Alamo Pawnshop Alamo Pawn and Jewelry Merchandice Extreme Price Gauging SAN ANTONIO Texas

On 8/29 I entered the pawn shop in question. I noticed an Ibanez guitar on the wall which had a "J" on the front of it indicating it was a quality ibanez guitar. When i asked to see it a lady brought it down andlaid it on the counter. It was, i must admit, a decent looking guitar however, the manager as i later recollected, kept directing my attention to the front of the guitar acting as if he didn't want me to turn it over. The employee selling it had a price tag of $375 on the front of the guitar. I asked how much it would be to put it on layaway and she said that $375 was a discount cash price, i would have to pay $399 to put it on layaway.

Knowing that pawn shops usually do not increase the going price on merchandise after properly doing research on the product, i agreed and put $50 down. Within a month i had it paid off. Once bringing it home though, although it had a "J" insignia on the front, I noticed it would not stay in tune so I turned it over and the model number was not "j" it was n427. I looked up the guitar on the internet and the average price was $220. Almost a $200 difference from what i paid for it. I wouldnt have minded $40 or $50 as a difference but $200? I think they took this in from someone for too much as a pawn and were trying to make up the difference but i dont know but i consider this price gauging.

It took me a week to find the owner and upon doing so i was turned away stating the fact that i should have looked on my layaway receipt as he said the model number was on the receipt. I did look on the receipt but did not even fathom that price gauging was going on because i do not think ANYONE would have thought that they would be taken advantage of in this fashion. Who is expected to take their receipt home and compare it to the merchandise on the internet? Not many i would think. I took the guitar to the owner and he even showed me an n427 they were selling for $99. He then zipped my guitar case, asked me to leave and said i should have known better. Eddie helped.