Online Pawn Shops Lend Cash Fast | Hacker News Reader

Online Pawn Shops Lend Cash Fast

online.wsj.com

19 pointschocoheadfred11 comments

Brick and mortar or online, still basically a loan with a very high interest rate (~36% in this case) while also putting up collateral worth more than the loan.

Only use these services in the most dire of financial circumstances. If you're in a situation where you have to pawn valuables, it may be time to start thinking about getting a normal job to reassess and regroup.

I don't know where you're getting ~36%? Borrower in OP had a 3% interest rate, and the article stated an industry average of 10-20%.

With that aside, I don't entirely disagree with your argument.

Interest on loans/credit is reported in terms of annual rate, not monthly. This loan at 3% per month is 36% per year. You won't find a credit card in the US at an interest rate that high.

I would not be so sure about credit cards. I was in search for basic credit card when just moved to USA to start my credit history somewhere... I was offered credit cards which are:

1) Secured. I.e. I have to have whole credit line amount as a cash on CD with the same bank.

2) Annual fee is 50% of credit limit

3) standard APY 37.5% and penalty APY even higher

4) Credit line - less then $500

And I bet this one was not worst one.

OP had a 3% _per month_ rate.

I'm betting that 3% was compounded monthly too, so the net effect would be higher than 36% - probably north of 40, but I can't be bothered to do the math.

If you have to borrow at 36%, you are doing it wrong. You must consider your exit strategies or simply look for a job.

I'm reminded of a line from the producers: "Never invest your own money."

I don't see how one could make methodical and appropriate business decisions with the gun pressed to their head of potential financial ruin.

I was hoping to read of something truly innovative, like putting up your Steam account as collateral. Oh well.

Lend

That's a non-error:

http://public.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/nonerrors.html#lend

Reply on news.ycombinator.com