With Les' threat of opening another store looming in the air, Seth and Ashley must band together to convince him otherwise. Then, a customer looks for fast cash by trying to sell his prosthetic eye. And, when Les suddenly reveals he's found the location for the new store, Seth and Ashley go through the roof. But just when things seem to have settled down, Les does something that will change the family dynamic forever.
Les reveals to Seth and Ashley whether he'll buy the new pawn shop, but his decision has bigger consequences than anyone could have imagined. Amidst the chaos, Seth challenges a customer to a competition for a vintage bubble hockey game and Ashley gets caught in the crossfire when two customers go at it in the middle of the store.
After purchasing the new store, Les discovers a bags of jewels in an old employee's desk. But all that glitters ain't gold when he shows up to demand his goods back.
A woman pays her pawn payment, only to get into an argument with Ashley when she also has to pay interest. A man tries to sell Seth a plasma television that does not work; he later returns to pay for his Playstation 3 pawn, only to forget there is interest, accrued the second he receives the pawn; when he received the system, he complained that it was not his. A couple tries to sell a 1981 Cadillac hearse, complete with a coffin with a "inactive person" inside; Ashley has no interest in it, but Les tries to make a deal. A man buys a pair of earrings to wear to a casino, but as his ears are not pierced, he tries to get someone at the store to pierce them then and there - a service that American Jewelry normally does not provide. A woman tries to sell a fake gold ring with Swarovski crystals, but refuses to leave after learning that even the crystals are fake, resulting in her trying to strike an unusual offer with Seth.
Ashley's nemesis Tressa returns to sell the Rolex that got her fired. The Golds discover that she never actually paid for it and devise a clever plan to get it back.
When Les sends a group of employees to the new store, Seth and his crew are left overworked and inundated with angry customers, which results in a showdown between father and son.
Les noticed several items in the back room that have gone missing, leading him to suspect that one of his employees is a thief. Also: a man tries to pawn a Playstation 3, but his pawn became no good once he threatened Ashley. A woman tried to sell a laptop computer, thinking it was an iPad, but refused to believe that Ashley was a manager when she called for one. A woman tries to sell a dinosaur bone, but Les was concerned that the bone was actually from an elephant. A couple pawns a fur coat to get the funds to get jewelry out of hock, but the girlfriend threatens violence to her boyfriend if they don't get a right deal. A man sells his guitar signed by Kid Rock, despite almost walking away over a few dollars' difference from Seth's offer.
Les and Seth are apoplectic after discovering that, for the first time in their history, loans are down. Later, when they find out why, the head of someone close to them will roll. Meanwhile, a woman proffers some home-grown, pharmaceutical-grade goods.
A problem customer brings Ashley out from behind the security glass; some rare Nirvana memorabilia piques Rich and Seth's interest. Later, a customer who was robbed in the pawnshop demands to see the security tapes, but the Golds refuse and a confrontation ensues.
Seth is blindsided when an ex-NHL star stops by the shop with a friend and, against Ashley's wishes, he offers the athlete a job. Elsewhere, Ashley faces off with a customer whose insults turn personal; Les contemplates buying a vintage fortune-telling machine.
A storm threatens to knock out the store's power. With piles of cash at risk, Seth scrambles to create a battle plan only to be shot down by his father's old-school philosophy that insists 'everything will be ok'.
Seth confronts Les about the blackout and opens the door to a screaming match over their conflicting business styles.
Seth's plan to change the business structure is derailed when Les goes behind his back to confront the employees face-to-face, resulting in a confrontation between father and son.
The relationship between Seth and Les remains very frosty, with both sides refusing to speak to each other, to a point where Ashley tries to play peacemaker; nevertheless, neither side is willing to yield, leading to Ashley to lure them together and force them to make up. But when both sides still refuse to forgive and forget, Les decides to let Seth operate the store his way - without Les to lean on. Also: a drunk man tries to sell Les a gold sports ring for funds to pay for his DUI conviction, but refuses to leave after learning that it was brass. A man sells a seat from the old Yankee Stadium, which he won in a charity auction. A woman tries to pawn her diamond necklace for funds to fix the windows in her car (which was broken into), but cops an attitude after learning from Ashley that it was fake. An elderly couple, hoping to get money for their son's wedding, failed to strike a deal with Les to sell their digital camera, but did have enough money to buy a gold necklace for 00.
In order to prove that he can run American Jewelry, Seth takes over Les's supervision duties, while Les watches from the sidelines; however, Ashley fears that he's wearing himself too thin. Her suspicions were proven right when a man sells Seth a "new" carpet cleaner without further inspection, but a clerk later informed Seth that it was actually used and repackaged. Furthermore, on the next day, the store is short on available cash, as Seth failed to get money the day before; worse off, it's a banking holiday, and Seth's plans to have someone get more cash won't work. Also: a man tries to sell designer eyeglasses, but Les informs him he paid too much. A woman complains to Ashley that someone stolen her identity and pawned her stuff, but Ashley informed her that she's not in the system. A widowed woman sells her hospital skeleton, which Les thinks would be cool to have - if the price is right. A woman tries to sell her bowling balls, but her backtalk made them worthless to Les. A couple sells a geiger counter, but they can't agree between themselves on how much to sell it for.
Seth makes a major blunder that could affect the store's financial situation, and Ashley dimes him out to Les.
A highly lucrative sale opportunity is presented to Les and Seth, requiring their immediate and full attention. When Ashley's selfish behavior threatens the deal, Seth loses it.
An urban hillbilly sells unusual items to finance a farm; Seth's eye for authenticity proves handy when a customer peddles suspect music memorabilia. Later, the grateful hillbilly returns to show his thanks, but one of his farm animals gets loose in the store.
Les tries to catch competitors poaching customers on his property; a man finds out that his diamond-encrusted watch is worthless.
Seth finds a hidden room filled with merchandise that his employees were unable to sell; Ashley gets into it with a customer over a diamond necklace. Later, Seth is irate over Ashley's purchase of a worthless roulette table.
Ashley's return leads to Seth getting put in his place; a customer who's been robbed tries to sell her last remaining valuable. Later, Les tries to get the kids back on track.
The Golds attempt to catch a thief who has been staging break-ins; and a customer claims to be a devil. Later, security nabs a burglar in the parking lot.
Les trusts a customer's estimate on the value of an item and shells out big bucks, only to suspect later that he may have been taken to the cleaners.
Seth's plan to get a cash influx into his Internet department hits a glitch when one of his guys makes a huge mistake. When Les demands that the situation be rectified, Seth takes a stand and confronts the big boss.
Les issues an ultimatum to the staff after uncovering some damaged merchandise.
In the Season 5 finale, tensions run high when Les promises to fire the employee who makes the next big mistake. When Rich drops the ball, the stage is set for a showdown.