[Part 2] Manaka Kanda’s Pawn Shop Selling Experience
Me, Pink, and Sometimes New York
Though she had admired and purchased them, she couldn’t bring herself to use the luxury brand items and left them sleeping in her closet for several years. Deciding to sell them, Manaka Kanda went on a pawnshop tour in Ginza.
This time, the items for sale and their purchase prices are as follows:
(1) Hermes sandals (about 170,000 yen)
(2) Hermes sandals (about 150,000 yen)
(3) Manolo Blahnik pumps (about 150,000 yen)
(4) Christian Dior dress (about 800,000 yen)
(5) Christian Dior long pants (about 150,000 yen)
She once promised to sell at the first shop, but wanted to know the appraisal amounts at other stores, so she left just before the deal, almost running away. How much will she be able to sell them for!?
Does the appraisal value change depending on the story?
Feeling down, thinking, “(I did something bad.),” I stood dazed for a while at the Ginza 4-chome intersection. Pulling myself together, I headed to the second shop. This time, I decided to visit a mid-sized pawnshop I had heard of.
The person in charge was a young man and very straightforward. He didn’t ask anything about the story behind the purchase or the reason for selling. I couldn’t help but ask, “Why don’t you ask why I’m selling?” He replied, “I thought it might be rude to pry too much.” When I asked, “Does the appraisal value change depending on the story?” he said, “Not at all. An item is an item.”
Having hoped to raise the appraisal price by telling a better story than at the first shop, I clicked my tongue inwardly, thinking, “(Tsk!)”
After tapping on the computer keyboard for a while, he announced the appraisal results: (1) 30,000 yen (2) 36,000 yen (3) 12,000 yen (4) 60,000 yen (5) 20,000 yen.
I was especially surprised by the prices for ④ and ⑤ (much higher than at the first shop!). This appraisal proved that the first shop clerk’s claim, “Prices don’t vary anywhere,” was a lie. I genuinely thought, “(I’m glad I got up the courage to leave).”
Seeing such a big difference in prices, I wanted to negotiate further. I also left the second shop, saying, “I’m still learning.” Before leaving, I made a promise that if the next shop’s appraisal was lower than this one’s, I could come back and get the same appraisal price as now.
With time running out, I headed to the last ship, the largest pawnshop. As expected of the biggest player, upon entering, I was given a numbered ticket and guided to a waiting booth. The space was decorated in a white, fairy-tale style, creating a comfortable atmosphere for women.
Surprising appraisal amount that defies expectations!
After a while, I was called into a private room where a seasoned gentleman appeared. When he saw my items, he immediately said, “Thank you for bringing such popular items!” — it felt great. Without missing a beat, he pulled out a bottle of apple juice from under the desk and gave it to me. Very pleasant!
With a bright and lively tone, he quickly asked about the reason for selling and soon said, “As for the price.” When I asked, “Wait, you haven’t even used a computer, right?!” he laughed and replied, “Haha, I judge based on experience.”
The appraisal amounts he offered were: (1) 45,000 yen (2) 55,000 yen (3) 30,000 yen (4) 70,000 yen (5) 30,000 yen.
The prices were overwhelmingly high. While the first shop’s total was 95,000 yen, this place offered a total of 230,000 yen. I was completely knocked out and decided to sell everything to the biggest shop, which I had expected to give the lowest estimate.
On the way home, I stopped by my occasional beef tongue set meal restaurant. I ordered the usual set plus one slice of beef tongue and grated yam, and enjoyed a beer while reflecting on today’s life lesson.
I learned many things: assumptions are dangerous, appraisal amounts vary greatly by store, personal stories don’t affect appraisals, and staying humble is important. Most importantly, I learned never to buy things beyond my means again.
Buying what you admire with money you’ve worked hard for feels like a dream and is a truly valuable experience. But now I understand what happens afterward. It’s time to rethink how I use my money and move on to the next step in life.
Aika Kanda / Born in 1980 in Kanagawa Prefecture. After graduating from the Mathematics Department of the Faculty of Science at Gakushuin University, she joined NHK as an announcer in 2003. She left NHK in 2012 and became a freelance announcer. Since then, she has been active mainly on variety shows and currently appears regularly as the main MC on the daytime program “Pokapoka” (Fuji TV network).
★ Her first book compiling this series, “Where Does the Royal Road Lead?”, is now on sale to great acclaim!
From “FRIDAY” magazine, May 30, 2025 issue
Illustration and text： Aika Kanda
