Senen pawn shop offers a solution to fast cash

By Annastashya Emmanuelle

JAKARTA (JP): Although the country's economy has been slowly picking up and people's incomes improving, many still rely on pawn houses to get ready cash for emergencies.

The pawn house in Senen, Central Jakarta, enjoys brisk business in such conditions. Hundreds of people, who have no savings to cover their emergency needs, came to the shop daily to pawn their valuables, such as gold necklaces, gold rings and earrings in exchange for some badly-needed cash.

"I need to send some money to my parents in Palembang, South Sumatra because my mother is ill," Fifty-three-year-old Mutia told The Jakarta Post over the weekend.

"I don't have much left in my savings account, that's why I come here," she said, adding that she pawned a ring and necklace and received about Rp 1 million (US$ 87) in cash.

The head of operational division of the Senen pawn shop, Rita Murianti, said that the pawn shop is constantly full of people wanting to pawn their jewelry and other valuables.

She said that due to the increasing demand, the pawn shop's management was discussing plans to speed up its services so that it could serve more people every day.

"There are around 200 people every day coming in to pawn their valuables," Rita Murianti told The Jakarta Post.

"Days prior to religious holidays, such as Lebaran and Christmas and the period before the new academic year are usually the busiest days for us.

"During those periods, we are overwhelmed by the number of customers that could reach up to 300 to 400 people a day," Rita remarked.

In the first few days of each month when most people have just received their salaries, many come to pay installments on their debts or to redeem their valuables, Rita said.

At the pawn house last Friday, Nuriati, a mother of three, came to reclaim her jewelry.

She pawned her gold bracelet and ring which were presents from her mother, when she enrolled her eldest son in junior high school.

"My mother will come to Jakarta next week, I'd feel bad if she found out I pawned her gifts," Nuriati said.

During busy times, staff members at the pawn house have to deal with angry customers who are upset when they find out their valuables had been auctioned or because their goods were rejected.

"People who come here are people who are having personal problems, so they are easily offended, especially if they could not get what they came for," she said, adding that the customers are notified at least one week in advance of the auctioning of their goods by letter and telephone.

However, not all visitors to the pawn shop are desperate to pawn their valuables for emergency cash.

A housewife, who refused to be identified, said that she pawned her jewelry because she wanted to send an airline ticket to her parents as she wanted them to spend some time in the city.

"My husband will be out of town for quite some time, I want my parents to spend time with me at home and take care of my children" she said.

In the waiting room, some young people were waiting expectantly for their names to be called by the cashier.

One high school student, Iwan, happily counted his money at the counter after he pawned his 21 inch television, for which he received Rp 600,000 (US$ 51.60).

When asked why he pawned the television he claimed to be his, not his parents, Iwan said: "I need more pocket money as my parents don't give me enough."

A man who claimed to be a university student and looked particularly tired, was also awaiting his turn at the cashier. "I just need some extra money," he said.