Brick and mortar or online, still basically a loan with a very high interest rate (~36% in this case) while also putting up collateral worth more than the loan.<p>Only use these services in the most dire of financial circumstances. If you're in a situation where you have to pawn valuables, it may be time to start thinking about getting a normal job to reassess and regroup.
I'm reminded of a line from the producers:
"Never invest your own money."<p>I don't see how one could make methodical and appropriate business decisions with the gun pressed to their head of potential financial ruin.