Oh great, that's all we need, another story about misspent FEMA relief money, going to luxury items like $5000 rims!!! Okay, everyone from coast to coast, go ahead and hammer away at us again!!! But before you do, just let me say...Yes, I did receive FEMA relief money and I was very thankful for it, I was able to bring my family back home after the storm (we were staying with relatives out-of-state) and complete some necessary repairs on my home while waiting to settle with my insurance. I did not misspend a NICKEL of it on luxuries either! and I am NOT the exception, as my story pretty much parallels everyone in my circle of friends, family and neighbors.
The national media has bent over backwards to tell every negative story they can about the people living in the aftermath of Katrina. The entire country already thinks we are all just a lazy bunch of thieving, whining yahoos sitting around with our hands out waiting for more of their tax money. The worst and most sensational stories are headlined on page 1; the good news always gets crammed to the back page, if told at all. And, am I wrong or are pawn shops largely frequented by the lowest-common-denominator type of people who WOULD be the ones buying $5000 rims with relief money? Thanks, MSNBC. This started as a site to chronicle Bay St Louis and Waveland's trials, tribulations and recovery, and it has deteriorated into a Jerry Springer free-for-all.

I do agree with you mike 100% on these lazy good for nothing people who take the fema funding, from people who really need it.Take note on the rim buyers we cant leave out the ones who lied to get their diamond and gold filled mouth for show , but they sit thier having thier famlies starve . While fema and us gov dosent do anything about the familes who really need the fund's just to survive.

I totally agree, I am sure most folks used the money for good...as it was intended. We "adopted" a Katrina familty that fled to St. Louis. We bought them many items to re-establish a new household. Imagine our surprise when we went to deliver the items and they had a plasma screen tv and a computer, but not much else. They also didn't want the used sofa we got them, but instead sat it outside by the trash until they could get a new one. All it takes is a couple of bad apples to give the whole group a bad rap. God Bless all of you down there.

I totally agree, I am sure most folks used the money for good...as it was intended. We "adopted" a Katrina familty that fled to St. Louis. We bought them many items to re-establish a new household. Imagine our surprise when we went to deliver the items and they had a plasma screen tv and a computer, but not much else. They also didn't want the used sofa we got them, but instead sat it outside by the trash until they could get a new one. All it takes is a couple of bad apples to give the whole group a bad rap. God Bless all of you down there.

First let me start by saying that I'm the owner of Best Pawn & Jewelry, the shop
mentioned in the above article. For the most part the article is correct, but there are a few
things that I would like to clarify or at least elaborate on. I just wish that I could have personally been in the store when the
Interview was done. Tim Johnstone has been working for me appx. 1 Month and has not really had a
long time here in the Bay to see a fair sampling of what we're taking in on Pawn.
In case my Insurance adjusters are reading this, we were damaged first with wind tearing the
roof off then wind driven rain blowing through the building for hours before the flood water made it into the store, then looting for days.
Here is a link to the instore video proving it. http://www.pawnchat.com/video/bestcorp.mpg
People later told me that there were so many looters that it reminded them of "ants" coming in and out
through the blown down doors.
Looters were looking for any and everything that they could find to carry out the doors.
I think that the looters were in the store when I first entered and I must have scared them off.
About 15 LongGuns (hunting Rifles and Shotguns), all though none were stolen, were laid
out in a line and were ready to be hauled out when I first made it back to the store the day after.
All LongGuns were taken and hidden in the store to prevent them from being looted. I did leave a few
Black Powder guns (not considered firearms) out to let the future looters think that they had something of value and would leave.
Mostly electronics like camcorders, digital cameras, along with anything else that was
not tied down was looted.
After we got re-opened we quickly found out that, anyone that was left in the Bay, that was not "borrowing from us"
would hopefully be "buying from us" so we switched gears and decided to concentrate on the
retail side of the business since there were so many people working and gettin paid handsomely.
Just in the last few months have customers started to borrow money again and we assume
that this is due to FEMA funds drying up. Honestly, the items that we are seeing brought in
are the "Norm" that we've always seen come across the counter like nail guns, hand tools, power tools, jewelry
etc. We have had 4 sets of Rims come across our doorstep since we have re-opened. Not a lot to brag on by any stretch of
the imagination. I personally have not heard one person mention that the items that are brought in are from FEMA money.
Prior to working for me, Tim Johnston, the person quoted in the article worked in Baton Rouge at a Pawnshop
and some of this information may be mixed up with what he mentioned he saw there.

So to wrap it up, we are seeing normal items being borrowed on, nothing extravagant to speak of and we are seeing
everyday people, Doctors, Lawyers, City Workers, Self-employed,Mechanics, Debris haulers etc
and anyone else with "a little too much month at the end of the money".
Hopefully there are more "normal" times ahead and we can all go at least one full day without having to think about
the name Katrina.
Regards,
Phil Webb

Pawn shops are patronized by people who need pawn shops. Ever notice how pawn shops are usually really close to bail bondsmen and jails? Probably not a coincidence. Just like everywhere, there are good people and not-so-good people in the Gulf states. I can tell you I love the South, and love the Gulf Coast folks especially for their integrity, strength, sense of family, and ability to "get through" anything. This article is not journalism but rather strikes me as a nasty attempt to divide rather than unite; it smacks of racism and elitism. Shame on the editor who signed off on this trash as an article worth printing.

Uh, they're saying that RESIDENTS are PAWNING the rims, and that the PAWN SHOP is buying them. Now that the FEMA money has run out, they have to get rid of the expensive stuff they have to get $$$$. I thought it was obvious, though.

Once having worked down in NOLA and living in Biloxi, I had to move due to the hurricane and put roots down elsewhere. However, I still long to go back and start again. I am still asked about FEMA, the trailers and so forth.....I never did ask for a handout and neither received one, from anyone, not even the state-funded programs that were in place. So to see a woman struggle with younger children (I am an older parent of 42) and knowing that I could make it, no matter how hard and NOT having to buy plasma TV's, $5000 rims and a new computer, and being GRATEFUL to those who helped me get back on my feet, I feel truly blessed. Unfortunately, I must agree with Sandy - that would put a bitter taste in my mouth to wanting to help others in times of need. SHAME ON MY SOUTHERN NEIGHBORS! People are willing to help out......don't be ungrateful. Accept what you can and move forward. It is now a year. Pull up by the bootstraps and make it happen!

I somewhat agree.

I am unsure about pawn shops though. There are several in Knoxville and as a general rule, it is cheaper to go to Lowes or Home Depot. I went to a pawn looking for a ladder and they wanted $10 more than a brand new comparable one at Home Depot. Only fools shop there and I try to give some of the pawn users the benefit of doubt. Some really are not that bad.

Also remeber that youth is wasted on the young.

I'm glad these guys are back in buissiness....but rims for 5 grand.....i smell drug dealing.....5 grand? probably on a 500 dollar car....and I bet da dude drivin' it got some gold teeth

The Katrina Disaster is far from over!!!!! Just because it is not in the News doesn't make it disappear like some smoke & mirror stories that make the News. These are real people who have been through alot. If you want to see how bad they have had go down to New Orleans for yourself. Or better yet trade places with them. Given that challenge, I guarantee, I'll bet those naysayers & negative pompous people will dry up & stop being mean & nasty. There is an old saying " You never know what a Person goes through until happens to you". I don't wish any bad on anyone!!!!!!! However, nature will continue with its unpredictable weather & doesn't choose who it affects. Unfortunately the next natural Hurricane or maybe Earthquake won't be dealt on those less forunate. Therfore we should all take a stand help anyone regardless of who they are in remember we all live on the same planet and have to coexist whether we like it or no. So lets all start helping instead of being mean & hurting. Help Always & Never Hurt!!! Nuff Said!!!!!!!!!

Not to take this article on a different tangent from where it's supposed to be heading, FEMA money, but I wanted
to adress the 5000.00 mention about the Rims. There is no way that we paid, or would ever pay 5000.00 for a set of Rims.
So I'm not sure if there was some miscommunication on the amount or what, but rest assured, we have not paid that kind of money on anything.
Also to the person that shopped at a Pawnshop and was not impressed with the stores price on the ladder as compared to the new one down the road. There are some older style stores that are still hanging on trying to get as much or more than an items sells for at new retail. But the odds are that more than likely the store did not keep up with the
current price of the ladder and assumed they had it priced properly. The issue that pawnshops have is that we have to handle so many different types of things that it is hard for us to stay on top of all the prices from so many places. Music stores deal in Musical items, Electronic stores deal in electronics and so on. Pawnbrokers have to know a little about many types of goods, Jewelry, Power tools, Musical Items, Firearms, Sporting goods etc,.. Of course no one brings it to our attention when we have something priced too low!!(chuckle) Next time your shopping for a specific item and it is marked too high, and your more familiar with the price of an item than the broker, bring it to the Managers attention, and most of the time we will adjust the price since most of us realize that we have to sell it for less than it sells for down the road if we want to move the merchandise. Give it a try.
Regards,
Phil

I'm the proud manager of a pawnshop that is located one block from my town's state supported university. I am the third generation of my family to have a career as a pawnbroker in my family's business. My shop is located in a nice part of town where I get to converse with many different people that pass through my store's entrance on a daily basis. Some of them I would like to avoid like the plague, but for the most part I do business with an overly honest group of citizens in our little town.

Ok, for the record let's assume the hurricane people went and "pimped out" their lifestyle on freebies from FEMA money. Well guess what sportsfans, the rent has come due, the power bill has to be paid, and the kids are hungry. Hell, let's throw a little bit of good ole drug dependency into the picture to make it a really peachy world. What do you expect these people who need money to do with these luxuries bought with mine and your tax money? They bring it to us and exchange it for funds to help keep their lifestyle going, whatever lifestyle they choose to have. Pawnshops have been given a bad rap when it comes to how much we loan people on their goods and what we turn around and sell them for. First of all society should not be mad at the pawnbrokers. They should be mad at the retailers that charged them an arm and a leg for an item such as a piece of jewelry. I rode by a jewelry store tonight beside a Wal-Mart that sells real cheap stuff made in China, but that's a whole other egg shell to crack, and they had a sign in the window that said 70% off all merchandise. I'll guarantee you they are not taking a loss on their investment and having such a grand sale because they like their customers. The bottom line is they have less than 30% invested in the inventory and need to make some quick sales. In fact, many "upscale" jewelry stores get some of their merchandise from pawnbrokers that they probably sold to a customer for 5 times what they can rebuy it from a pawnbroker anyway. But we're the "bad guy" in this equation...

The idea of all stolen merchandise winding up in a pawnshop is as much of an incorrect statement as for someone to say all people who live in the south are inbred redneck hicks. The lady that stated only fools shop in pawn shops clearly hasn't done much price comparison concerning many items that pawn shops sell. Granted some shops are more expensive than others, but as a general rule the pawn shops that I'm involved with are highly reputable firms that make a conscious effort to loan money in a fair market manner, keep accurate records of all pawn/purchase transactions, and price merchandise accordingly as to what the market will allow. Her "ladder experience" may be true. I'm a third generation pawnbroker and I'd be lying if I said I never made a mistake in business at pricing something for sale, but I'll guarantee you I've learned from my mistakes.

If somebody used there FEMA money to buy a diamond ring instead of essentials, then that's the government's problem. They were the one's dumb enough to give a certain percentage of our society a free debit card that had no restrictions whatsoever on the owner of the card, but reminded retail businesses every day of the week that we were not to charge sales tax on purchases made with these cards because these transactions were going to help the victims of the hurricane. It was once again a dumbing down of our society. So if somebody wants to borrow money on an item that is rightfully their's according to the US law, then who am I to say, "I'm sorry. You possibly bought this item with tax money partially paid by me and alot of people are pissed that you've done exactly what you've become accustomed to doing for many years of your life already and I'm gonna refuse to do business with you because of that". What kind of logic would that be? The damage was already done when these people were given free money to do with what they pleased. Some used it properly and some didn't. For the people that are angry with what these hurricane victims did all I can say is hopefully you won't be as surprised the next time that you see somebody spending welfare checks on something other than food, utility bills, and other essentials .

As a lifelong resident of Baton Rouge, LA, I LOVE pawn shops and have bought a jewelry box full of fantastic jewelry at great prices, including a lot of 18K. I paid with my hard earned cash and as long as the merchandise wasn't stolen, I don't care where it came from. Unlike Lowes and Home Depot, they will negotiate the price if it goes out the door.Now speaking of the people S. of here that are now residents of Baton Rouge, I am appalled as well as embarrassed that they are citizens of LA. EVERY day, included today and yesterday, I was approached by victims of the storm. They are wandering the streets going from Sam's, Wal-Mart, Lowes and Home Depot panhandling. Yesterday one had a baby in a basket in this heat and needed money to get back to her motel because she had ridden with someone who left her and was "tired of looking at 4 walls." Didn't have money to get back. Today at Sam's, a lady and her grown son, who lives across the street in a motel needed money because "her check didn't come until the end of the month." I told her that everyone up and down that highway within walking distance had help wanted signs out and she said "she wished her son would get a job." They got money from someone, bought food at the counter and then walked back to the motel. The workers at Sam's said they come every day. I am sick and tired of these people and wish they would somehow get their lazy selves back to New Orleans. I now wonder if hush hush FEMA is STILL paying for motels. Hell, this storm was a year ago! As far as the 150,000 who are in Houston and won't work either, (according to the Houston mayor), they need to stay there. TX needs a fence? LA REALLY needs one also, to keep these people from coming back. BTW, all of the people up and down the roads here begging have been white. It is no myth and I am telling it as it is and see it day after day. I fostered animals for some of them and didn't even get a thank you even though food and vet bills were paid by me.

My family lost our mobile home to Katrina when an oak tree fell through the center of it. We did get some FEMA money, thankfully. This is where our FEMA money went:

Moving and setup fees for a used,unfurnished mobile home.

Furniture, pots and pans, a refridgerator, washer/dryer combo, school uniforms and other clothing for our children.

We are paying for the mobile home ourselves, as the FEMA money didn't stretch that far.

We are still driving a raggedy old car and struggling to make ends meet. We didn't waste a penny of the FEMA money. We shopped and compared prices extensively to get the best deals on all of our furnishings, appliances and clothing, without waste.

We have cheap rims on our tires and no one in my family has a gold tooth or a gold watch.

My husband and I are both working very hard to make our home and insurance payments, and we are not sitting here, waiting for handouts from anyone.

I'm sick and tired of all Southerners, particularly those in my specific region of Mississippi, being portrayed as lazy wellfare recipients who stay out in the bars all night and sleep all day.

I don't think the world or the government owes me anything. Don't get me wrong, I'm very grateful for the help we received. Without it, we would probably still be living in my in-law's storage building, so yes, we did accept the help offered, but now we are working hard to help ourselves.

I challenge the journalists and reporters to do some stories on the many people here who are honest and hard working, the ones who are helping themselves. You'll be surprised to see how many you'll find.

Lot of mistakes made by all our government agency on all levels. Opportunist from many states participated in the free lunches. for those old enough to remember it use to be a simpler time more people did the right thing, because it was the right thing to do. I don't pretend to know what all the solution are to the decay of society. I do try to focus on the positive side of the storm. Strangers getting together and helping other strangers. Churches and Schools reopening, Neighbors helping Neighbors ect. ect. I wish I had not read this garbage, I assume the writer is young and job scared, and just wanted to write something a lot of people would read. It's very unfortunate more people will read this than a Church reopening in a vacant lot. I live close to the Gulf of Mexico in Florida and will continue to read so I may know what to expect. I don't believe this is a New Orleans problem as much as a society problem.
Just my 2 cents, Bill Linney

I'm glad to see that so many have computers up and running. How else will we, the people of America know what is really going on in Louisiana and Mississippi. It is a shame that these people have to pawn anything that Katrina did not destroy. As for $5000 rims, well boys will have thier toys!

Everyone needs to step back and hold out on the overwhelming indictments of all "Katrina" survivors. I worked with 100+ familes and only one had any type of criminal history. In fact only 2 of the families where on any type of goverment assistance. So in that they exhausted their initial personal funds on emergency shelter, food and whatever else...what difference does it make that they purchased Gucci, Prada or Botox with FEMA debit cards???? By the way gold teeth and rims are dumb investments for anyone at any level.

I find it funny that folks that have never been in a pawn shop, or only one time many years ago have such negative opinions about them. I personally have never pawned anything, but I love to go in them to find deals on tools or electronics. Yes when the item is pawned, the "Pawnee" usually takes a financial beating on the item, but it is their choice to go and to make the deal to sell their goods. Nobody is forced to sell anything. Just as in any store, you can find some deals or you can spend too much money for an item, you still have to pay attention to what your buying. Some of the trouble with high prices are from employees or even owners that don't know what an item is worth, and end up paying too much money for it when pawned...just try and place a real value on thousands of different tools, jewelry or electronics that you have never bought new yourself!
Although pawn shops get a bad rap, it is like any other business out there, good and bad apples...anyone ever heard of Enron?? So please don't make judgements until you have pawned, or visited and shopped at your local pawn shop...you just might find that router or table saw you have been looking for!

I'm sure most people had integrity and morality in mind when spending FEMA money. And those few egegrious cases placed a bad rap on every Katrina victim. Just think...for the REST OF YOUR LIFE, when you mention to someone that you're a Katrina victim, the first thought on their mind will be "I wonder what they wasted their FEMA money on." Followed closely by the thoughts of the utter chaos after the hurricane. Now you know how the military feels!! Welcome to a lifetime of wrongful stigma.

I had to leave a comment after reading these articles. I am born and raised in san diego ca. And I cannot believe the comments that people make about other races, some of you try to be discreet, but not discreet enough. I am a african american, and it's sad that people sterotype us as being thugs and drug dealers, yes, some of us to wear gold teeth in our mouths, my grandmother used to wear it in her mouth years ago when she came to california from arkansas. so why make comments about that? People who live in the south have been doing that for years. Katrina affected alot of people, but the media focused everything on us in a negative way.

Mike, Phil, Sandy and others. I sincerely feel for the trials and tribulations that your enduring daily. Yes, I agree the media looks for the negative (however insignificant) and then sensationalizes it as the norm instead of the exception.

Please keep this in mind when reading about or listening to news reports on Iraq and the Middle east.

Yes, the media DOES have an agenda, unfortunately its not about upholding the truth!

FEMA TRAILERS IN HOPE ARK BY THE 1000,S CONE GET ONE HELL THEY SUNK IN THE MUD BRAND NEW

Rims are not hubcaps, to the layman or anyone else. And while stupid-expensive, they aren't so expensive that a pawn shop is going to pay anything like $5000 for a set.

Some of the sand was knocked out of my will to criticize after one visit to the mile after mile after mile of devastation caused by Katrina in Louisiana and Mississippi.

Even so, hard times brings out the true nature of people. Some have shown their stupidity; others have proven to be better than terrific.

I salute those from all over the who have helped and are still helping. It means more than words can express. God will remember, too.

Yeap a damn hooptie with 5000 dollar rims...LOL!!!!...that ain't right...I don't care who you are!!!!

Tamieka,
Where did someone say that it was African Americans that were wearing the gold teeth?
I looked back through the list and could not find where it mentioned race. I may have missed it though.
The person that had the most gold teeth that I have ever seen was from a Caucasian man that came in after the storm to redeem his goods. He looked like "Jaws" from the James Bond movies.
Everyone might interested in knowing that the Proprietary Software that I use to run our business
is defaulted to "White Male" when we go in to make a loan since White Males are the number 1 Pawner.

I am a New Orleans native; my friends and family were impacted by the storm. I had thirteen of them living here with me after Katrina, even though I had roof damage and didn't have power either. No one I know received enough money from FEMA to do anything inappropriate with it or buy anything luxurious. It seems to me that the media is fueling the idea that the FEMA money was a huge windfall and everyone down here went on crazy spending sprees. Perhaps we were too busy cleaning up and missed it. I've heard stories of abuse, but I think this abuse is being significantly exaggerated in the public’s eye. Not everything of value existing in the south was purchased with FEMA money. There is a much greater probability that those rims were purchased before the storm, looted during the storm, or purchased with money doing construction after the storm, than with FEMA money.

I'm in Biloxi, MS. Before the storm I was living in a trailer court where rent was the cheapest I could find. I am a single father with two teens and am also a student spending 35 hours per week in the classrom and another 24 to 36 in clinicals. Paid work is minimal until graduation in another year. We and all other familiea in our trailer court lost everything. I like most of the others applied for a FEMA trailer. I did not ask for monetary assistance but did receive a little as did most of my former neighbors I've been able to keep in touch with. Of all I know who received help, none used the money on anything other than bare necessities. All of us could use more help but none of us are asking for it. We're scraping and scratching and slowly putting our lives back together. We all also have a long way to go. Living in a 28 foot travel trailer is not easy but it is better than the tent we lived in till just after New Years. In many ways I'm better off than most of us that are low income since in a year I have a job with excellent pay waiting for me. The point - We all fit the defination of Southern Trailer Trash, yet we asked for little, used what we got wisely, and are getting our lives back together with little complaint. I've lived in many other parts of the country and can say that if you weren't here for the hurricane you can't have a clue what we have had to deal with. I'm sure there are those who have abused the relief system, but I don't know any. With my involvement with Emergency Medical Services I've been in most all of the Mississippi storm damage area and as for how we in Mississippi have done, well, of the 26 states in which I've lived I can count on one hand and have fingers left over for the places that might have been able to handle this level of disaster as well as have the people of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Those who have not lived through it are not qualified to judge those of use who have. We'll deal with our bad apples and shame on those whether individual or press who judge and speak on something they can't possibily understand.

Well, I'm in Houston,Texas, and I have always said that pawn shops were one of the best places to find a bargain, or at least try to get a better one. As for the "Kitrina victims" how long should someone keep claiming "victimism" before they get their rear in gear and do something to rebuild their life. I've been there, The last one was Allison, 6.5 foot in my house, lucky for me we all got out in time. But, I was only down 7days til we were in a house, and stabilized to the point, that we could carry on. 3 weeks later I was in divorce court, suck it up and carry on. What wrong with the gov't in La/NO? There is where lies fault for letting people do what they do.

well well well aren't you the smart one if this story isin't full of hidden recism, what is shame on you and the editor who let this story out, furthermore all of you in America who think that small piece of shi* the 10,000 that fema gave was even close enough to restore some normalcy, drive your but to LA/MS and see for your self why if you had before the storm you still have and if you didn't have well, you ddtill don;t have today,,,,,,,,,,,GO FIGURE

man Phil...I bet that "JAWS" dude wuz scarey...my dad had a gold tooth { a bridge}....but he got rid of it....and we never had a hooptie with gold rims....LOL!!!!

Wait, man was't "JAWS" teeth stainless steel?

I've read all kinds of stories about how FEMA checks were "misspent"--divorces, plastic surgeries, etc. Why are we so shocked every time we hear of yet another creative way this money was used? There will always be people who are foolish about money, regardless of its source, FEMA check or otherwise. These people who spend money foolishly will never prosper, regardless of how much money passes through their hands. Foolish, unnecessary expenditures result from a need to be self-indulgent (I've been through a horrific experience, so I deserve to have things that make me feel better) and ignorance about money. This ignorance about money can be cured by education; for example, reading personal finance books such as the fantastic ones by David Bach in his "Finish Rich" series (The Automatic Millionaire is my favorite; it certainly enlightened me and made money much less of a mystery!). If more people knew how to make the most of what they do earn/receive, fewer people would need the services of pawn shops, etc. Knowledge is power!

The cycle continues. Bush/FEMA failed to anticipate an emergency, then after it was too late, they threw their money around, wasting it on trailers that are hazardous to one's health, and huge lots of empty trailers. Throwing money at the problem, but not fixing anything.

If you're not, register to vote TOMORROW. Vote these "compassionate conservatives" out on their ass. Isn't that who all you southerners vote for anyway?

"Keep doing what you're doing, keep getting what you're getting."

Well said Gordon Bresemann, well said! I was in Washington state when Katrina hit and have recently moved back to the south. I knew it was bad from the images in the news, but until you see the effects a year later, you don't have a clue as to the devastation these folks have experienced.
Hub caps are accessories that attach to rims. All races have people with gold teeth. I am very much middle class, well respected, intelligent, articulate, and have been in several pawn shops in several states. That only speaks to the intelligence of someone that would judge another person's worth by determining that, where they choose to shop, is indicative of their value as a person.
Hopefully, the kind people that are currently passing judgement on these victims will not ever have the pleasure of experiencing this type of tragedy on a personnal level.

Not all of abused it or even got it for that matter. Fema has been handing out grants in excess of 10,000 dollars. I applied for such a grant and was told I qualified as I had lost everything to 8 feet of water in my home. Still nothing. My ex husband whose home was fully insured aswell as it's contents, and he is working, is still recieving rental assistance. I recieved the intial rental assistance back in October,,reapplied,sent in reciepts,,still nothing. But am proud to say I am holding myown and my children are doing well. I recieve no help from any agency.We were very blessed that so many people found perfectly good items disposable after Katrina. Half my home is furnished with things people were throwing out for trash,sofas,,bedding,,computers ( that worked!!!) and so forth. When we had returned after the storm we had only 2 days of clothing, a couple pillows,blankets and 2 air mattresses. Now I have a full house furnished by people who thought to go buy all new when what they had was perfectly fine and undamaged. So I guess in a way FEMA did help us because if those people hadn't got all that money than maybe they would have thought twice about doing away with such nice items.

There seems to be a good bit of opinions here both pro and con against pawn shops. Given each its due course they have valid points in different situations.

Just to draw a refernce point; I am a husband, and father of 3 with a stay at home wife, and I make a pretty decent living some where above 6 figures after taxes.

To make ends meet and continue in the life styles we are accustom, I frequent the local pawn establishments. I often purchase tools, electronics, or the occational kids x-box or psp type games at a reasonable discount. Abeit not for the main house, but for the porch or my work shed. Still quality items at that..

Mind you I keep up with the current prices, and even when selecting an item in the store I use my blackberry to search the retail value and usualy get the item for about 50% of retail. Some prices are over inflated, but if you ask the mgt usually they will work with you. (But as a note - remember they are usually selling and trading to folks that typically do not have the means to charge or pay cash right out and oftin do layaways that the homedepot, bestbuy or major retailer doesnt offer) so if a price is a bit high and they wont come down its usually on an item they can turn pretty quick.

I have seen all kinds of people in stores as my son and I look around. Often I wonder what has been stolen or questionably pawned, but thats is really no different in my mind that buying cheep stuff from Malmart that has been assembled over seas for pennies on a dollars wages.

I have since learned that the local police department keeps a close eye on our pawn shops, I would expect that is the case in your areas too.

To end this rant, I just would like to add, Shame on FEMA, Shame on the people that exploited the support, Shame on the retailers that accepted the funds for obvious wrongly purchased items, but morely so - Shame on us all for not holding our leaders accountable.

Anyone who has 5k for rims doesn't need federal assistance, they need cause and effect training and schooling in fiscal management. Pawns serve a purpose, sad as it is.
No one I know considers all residents in that catastrophe lazy and worthless. As always, a few seem to spoil it for others. Our hearts bleed as we know that could be us the next time. No American wants to see other hard working Americans in such dire straights.

Sorry to hear folks badmouth the residents of this area. Somehow we have to get over the fact that some people will use a handout differently that we do. If they are entitled to the help, then it is up to them as to how they use it. If that is different than you or I, so be it. Remember, in most cases they suffered real damage and were entitled to relief.

Kinda funny in a way, on how other folks percieve us here on the Gulf Coast. Three major huriccains in 2 years. Bairly have time to clean up and get ready for the next one. Getting DECENT contractors, is a premium. Lots of them are fly by nights, and just out to take the folks who sufferd the most. My insurance helped pay for Ivan, But Katrina was another story. Roof was destroyed, and the rain came in, Causing mildew trewout the home. FEMA came out and did an inspection. We were told that our home had been shifted on our foundation. Other then being paid 500.00 for the generator I had to by, we received NOTHING from FEMA, but was refered to the Small Business Administration (Federal Gov.) for a loan. We didn't get enough money to rebuild our home, and even didn't get enough to remodel form the damage. We are repaying that money as well as our regular mortgage. NOTHING is free in this world. You just have to earn it.

I've read all the comments and it saddens me. Yes, there are "bad" people of all races who made poor decisions with their FEMA money. And, yes, there are people of all races who spent their FEMA money wisely. I live in MO but worked in Southern Louisiana for a week at a church sponsored free store where basic food, hygene, and cleaning supplies were given away to anyone who expressed a need. Yes, there were people who "worked" the system and went around and collected anything that they could. There were also people who hesitated to take hardly anything because they knew there were others in need. The most common comment I heard,though, was, "I may have lost my house/car/job but I am blessed because my family survived." Trouble does not always bring out the best in people but it often brings out the best in some people - no matter what their race is.

There will always be people that take advantage during a natural disaster out of pure greed and no respect for those that are really in need of help.
Business is business,those items being pawned maybe Katrina victims personal items that need to be pawned to make ends meet. In my opinion $5000.00 rims may have come from looting. I think it's criminal that the pawn shop accept items such as the rims and very expensive jewelry.

Everyone is assuming that the luxury items being pawned were bought with FEMA money. Well I've had to sell a few luxury items since Katrina - and guess what - those luxury items were in my possession BEFORE Katrina. They are some of the expensive items I owned that were packed up in my car when I evacuated. And you can bet that if I had expensive rims on my car - I'd be selling those as well.

Think about it people, everyone is in a frenzy about these rims - how do you know the person who pawned them didn't own them before the storm.

Plus, say that person drove to safety before the storm, well then those rims would have gone with him, and wouldn't have been damaged by the storm, leaving him with a perfectly good set of used rims to pawn.

Gordon in Biloxi, good for you and good luck in your career. Those who lived through Katrina and are working hard like you to recover from something so challenging and emotionally draining have nothing to apologize for or defend. You're right, most of us who have never been through a real natural disaster shouldn't speak in judgement.

From everything I've read, the sheer scope of the areas devastated complicated your recovery very badly-the lack of stores, bridges out requiring longer drives, places of employment and schools all gone. The large area of damage has also meant slower rebuilding because of the slow down in insurance payments and permits. When a flood or hurricane takes out just one town, you're not that far from the next town to get supplies and help. And insurers and inspectors aren't as overwhelmed.

I just love these comments. Some are funny, some are touching, and some are just plain ugly.

But I ask you this...if we didn't have the bums mooching, and pawing zillion dollar rim who would we have to to make ourselves feel better?

And if no one abused the FEMA handouts what would we have to fuel our resentment of the stupidity of the entire Federal help for Katrina victims?

And finally if we we all so perfect and responsible the 'non trailer trash high mucky-mucks' who make the Good Choices, and Help Society would have fixed the damn levies years ago. So God bless the folks who glommed a few freebies. They weren't acting any diferent than the United States Senators who put pork projects ahead of the more important needs of this country.

$50,000,000 drug company benefits (who make billions as it is) instead of fixed levies equals the larger scale version of Rims instead of a car. Tee hee, it's been going on on all levels forever.

This article is not journalism ...it smacks of racism and elitism.

-Karen Sweet, Lake Mary, FL (Sent Jul 28, 2006 7:40:35 PM)

Karen, you gotta be kidding me. I read and re-read the article and never found even a hint of a mention of race. If you read an article about looters and people who spend $5,000 dollars on rims and assume that it is about a person of a given ethnicity, that is "on you" as the vernacular goes. I can only assume you mean it is so obvious as to which ethnicity the article alludes to, that it is understood without having to spell it out. Karen, if those actions are so truly specific to a certain group of people that "we all know who they are talking about", then that isn't racism. That's making an observation.

The fact that the owner of the pawn shop that was featured in the story has had to come on this site twice now, to try to clear up and clarify what was reported, should go to show just how irresponsible this story was. And unless Mr Johnston is a clairvoyant or something, he does not know how those "$5000 rims" were obtained by the pawnee. They could have been bought before the storm by a person who was salvaging them off of their flooded car before having it junked, or after the storm with moneys earned working in the cleanup or construction. I personally just can't see even the most distasteful person going into a pawnshop with $5000 rims and announcing he bought them with FEMA money. To just assume that FEMA relief money paid for those rims or any of the other luxuries being pawned and report it as such is irresponsible, and does none of here any justice in the eyes of America, many of whom are getting their only news about Katrina's impact on Mississippi from this site and are painting all of us with that same broad brush of contempt, anger and indignation after reading stories like this. I'm not naive, I do know that unfortunately, a few people would be capable of doing something so distasteful, but that it certainly is not the normal behavior of these people as a whole, only the unsavory actions of a few, and every neighborhood of every community of every state in the U.S. has a few people like these. I do believe that anyone with knowledge of such a fraud and abuse should report it to the FEMA fraud hotline. Yes, America, such a number exists and is being used, and people are being prosecuted for things such as this, or lying to obtain the relief money. I know that if I had personal knowledge of an abuse like that, I'd be reporting it!

The rims may have been on the car of a working teenager with a great stereo in his car before he evacuated. Now coming home to no job, he has to part with them. So thank goodness to the pawn shop, since no one in the area could have bought them in a private transaction.

You need to read the story for the main points and not focus on the details as the owner had pointed out in his comments.

FEMA money was used properly by everyone I know as well. THe news has a tendency to focus on the drama and wrongdoings of a small group of people. Even in a group of working people you have people who end up in bankruptcy and can't manage or overspend money themselves. So why would they all know how to handle the FEMA money if they spent their own unwisely? Just a thought.

All the talk on this board and others of the elusive "FEMA checks" makes me wonder: how much FEMA money did hurricane victims really get?

I lost my Bay Saint Louis home, all my possesions, and a vehicle. I am currently both renting an apartment and paying monthly mortgage on a slab (that my insurance company did not pay my claim on).

The way that the media portrays our situation, one would think I was running to the bank (or luxury item stores) with all my glorious FEMA money.

But I received the initial $2000 for evacuation purposes, and that was it. FEMA stated that I had "insufficient damages" (whole house washed away!) for any more assistance. I am not the only person in this scenario.

While $2000 might seem like a good chunk of change to someone who is not a hurricane victim, for those that actually went through the storm, it was appreciated as it did assist in paying for evacuation expenses and immediate temporary lodging. The money did not go further than that (its directed purpose).

I don't know where these claims of misspent FEMA checks come from, for I cannot imagine more than a few bad apples spending their assistance frivoulously.

Furthermore, every situation that you encounter down here is different. Please, do not judge what cannot be understood. Read, form opinions, debate policy - yes. But do not judge.

If I mentioned that my husband and I are stationed here with the US NAVY, and that we bought our home a few months prior to the storm, would that make a difference? His three deployments fighting in the Middle East - does that change matters? Are we worthy now of govenment assistance?

I hope not. We are the same as every other person on the Gulf Coast. No, we did not choose to live here. But,yes, we are devastated. Yes, we find ourselves trying to pick ourselves up. And yes, we take offense to the criticisms of others who loop all hurricane victims into the sensational FEMA money-laundering types, which is not the case by far.

Although I suppose, it does make for a good story.

dangitt, i ain't menchioned race....so far...but wasn't "jaws" a big ugly white guy?...in that 007 movie?

Again,
I'm not saying that the reporters were in the wrong in what was taken down from our employee. While Tim, the person quoted, was in the store, he is the newest person there and has not had enough experience "in this area" to be the best person to give out info regarding what is coming into the store. There is enough great press out here to not make anything up. I believe that it could have been a combination of wrong info passed to them and or misscommunication.
There is no doubt in my mind that there were some misuse of FEMA money by people throughout the Coastal areas, this has been proven. I know that almost everyone reading this is more than likely not in my range for customers but I wanted to shed some light on how Pawnshops function to those that have never used our services.
Most of the people that we see in the PawnShop are hard working people that need either some gas money, cash to cover a check have a prescription filled, or some other need for a small loan (usually less than 100.00) till the end of the week when they get paid.
Mississippi, as in most states, require that we as a Financial Institution, we're regulated by the "Department of Banking and Consumer Finance" and must identify and record the person recieving a pawn by using a State or Federal ID. Also the information about the items being held as collateral is entered into the system such as Model number, Serial Number, General description, distingishing marks etc. This info is provided to the Local Law Enforcement so that they can cross this info over to their "Stolen Items Report" while we hold the goods in the back. We hold buys for 21 days, and Loans for 60 days before the items would ever make it into inventory.
I feel that we do more to help Victims of crimes to get their goods back by being a Safety Net, or catch all by holding the goods and reporting this info so that it can be researched. Most of the Pro Criminals know that we require this info and will move on to sell their "bounty" to a place of business that does not have to abide by these "Id/Hold" requirements. Jewelry Stores, Second hand stores, Flea Markets and of course on the street to other "End Users" are just some of the places that stolen goods are more likely to turn up. All of these establishments can buy an items from one person, and turn around and sell it to the next person with zero requirements for record leeping. Everyone runs to the Pawnshops due the stereotyping that is prevelant in the Movies etc. I admit that years ago PAwnshops had a bad reputation, and probably deserved it, but these days, most all of the shops are doing everything on the up and up. I would say that most of the problems that we have are domestic issues regarding family members "Missapropriating" Dads Chain saw or Big Brothers Guitar Amp. We will have victims come into the store giving us a list of goods that were recently taken from them and we agree to take in the items from the perp if they will refund the money that we loaned out. By allowing us to complete the loan it gives the Police evidence against the theif. All we ask is that we be refunded the actual Loan amount, so that we're not losing any money. Some offer to, others pass on the offer. Pawnbrokers in general make a decent living and do not have to rely on illegal activity to make ends meet. We do much better in the long run if we pass on any and all things that look fishy. Take a look at our store as it was before Katrina took it out and I think that you would have to agree that it is not the stereotypical Pawnshop that you see in the Movies. WWW.BESTPAWN.COM
As a side note, I just found out today that my insurance is more than tripling since the Storm.
Regards,
Phil

Thanks Phil for being there for my friends and family who are trying to rebuild their lives and homes. As a displaced Katrina swimmer we have been grateful for the availability of pawn shops here in Florida to help us replace many of the larger items we lost - tv's, computers, printers, etc. We could not have afforded these things NEW. Thank God for those guys at the pawn shop. Keep up the good work. Believe it or not there are good bargains at the pawn shops and good people who buy stuff there.

I think that FEMA money was not enought to help all the people their. I work and pay my taxes and think the government should do more. What if it was you or me dont point fingers , pray

Don't knock the gold teeth. Thanks to a few gold crowns
and regular brushing and flossing, my Dad, a tough as nails railroader, made it a couple of months past 103
years of age.
Sure, he showed a bunch of gold when he grinned, but he grinned often. Gold isn't always for show, gennerally
it is so the owner can chewn his food. Sure was in thecase of this great little guy.

O.K. Jim Adams, who knocked gold teeth? not me, or eneyone else unless I missed something....hey I got some mercury still in my teeth!

Somewheere in the middle is the truth. I read lots of conclusions about who and why a set of rims ended up in a pawn shop. But in reality, only the employee that took the pawn saw the eyes of the customer. Whether it was a kid who spent his time and money getting his ride tricked out, or someone who has poor money management skills, we as bloggers will never know the real truth of why. We never read the stories of the small triumphs in places like Camron Parish or Waveland. They don't bleed. We are however fed an incessant diet of sensational, graphic, eye-catching headlines that pass for the truth. Like everywhere else, we have good and bad, like the evacuees that went to Houston (and probably othr places as well) that refused to lift a finger to help themselves or regarded the aid given them as beneath their standards. Shame on them. But I saw the eyes, and not everyone is like that.

Did anyone understand this story?Andy your comments on other stories were witty thoughtful and caring.I don't get you this time.Keep up the positive.LOSE the B.S. As a fellow north mississippian I beg you. This blog is not read by just your buddies at the Dodge store on 2nd st.If just one person reads into your comments off color and comes to the conclusion we're all "that way".They just might not be willing to help.Then you have done those in need a disservice.And if you think I'm over reacting you really need to get out of Prentiss Co.And discover how many in this country really veiw the south.And yes we need their help too.I'm not putting you down.I just want you to realize there is a time and place for everything and this ain't it.

Back in the early years of our marriage, my husband was starting a new auto repair business, and we more often than not had "more month than money". A friend of ours owned a pawn shop in town, and we were regulars. Always had a good experience, and most usually regained what we had pawned to get by. Years later and blessed with a little prosperity, my husband is still a regular customer of the pawn shop, buying tools and other merchandise for good prices. Our friend, the owner, has provided a much needed service over the years to many hard working good citizens. The alternative these days can be the payday loans and finance companies who prey upon people who need short term financial help, but charge such outrageous interest and fees that people soon are in over their head in debt over a $100 loan. It's true pawn shops see their fair share of shady folks looking for shady deals. But here's to Phil Webb and others like him who have been helping folks get "over the hump" for a long time.

Charles, I haven't said ANYTHING "off color" and I have been most everywhere in the U.S.A. been to Canada and Mexico. I only make observations. I haven't always lived in Prentiss Co. either. And I DON'T like the Dodge Store....because of that woman who always asks "would you like some delisius ckickin' today"....if I wanted the damn chickin' I would ask for it in the first place...Ohhh she also asks "did you have gas"...I tell her "I did but I let it out before I came in the door"...dangitt!!!!

Thanks Dot!!
While I was not in the store on the Saturday before Katrina hit us that Monday I was told by my employees afterward that we cashed an enormous amount of checks that day since many decided to evacuate a little later than they should have.
While we were trying to rebuild the store I remember one customer that came in and thanked me for being there to provide them some cash as they needed "gas money" to be able to get out of town. They had been backing out of the drive way and the car ran out of gas, then they came to us and got a loan.
On another note we had one couple that had lost everything in the storm and were actually jumping up and down in the store when they found out that their 5 guitars that had been pawned made it through un damaged.
Then I have had some others that threatened to sue me for a 13" TV since it was special since it was their first "Lay A Way" and this was before I had the chance to tell them that I was going to make it good.
Over all, the majority of customers have been very accomodating in settling damaged goods here in the store.
I have tried to reason with some to realize that we were hit hard also and could not have prevented the damage from happening. I asked one gentleman if the "Riding Lawnmower" would have been lost along with all his other items if it had not been in Pawn?
"Yes it would have, but since it was in your possesion, then your responsible for it"
Take care,
Phil
P.S. What do you think that they should do to looters that entered my store and took items that had no possible way to sustain life in this time of emergency?

Phil, the looters should have been shot. At a time like thatI don't think taking food items,baby diapers,etc. is looting. But those items are not avalible in a pawnshop. Yeap, a T.V. is gonna do someone a lot of good with no electrisity.

I may have mentioned this previously, too tired to look back, but one of the out of town police officers that were there providing protection approached us as we were taking out the little that had not been totally damaged and or looted and told us to shoot any looters and that we would figure it out later.
I would never shoot anyone that was looting the store for any reason, that's what I have insurance for right!! (Huruumph)
We went into the store under armed guard and tried to protect as much as we could from being looted and you would think that the insurance would be there patting me on the back now,... guess what, they are patting me on the back, the only problem is that they happen to have a knife clutched in that hand while doing it.
This is Lloyds of London, the ones that you hear of your whole life as being the best to have.

Phil, I think a lot of people found out the hard way that the insurance they had, which was supposed to give them peace of mind in the event of a catastrophic loss, instead turned out to be worth less than the paper it was written on, for many people. I was not aware that even Lloyd's of London was in on the act too. It's not like they have a big market here in South Mississippi- seems the least they could have done for good customer relations was cheerfully pay out or amicably settle the few claims they had here.
On a related note, The "big three" insurance companies all recorded record profits for the first two quarters of the year. Now they can afford those solid gold flush handles on the toilets at corporate headquarters, or buy diamond-studded "claim denied" stampers for all their offices to use in the next disaster.

Insurance SUCKS! I got the EL-FU**OLLA put to me too. I WILL change companies But are they any reputal?....this has gotten worse than finding a honest lawyer!.....Durnitt!....and to think my agent lives in a mansion. Off my and the other folks money he FU**ed us out of. I should shoot him {in the foot}

Andy writes that insurance sucks.

It does? Without it I would have nothing.

O.K. J.,BSL....you figger, I have.If I had just put that insurance money into a savings account....I could have been retired by now instead of being denyed a claim!.....My damn basement caved in....and they said it was flood damage......I LIVE ON A HILL!!!!! figger that! They sent a Structural Engeieer ....he looked and laughed that they would call that flood damage....but I had to pay to fix it. Now do you see why I say Insurance SUCKS?

Andy -

I sympathize. All I can say is that the insurance coverage I had and the claims I filed in the wake of the hurricane have kept me from singing a deeper shade of blues than I would otherwise have. If I hadn't had flood insurance, for example, I would have also been in a very bad way.

Good luck to you.

andy-booneville ms
man get a live. you have far too much time on your hands!

I know that most of the people affected by different storms didn't receive much and what they did get was used wisely ... but then there are others that used thier "assistance" to buy drugs and luxury items and even to pay for prostitutuion ... my neighbor manages a nice hotel in one of the better areas of town and they were asked to help out - which they did ... and she said that the people who were housed there lived like pigs ... they would go down the street to the Walmart or other stores and bring back thier purchases in the stores baskets and leave them in the parking lot and trash the rooms daily ... It may be a hotel, but they should have some pride in thier "homes" !!! I myself spoke to several people that were re-located here to San Antonio and I was told that they had been given an 18 month housing vouchers and $2000 per month ... thats nice chunk of $$$ and apparently TOO much of a TEMPTATION for some people to handle ... I don't think the goverment should have given out credit cards but instead stuck to vouchers in order to aid the victims of the storms ...

I have read 85% of the comments. I must say this. I bet you will all vote on another person for President in the next term. Because the world watch for days and days at a time, seeing people stranded in NOLA. From what I seen, the helped sucks. I'm really dispointed. Really! I have seen FEMA money being spent incorrectly! But what's done is done. My family helped the first family the chruch sent and they were like "stuck up with a dirty nose" they thought we were there landlord. All they had to pay was the electric, so they can see in the 4 bedroom,
2 1/2 bathroom house. It also had furniture with a old, but still working color TV (we were in the middle of saling the house, but put it on hold, for the Katrina people). They call for everything. They could have done themselves. I said this is to much work. They left 3 days after, because the house wasn't to there good standard. WELL I NEVER!!! In the middle class neighborhood (you know were we all cut our grass every other weekend and keep the streets clean, kind of neighborhood). The next family that came, were great people. I will always remember them. But NEW ORLEANS PEOPLE, PLEASE, GO BACK HOME AND MAKE IT WORK. Houston is tried of you all. It been a year now, we like it when you visit, when we visit and we all go home. Not living here in Houston. The crime has hit the roof. I agree with the lady who said "about putting up a fence on the state line". I know that sounds bad but, we're all speaking our feelings here. Phil the pawnshop guy, well I love a great bargin at good pawnshop and shopping malls. To all who wears that gold and silver grill, please get rid of it, I notice most of you all can't even talk with them. My final thoughts, please don't vote for the same President who panic when this all happen. Think God for Celebrities, donating money and time. Regardless who start helping out first. Hip, Hip Hooray for Spike Lee special this past weekend. I seen it all NOW. What America didn't want us to see. GO SPIKE, GO SPIKE.

dan, learn how to spell....that's life dangitt! and I guess i do have extra time on my hands.... I own da damn buisness! And i'm finally starting to enjoy my "LIFE" again.

J., BSL man i proud for you that you insurance paid. best of wishes, help our state get well.

I have spent the evening reading all the pros and cons of selling and buying in pawn shops. Who cares?There are a lot of very responsible people who are at their wits end when they have to go to a pawn shop. I know because I have had to do it myself. Embarassing, you bet. I crawled in there hoping no one would see me, but I had no other choice. I just thank God that I have not had to go through what those poor people in La. and Ms. have gone through with Katrina. If you haven't been there folks you have NO idead what they were forced to endure. I donated as much as I could (all new things including a bed) and wished I could do more. Our ogvernment should be ashamed of itself as they sit on their pompess asses and vote themselves more money every year while most of those displaced people still do not have a place to live to call their own. Who was the genius who bought all those trailers that are constructed with formaldahyde products and sinking in mud. Totally useless, yet it is our taxes that paid for that and are paying for the reconstruction of the levies back to their original status, yet the govt. admits they broke because they were inadequately constructed in the first place. I don't get it, the same people that voted them it will go back and vote the same way again. It is not my place to preach but if you believe in a God, pray that those people who were all affected by Katrina find their way back to recovery and a decent place to live. And thank the God you pray to that it wasn't you in that storm.

All these whiners crying about how they suffered because the govt or insurance didn't take care of their gold teeth and $5,ooo rims while living in a historically hurricane prone area--wait 'till a 8.5 magnitude earthquake hits San Fran. I went to S. Mississippi right after the hurricane and believe me--Miss peeps were respectful decent and grateful for out of state assistance. But it is a HURRICANE PRONE AREA! Just because you rolled the dice and it came up snake eyes for a long time 'till Katrina, it's still A HURRICANE PRONE AREA! Live there at your own risk......

Lillian, I've never been embarassed to be in a pawn shop. I pawned a shotgun once, I knew the guy and looked him in the eye told him I would be back for it. He gave me the amount of money I needed! If I ever need a pawn shop I know where it is. No embarrasment!

We were glad to be there to loan the money out to those at the last minute for gas to get out.
I was not there the Sat before Katrina, but I heard that we were swamped with customers cahsing checks and borrowing money.
On a Saturday before a Hurricane, would a bank loan you 50 bucks for any reason?
Back before I was a Pawnbroker I recieved an emergency loan from a Pawnshop in Texas. Probably the best thing that ever happened to me business wise. I then REALLY knew what it was like to be on the other side. It gave me a leg up on the competition that may have never had the chance to truly need money in an emergency like our customers do.
I still have those pawn tickets in my dresser drawer to remind me of leaner times. Which is not too much farther away if my insurance does not pay off like they should.
Phil

Hello everyone,
I would first like to start by saying that my name is Chris, and I have worked for Best Pawn and Mr. Phil for two years. Since Katrina Mr Phil and I have worked very hard to put Best Pawn back together. Just like Mr. Phil I truly wish I could have been there when this interview was taken. I just happened to be on a much needed vacation that week. Other than those seven days off I have been there every day since the day that Best Pawn opened in December.
I have waited so long to reply to this story because I wanted to see what people had to say about it.
There has been no difference in the items we have taken in on pawn after Katrina than pre-Katrina. For the most part we still have the same customers plus some out of towners bringing in the normal merchandise.
It bothers me that people still write about the $5000 rims after Mr. Phil explained that we would never give that much for a set of rims. Since Katrina the most loaned on a set of rims was in the hundreds, not the thousands, and only one set of rims out of the three or four sets we have done since the storm has been put into our inventory. The most expensive rims we have ever took in came right before Katrina, and I promise you it was not anywhere close to $5000. It also seems to me that people have jumped to fast conclusions about these rims; considering the story states that we GAVE $5000 for the rims, but everyone refers to them AS $5000 RIMS. If we ever would give $5000 for a set of rims then the rims would have to be worth more than $5000, and how many rims that you know of are worth more than $5000, not to many!
Since I have personaly wrote about 75% (give or take) of the loans since we have been opened I would like to say that I think that the items being brought in are items that any pawnshop would see on a day to day basis. Our customers need our help for the same reasons they did before Katrina, not because they are running out of FEMA money.
In regard to the statement made about it being criminal for a pawnshop to take in expensive rims or jewlery because it could have been looted.... the writer of this entry stated before that sentence that the items could have been owned before the storm, so doesn't that contradict it being criminal for us to take in the merchandise? I do my best to watch for "fishy" items coming into our store, but how can anyone be 100% sure that an item was looted during the aftermath of Katrina. My point is, the majority of our customers are long term customers, and good people; there is nothing criminal about the way we take care of them.
I did not write this entry to defend ourselves, but to merely give people a better understanding of the truth.
Sincerely,
Chris Slater