Nothing is more expensive than being broke. And when consumer activists curse predatory lenders — who lend money for a prize piece of your butt and dibs on your firstborn — all we can say is ¨Amen.¨ But when the shit hits the fan and there´s nowhere else to turn, you might find yourself drawn to a pawn shop with a bag full of watches, rings and other baubles you bought in flusher times. So what makes Cash America so damn special? Well, for one thing, sheer numbers. Drop your transmission in any marginal neighborhood, and chances are you can walk to a Cash America. But that´s not all. They´re international, which means you´ll be able to trade your tangible personal property for instant cash from your favorite non-recourse lender in places like London or Stockholm. Hey, that kind of reach has gotta be worth something.
More than a dozen locations throughout the Bay area. Visit www.cashamericaonline.com.
This article appears in Sep 22-28, 2004.