Ep 2. Cousin Competition

As the second episode of season nine of Hardcore Pawn, "Cousin Competition" follows the owners and staff of American Jewelry and Loan in Detroit as they continue to deal with the challenges and drama of running a large pawn shop.

The episode opens with a heated argument between owner Les Gold and his son Seth over a transaction gone wrong. Meanwhile, Seth's cousin Karen is eager to prove herself as a capable employee and takes on a difficult negotiation with a customer looking to pawn a vintage guitar.

As the day progresses, tensions rise between the cousins as they compete for the same deals and confront each other over perceived slights and offenses. Karen becomes frustrated when she feels that Seth is taking all the good deals and not giving her a fair shot, while Seth accuses Karen of not being experienced enough to handle the high-pressure negotiations that often come with working at the pawn shop.

As the cousins continue to argue and bicker, Les tries to keep the peace and manage the shop's day-to-day business. He deals with a range of customers, from a man looking to pawn his beloved collection of antique train sets to a woman who is trying to sell a large collection of vinyl records.

Throughout the episode, viewers see the inner workings of the pawn shop and the challenges faced by its staff as they try to balance the demands of customers with the need to turn a profit. There are intense moments as negotiations become heated and customers refuse to budge on their asking price, as well as moments of levity and humor as the staff joke around and blow off steam during quiet moments.

As the episode draws to a close, the cousins finally have a heart-to-heart talk and come to a better understanding of each other's strengths and weaknesses. They pledge to work together more collaboratively in the future and to overcome their differences in order to help the pawn shop continue to thrive.

Overall, "Cousin Competition" provides a compelling look into the world of pawn shops and the complex dynamics that can arise between family members who work together. With its mix of drama, humor, and real-life situations, this episode is sure to keep viewers engaged and entertained from start to finish.