Are you on the hunt for rare coins, or collectible sports cards? Do you want jewelry, or has the recent boost in video gaming sent you in search of rare, Japanese games before they become known and chased after? Pawn shops are a great place to look, but you need to know how to explain yourself and dig through the right containers. Here are a few pawn shop and storage hunting techniques to keep in mind as you track down memories and treasures.

Browsing Pawn Shop Jewelry

Many treasures make their way through pawn shops, and whether it's a sale to make some extra money in a bind or making room in limited space, a lot of great jewelry comes in and out of the shop.

Always have a specific design in mind. It's fine to look through new (to you) and unique designs, but if you spend all of your time trying to find the most splendid piece of jewelry, you might miss the best example of a specific piece.

Review ways to test for specific metals. If you're looking for a certain gold karat, be sure to review a karat rating guide. This may seem like simple advice to avoid being ripped off, but many fakes can be convincing to the point that if you haven't practiced examining your potential purpose, no one else in the shop will be able to help you.

Checking Old Electronics And Accessories Quality

Nothing lasts forever, and electronics are one of the more expensive examples of temporary glory. Old VCRs, 8-track players, and especially computers have a lot of value if they're working--mostly because they're not expected to work!

Unlike old cars that go through restorations to be as close to the original style as possible, electronics haven't quite hit the level of restoration stardom. People will continue to hold out for computers that have their original screens and hard drives, and video game consoles will need to work without too many replacement cards or covers.

The value is significantly lower in electronics if there are newer internal components. With cars, the body alone is highly valuable. For computers, stereos, and video game consoles, the outside is still just a shell to an extent. Many hobbyists purchase new control boards such as the Raspberry Pi to run under the case, and if you can't open the case to see, you may end up with a restored novelty that will only be valuable if the casing suddenly jumps in price.

Review dismantling videos for the electronics you're looking for, and ask if you can check for authenticity by opening up the system. If the shop owner says no, it's a gamble for you. 

Contact a pawn shop representative, like one at Maine Pawn Shop, to discuss different items on your list.