American Pickers TV Show
I've watched American Pickers several times on TV. While I enjoy watching most anything related to antiques and collecting (i.e. Antiques Roadshow, Pawn Stars, etc.) I just don't care for this show. The odd duo often find a couple of items here and there that I find interesting to learn about, but the part of the show that irks me is my impression that they are always trying to take advantage of some bumbling old crotchety man who knows no better.
The show reminds me of the worst about collecting - the dynamics that one will often see, though usually in a milder form when going to or participating in a swap meet. I guess these guys have an actual real business behind them and that they must turn a profit in order to keep the machinery going, but it just seems that they go about the art of the deal in a slimy way. Again this is only my impression and perhaps you may feel otherwise. I wouldn't be surprised if the tall skinny chap in the show would try to deal down his own grandma in order to get a better price; a real turnoff of the show for me. Curious what other people think about these guys.
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Re: American Pickers TV Show
I watch the show quite a bit and find there is a variety of people and items they come across. I'm currently running garage sales now and can spot these types before they get there. I'm not desperate for cash but just have a lot of things to get rid of. I'm not doing a lot of research on items and my prices are what they are valued to me. I've already had one guy come in and right off the bat bought something for $1.00 but he had to go through 2 huge wads of big bills (1 in each pocket) in order to find a 1. He then proceeded to gripe about prices on some items and say how he couldn't make any money on it if he buys it at THAT price. Well I'm not there to give him stuff for cheap so that he can make money and I'm not giving him free reign to go cherry picking through everything I don't have room to set out for the sale. I'm more interested in selling to people who collect and appreciate unique and unusual item but I can't really set out a sign saying "No Pickers". I for one don't want to know if you're a picker or a dealer as that will just make me unlikely to budge on my price as I'm not exactly making a profit on the things I'm selling and sometimes just barely getting back what I paid for it.
As far as the Pickers show I did see the one with the circus banners and was impressed that they gave the guy so much back but usually they are too cheap to give people a good value. I really dislike when they are tallying up their take to show what they paid and what "they think" is the value. Occasionally they put what they sold it for but sometimes, I think, their value is above what it actually might be worth.
Re: American Pickers TV Show
Buying at a level you can make a profit is the name of the game, so anyone in the business is only going to offer you a "Wholesale value" These guys are not going to offer much more than 30% of what the same piece would retail for in an Antique shop. While this might seem slimy it's simply the nature of virtually any business.
Of the shows I've watched so far the owners of the junk appear to be pretty crafty in their dealings, most it seems either inherited the junk or purchased it so long ago they are probably making a profit no matter what they sell it for.
Lovejoy Says
"For quick answers use the search box at the top of the page. Thousands of items, maybe identical to yours have already appraised"
Re: American Pickers TV Show
That storage wars stuff is killing me. The one on Spike is killing my biz.
I go to those trying to make a living, and it's a huge crowd of peeps now.
They all get a kick out of jacking up the bids, and dropping back.
The price of a unit has shot way up now.
http://www.spike.com/shows/auction-hunters/http://www.spike.com/shows/auction-hunters/
Re: American Pickers TV Show
I'd tough it out, interest will soon flag, the shows plot line is pretty slim and people will soon tire of it. People are always looking for easy money, as soon as they see what a tough business it really is they will move on to the next shiny thing....
Lovejoy Says
"For quick answers use the search box at the top of the page. Thousands of items, maybe identical to yours have already appraised"
Re: American Pickers TV Show
I have seen the pickers go to a lady's house and when she offered to sell them things way under value, they have said, " NO! But I will give you XXX amount of dollars for it." They gave her more then 8 times what she offered to sell it for and in the same program, they did this 4-6 times with the lady! I find them extremely honest and folks....not one of the people selling, HAS to sell! I think it's wonderful! I saw one program where the lady inherited the farm but taxes were owed, high taxes! These two guys bought enough of her "junk" to pay most of her taxes, they helped save a family farm!
Re: American Pickers TV Show
I like the show too. I saw an episode where the owners/sellers didn't have much that was valuable and were going to be auctioning the property. The guys didn't want to leave them with nothing valuable to auction.
I've also seen several episodes where people offered to give them something and they insisted on buying.
Plus, they're honest with the sellers, in that they're in it to make money. I had read a lot of reviews about the show before I ever watched it and was expecting to see a couple of scam artists taking advantage of old folks (like most of the reviews implied). I haven't seen them take advantage. Most of the stuff they buy is buried under so many layers of dirt & muck that the owners forgot they even had the stuff. And in most of the episodes I've watched, the sellers can hold their own with these guys.
It's so entertaining. I love it!
Re: American Pickers TV Show
BOLOGNA. Those guys are in it for the money. Tell me how many episodes you have seen that happen in ? Of course they are going to give the viewers a phony sense of how kind hearted they are. They constantly try and get one over the customers. Shows like this ARE Hurting buyers.
Re: American Pickers TV Show
Oh come on. The world economy is based on purchasing something at one price and selling it at a profit. You cant be offended by the Pickers and then go to the grocery store. Everything you purchase started off being sold for very little money. The average can of corn that sells for one dollar started out with the farmer for about 12 cents. It is the same with every business.
I have watched American Pickers since the beginning, and for the record, the items shown being purchased are a small percentage of what they actually buy. They have been in business for some time and have clients all around the country. My only qualm is that more people are going to go out picking, and it is going to get harder for those who are trying to make a living at it; a living that is not as easy as it looks.
They dont try to rip people off. They make offers on what they see. Sometimes people sell and sometimes they dont. A person makes a choice to sell a particular item or not. They decide on what they will accept. Obviously, someone looking to buy things who come to your door with a list, driving a van with a big logo... is going to resell what they buy.
Now, as for Pawn Stars or Storage Wars.... when was the last time you went to a pawn shop with something as valuable as what they have on that show. Does the pawn shop ever call an expert? They are in Vegas, and my guess is that those folks dig up the last valuable thing they can find and run to the pawn shop so they can get back to the casino as fast as they can. And you can bet when the cameras are off, the "Pawn Stars" go back to buying items for pennies on the dollar. Pawn shop = bottom feeder.
Lastly, Storage Wars. Ick. Have you ever seen a slimier bunch of people on one program? I am sure there is an occasional good find in a unit, especially in Hollywood CA, but the average town will have average crap. I stopped watching that show because I couldnt stand to see such morally bankrupt people get so much pleasure out of being hateful to one another. ACK!
Re: American Pickers TV Show
I too know that this show is not for real. How do they drive around in a Mercedes (that's what my husband says it is) burn all that gas, and where do they sleep? Sometimes a days work only brings a few hundred dollars profit! Now that's not doing good business! Let's see something real for a change and not all this scripted stuff that is refilmed to get the most affect. Let it happen naturally, your audience can tell when it is not for real!!
Re: American Pickers TV Show
Those picker dudes picked a neighbors garage some time ago
He didn't fare too well,..(Cheaped him big time)
. The truck is a dodge sprinter with a mercedes motor. I know someone else who has one. They get over 35 miles per gallon on the highway. That's why they can afford it. It is a fat price tag on it, but I think it pays them back in fuel costs.
Re: American Pickers TV Show
I guess we all have things which annoy us. The "Pawn Stars" happen to be what annoys me. In most episodes, I find them condescending, if not downright rude. It is however, fun to see the old, odd and interesting pieces that come through their doors. Here's the kicker for me. There was an episode when a lady came in with a boxed, Faberge spider brooch, knowing nothing about it and wanting what she probably assumed was alot for it ($2,000.) Rick explained to her what she had and if I remember correctly, offered her $15,000. I would bet money that if the cameras weren't around and he didn't have a TV / public eye reputation to worry about, that never would have happened. Chances are, she would have walked out with half or less her asking price, in keeping with their usual M.O.. As for the "Pickers," their home base is a couple of miles from where I'm located. I've met them personally, been to their shop and run into Frank occasionally at local estate sales. Aside of being goofy at times, they're pretty likable, down to earth guys. When you get right to it, the name of the game is buy low, sell high. Often times people don't have the resources, nor the desire to mess around trying to sell their things. Alot of folks don't even realize that they have valuables and are happy as clams when someone offers money for something they considered junk. If somebody comes along that is willing to pay what they are asking, or somewhere in that ballpark, they are pleased, even if undervalued. The key is, do some research, know what you have, consider the market and then decide for how much, where or to whom you want to sell. Remember, it's only worth what someone is willing to pay, despite it's book value. Sometimes there is a bit of taking of advantage of ignorance going on, but noone passes up a great deal, whether scrupulous or not...
Re: American Pickers TV Show
I really enjoy both shows, and do not begrudge anyone trying to make a living. I really believe in Karma, and if they were truly greedy, it would come back three fold on them. I really see honest guys in a business that is less than that at many times. just thinkling about Mike and Frank selling the Carnival poster for $10,000.00, and circling back to give the guy $5000.00, because it was woth more that they had thought.
Re: American Pickers TV Show
I agree with wendy and like her posting ,however I also have seen both shows and can recall the spider brooch episode .Someone watching with us said the same thing about the cameras being gone and the price would have been way less.Maybe,maybe not but the people can get a second opinion.They do not have to say yes and sell right then.I do not care for pawn shops much but as others, I do enjoy the things people bring in.I like pickers and agree people have to make a living.There have been shows where they paid decent money for things and they were worth 0 dollars or cents so you know, be smart and do not take the first offer someone gives you.When in doubt have it checked out!!My Grandma has just passed in January she was 83 and is the reason I love antigue and vintage stuff.I would not get rid of anything that I thought I could pass on to mine,my brother or my sisters kids.What we do get rid of I will research myself or find sites like this one to help me.I refuse to sell her thing in a yard sale.She was veryy charitable and alot has and will be donated but the rest doesn't have to worth alot but it was her's and I want someone to have it who will appreciate it for what it is.
Re: American Pickers TV Show
Re: American Pickers TV Show
My sentiments exactly...
Re: American Pickers TV Show
My family watches and enjoys this show. That said, we are often disturbed by the occasionally overt swindling, but feel that overall they try to be fair while still running a business andd... let's not forget... making "good" TV. Often is seems like Mike and Frank are genuinely surprised by the profit they turn on specifically peculiar items, while they often still make 66 to 100% over what they paid. I am fond of the episode where Frank is adamant to buy the car that turns out to by a more than total loss. They are no better than anyone else and I find this show to be MUCH less obscene than what little I've been able to pallet of Pawn Stars. Now THAT's a hustle.
Re: American Pickers TV Show
These shows are all scripted, there is not much reality to them. Of the Picker's shows I've seen I don't know how they are making much of a profit based on what they purchase, they'd have to be sleeping in the van and siphoning gas.
Both Pawn Stars and Pickers also are not very realistic in the amount of times they have to "Call in an Expert", Experts don't work for free, and if you had to call them in that often you'd soon be out of business.
Lovejoy Says
"For quick answers use the search box at the top of the page. Thousands of items, maybe identical to yours have already appraised"
Re: American Pickers TV Show
That's a good point about having to call in the experts to the point where it's not profitable. I'm sure that the Pawn Stars experts do it for free in exchange for being on the show and the potential business that it can bring in for them. I'm sure that's the case for most of the appraisers/restoration folks, especially the chap that does the Coke machine restorations; for the prices that he charges the Pawn Star folks there's no way that he's actually turning a profit so it's definitely for the free advertising.
Re: American Pickers TV Show
It's funny how we all see things differently. I find the Pawn Stars guys more honest because if there's an item that has potential to be valuable then they always seem to call in an expert to share with them and the seller what the item is worth. I've neve seen them try to pull the wool over someone - they call it like it is and if they don't know they find out. The American Pickers guys might not always know what something is worth, but when they do they try to get things for a bargain and they definitely don't share with the seller what the item is worth. That's my interpretation anyways.
- Joseph
Re: American Pickers TV Show
I think that the American Pickers show is no different than how people who collect antiques, etc. actually operate. In the antiques business everyone, even fellow antique dealers, try to "take advantage" of the other guy. This business is really about knowing more than the other guy and turning your merchandise for some kind of profit. It's not a game of marbles. Those who study and learn the most about what something is and what it's worth can yield the most profitable results. That's just how it is and I don't think there's anything wrong with it. If you aren't 100% sure of how much something is worth then you shouldn't be selling it. You always hear the story about the very rare painting bought at a garage for $1.00 that's resold for a million or more. Such is life, and I don't think the American Picker guys are any more nefarious than anyone else out there who is a professional in the collecting world. If you don't know what you're doing then you can get hurt, so the morale of the story is to either get your item professionally appraised or learn enough that you are 100% sure you know the value before you sell it. Buyer beware...
Tina
Re: American Pickers TV Show
I agree with you about this show. I don't care for it either for the same reason. While everyone is obviously in the business of antiques and collecting to make money and how much you make usually depends on how good you are at negotiating, there's just something not right with the way these guys go about things. If you take another popular show, Pawn Stars, then you'll see plenty of negotiating going on, but they almost always call in an expert to share their opinion on valuation with the person who is the seller. That's pretty definitely a more honest approach than how these guys work.
Re: American Pickers TV Show
In a Pawn shop situation the agreements are laid out on paper, it's pretty much understood they are going to give you a third of Retail value, which is also about where most Dealers offers come in as well.
With Pickers you take your chances, they make a cash offer, which you either accept or refuse. They have no real legal requirements binding them, and it's doubtful one could be sued for knowingly purchasing an item for far less than its value and selling it for thousands as can be done with Dealers.
Lovejoy Says
"For quick answers use the search box at the top of the page. Thousands of items, maybe identical to yours have already appraised"
Re: American Pickers TV Show
The show I hate to watch is storage wars,I've bought storages for years and I've never found anything worth 100,000 or 3000,the most I've found was items worth altogether 2,000,I paid 350.00 once for a storage and found nothing but nasty clothes,papers and old food,bought storages about 15 or more years,that show is fake! fake! fake!
Re: American Pickers TV Show
100% accurate, I usually go to storage auctions and the crowds after the show hit are increased by 300%, we would get about 5 -10 guys at an auction, but now its usually 30-40 its disgusting, A guy bought a unit with 3 newer suitcases and a old pc tower with monitor for $125.00!!!! 6 months ago it would have went for $20.00, never found anything worth 1000's like these guys portray, its all about the ratings. Thanks guys on TV for killing my livelihood.
Re: American Pickers TV Show
I agree, unless an owner has died most lockers that are behind on their rent have already cleared out the good stuff. Most of it is what you find in the average basement.
Lovejoy Says
"For quick answers use the search box at the top of the page. Thousands of items, maybe identical to yours have already appraised"