Mays Pawnbrokers & Jewellers

Customer Reviews about Mays Pawnbrokers & Jewellers:

• ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
  Dirty, dingy premises.
  
  Slow service, staff are surly and unhelpful and act as if they are doing you a favour by granting you a secured loan at APRs of nearly 200%.
  
  You are treated like a criminal or second class citizen. There seems to be no attempt to be welcoming or engage with the customer.
  
  I went into the Rochdale Rd branch today (Sep 2014) to enquire about pawning a ¾ carat diamond ring and a 24 carat chain. I waited about 10 minutes to be seen even though there were clearly several staff members milling around who could have helped me. In fact it was only the intercession of the door security guard who took it on himself to wander over to the staff members and suggest I was helped that led to me being "helped".
  
  The staff member was negative from the word go and her first words were "we can only lend you based on the weight you know". The subtext was "dont get any funny ideas about this junk you are trying to get a loan against". She then made a big deal of the fact the stone was loose in the ring and this "would have to be written on the agreement". She then told me that to ensure the authenticity of the chain it would have to be filed and acid applied and this would leave noticeable marks. I politely declined her kind offer to destroy my chain and it was handed back.
  
  And there is the crux of the matter. These items are beloved artefacts to me and my family and it is with sadness and trepidation that I use them as security for this usurious loan. Yet to the staff member who served me they are pieces of junk to be acquired at minimum cost and the customer is a nuisance taking them away from their preferred and more important tasks of gossiping, listening to the radio and drinking coffee. You sir are a pain in the neck and I make no bones over it. You cannot get normal banking facilities. You are like a piece of dirt on the bottom of my shoe and I shall let you know this.
  
  At least that is how I was made to feel. Where is the warm friendship extended to a fellow citizen down on their luck a little? Where is the kind word or smile or the merest hint or suggestion my custom is welcome? Absent is the answer.
  
  I was read a riot act list of conditions I and mentioned no price was agreed yet. A price was finally given and I mentioned I would like to borrow more if possible to which the reply in a shrill and accusatory tone was “well how much DO you want to borrow then?”. I had enough now and asked for the items back. Call me old fashioned but I would rather not deal with companies like this. Perhaps the problem is that I come from a customer service background and have always inculcated in my staff that all customers potential and actual were a rare and wonderful asset to be treated like a family member and cherished. It was the polar opposite here. I felt like handing myself in at the nearest police station or jumping under the 615 to Birmingham at platform 7 of Piccadilly station after this encounter. Instead I went home sad and bemused.
  
  So do I recommend this business? Well I think you know the answer to that. There are no winners here. I didnt get a loan and the business lost a customer and maybe more when potential customers read this. Maybe its true when people say that manners are worse than they used to be, people are self centred and uncaring and old fashioned standards of genteel and caring customer service are no more. They certainly dont exist at Mays Pawnbrokers, Rochdale Rd, Manchester. Well at least I still have my late darling mothers engagement ring in my possession even if the gas bill will have to wait a few weeks more. At least I avoided the 200% APR which contrary to the law isnt mentioned on their website either. Rant over and peace out!
  By markcrossley, February 14, 2020

About Mays Pawnbrokers & Jewellers in Manchester

Mays Pawnbrokers and jewellers stock gold, silver and platinum jewellery, both new and pre-owned. Mays Pawnbrokers services include cheque cashing, jewellery retailing, pawnroking and valuation requests.