Ep 9. New Hire, New Fire

In this episode of Hardcore Pawn, titled "New Hire, New Fire," the staff at American Jewelry and Loan are dealing with a lot of changes. One of the biggest changes is the addition of a new employee named Seth. He is a young man who has a lot of energy and is eager to learn the ins and outs of the pawn industry. Les sees a lot of potential in Seth, but other staff members are less than thrilled about his arrival.

One of the employees who is wary of Seth is Ashley. She feels that he is trying to take her job and is constantly overstepping his boundaries. She becomes increasingly frustrated when Seth tries to take on a bigger role in the business, but Les sees this as an opportunity to see what Seth is made of.

Meanwhile, Seth is proving his worth by bringing in some interesting items to pawn. He brings in a vintage pinball machine and a vintage Fender guitar, both of which catch Les's eye. He decides to give Seth a chance by allowing him to negotiate with the customers who bring in the items, and Seth does an impressive job.

The tension between Ashley and Seth comes to a head when they get into a heated argument over a customer. Ashley accuses Seth of trying to steal the customer from her, and she storms out of the store in a fit of anger. Les is forced to intervene and tries to get to the bottom of the issue.

The episode also features some interesting items that are brought into the store. One man brings in a massive diamond ring that he wants to sell, but Les is wary of its authenticity. He decides to bring in his expert appraiser to take a closer look at the ring and determine its worth.

Another customer brings in a pair of vintage shoes that she claims once belonged to the legendary basketball player Michael Jordan. Seth is skeptical of the customer's story, but Les decides to have the shoes appraised to see if they are worth anything.

Overall, "New Hire, New Fire" is an entertaining episode of Hardcore Pawn that highlights the tensions that can arise when there are big changes at a workplace. It also showcases some fascinating items that are brought into the pawn shop, as well as the expertise of the staff as they determine their worth.