylaws, so holding periods and reporting hours differ there; I did not read those bylaws, so call ahead if your shop is outside the City of Vancouver. SCRAP YARDS ASK FOR ID TOO. Richmond Steel Recycling states all material suppliers must provide valid government-issued photo ID to sell scrap metal. ABC Recycling requires a valid driver's licence or other government-issued ID and that you drive in with a four-wheel vehicle — bicycles, motorcycles and taxis are not allowed.
Worth nothing? That is a real answer too.
Most of what comes out of a cleared house will not sell at any price, and the businesses above
will tell you so at the counter. Photograph it first and we will tell you before you drive
anywhere — and if the answer is that it is worth nothing, we will point you at
the Vancouver charities that will still take it.
Will a pawn shop in Vancouver give me a loan or buy it outright?
Many do both, and they are entirely different transactions. A loan means you get the item back only if you repay the money plus interest and fees by the date on the ticket; miss it and the shop keeps and sells your item. An outright sale is final. Ask for both numbers separately and compare them.
How much will I actually get?
Less than you think, and nobody publishes a reliable average — we checked 189 businesses across fourteen cities. Consignment pays most and pays last. An outright sale pays least and pays today. Scrap and gold are weight and purity against the day’s market, minus a margin almost nobody states.
Will any of them collect from my house in Vancouver?
Auto salvage almost always tows a non-running car free. Some furniture dealers and consignment shops will collect, usually for a fee or above a minimum value. Scrap yards that advertise collection generally mean a commercial roll-off bin, not a van for a box of copper. Every listing here says what we could confirm and nothing more.
Do I need identification?
Almost certainly, and it is the most common cause of a wasted trip. Several businesses state plainly that government-issued photo ID is required and that a health card will not be accepted. Take a driving licence or passport.
What is genuinely worth nothing?
Flat-pack furniture, most paperbacks, encyclopedias, classical and easy-listening records, out-of-season sports equipment and adult clothing more than a few years old. The refusal lists on this page are the evidence. Those things can still be donated, and often should be.