How do pawnshops make profits?

Buy charging interest on items people pawn. Also if the person does not come back for the item, it is sold making more money. They only loan the lowest possible amount in case it has to be sold.

Buy low, sell high. If you are leaving an item temporarily for some short-term cash, you can expect to pay a surcharge or commission to them when you return. And don't expect them to give you anywhere near what it's actually worth, because they don't expect, or even want you to come back for it.

they buy stuff really low and sell really high. isn't that how all stores work.

They buy stuff for less than they are worth, and then sell it back to you for more than you paid. They also keep things in hock and if you don't return to re-buy, they sell it to other people for more than they paid you.

They sell things for more than they buy them for. Same way any store makes money. You bring a piece of jewelry worth $100. They give you $35 for it and sell it for $100. Cha-ching! $65 profit.

They buy low and sell high.

People don't come back for their stuff and then they sell it. So, they make money and never had to really buy anything. They of course sell it for more then they borrowed.

By being as stingy as they wanna be.

Pay less for an item than they are going to sell them for.