In the last few weeks I’ve grown quite attached to the tv show Pawn Stars. It’s a fun show with colorful characters, retail “fun”, and a dash of facts.
At some point in each episode, after having an item’s authenticity proven, the pawn shop’s co-owner Rick will say some variation of, “I really want this.” While watching the most recent episode I remarked to my wife, “I wonder how tempting it would be to keep the neat stuff they buy for themselves and not resell it.” But Colleen pointed out that the logistical reasons of why he wouldn’t want to keep the treasures they come across (the cost and the storage), but she also nailed the most important factor: there will always be newer, cooler stuff coming in to the store.
And as cool as it would be to own General Griswold’s West Point cadet jacket, how much difference is there between saying “I bought General Griswold’s West Point cadet jacket” and “I bought General Griswold’s West Point cadet jacket and it’s on that hanger”? You’ve still had the experience of buying the jacket and owning it and no longer owning it will not take that away. Besides then you can say, “Then I sold it and bought this World War I knife.” And really, how many people will be excited to see a hundred year old jacket on a hanger?
This has made me think about my own West Point jackets. And while I don’t have any actual ancient jackets, I do have lots of things that I really enjoyed owning but have no more use for: dozens of books I don’t plan on rereading (or reading in some shameful cases), toys that aren’t played with, chotchkies hidden away in boxes, clothes that just aren’t in my regular rotation, and many other examples. And so, I need to get rid of these things. Craigslist, eBay and Goodwill, here they come!
Jump on our RSS bandwagon