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�� Frequently Asked Questions <br />to local law enforcement, which are required daily, must include extremely sensitive <br />personal information about the consumer. This includes ethnicity, gender, address, <br />government-issued identification and often includes a thumb or finger-print and identifying <br />marks. The contents of these reports are prescribed by local ordinances as well as state <br />laws. Much of this information qualifies as "nonpublic personal information" under federal <br />privacy law and is entitled to protection as such. <br />How has pawn broking changed since the 1930s? <br />Today's pawn store looks very different from those portreyed in film and television. <br />Pawnbrokers are upgrading the interior and exterior of stores, as weli as employee <br />presentation, customer service, exterior signage and the marketing and merchandising <br />approaches they use. The most successful pawn shops focus on providing exceptional <br />customer service and are active in the community, both politically and in local charities. <br />Are pawnshops a"bad times" industry? <br />It is a common misconception that pawn shops thrive in poor economic times. Like most <br />business, pawn shops do far better in good times and must make adjustments both at the <br />retail and loan counters to survive tough times. In hard times, customers move away to find <br />employment, have less ability to repay their loans and the value of all merchandise goes <br />down, due to discounting stretegies used by major retailers. Regardless of income level, <br />most people periodically borrow money. In good times, customers are more able to repay <br />their loans and unredeemed merchandise sells faster because customers have more <br />discretionary income. <br />Will a pawnshop downgrade the neighborhood and hurt property value? <br />Property values in any neighborhood are related to the appearence and care given to the <br />properties in that neighborhood. An attractive, eye-pleasing pawnshop usually attracts <br />customers and thereby enhances the opportunities for other merchants and the community. <br />What security measures does a pawn shop take? <br />Pawn shops take great efforts to ensure the security of their facilities, customer information <br />and merchandise. Measures typicaily include digitai video surveillance, requiring valid <br />government issued photo ID for all trensactions, and storing merchandise in highly secure <br />safes and storage areas, with the entire facility protected by monitored security systems <br />with significant redundancy. <br />Is customer and loan information confidential? <br />State and federal laws strictly regulate the privacy of pawn trensactions. Pawn shops have <br />specific procedures in place to safeguard this information. Pawn shops are required by law <br />to report all pawn transaction to local law enforcement agencies to prevent property crimes <br />and unauthorized pawns, which protects both the business and consumers in general. <br />,.. .. <br />