Pawn Stars on History Channel...

[fish-fighting-illini]

  I get a kick out of Pawn Stars I think it is funny. I also like the historical aspect of the items you learn history at the same time. Yes it's staged but who cares it's still entertainment.

I saw the $12k Faberge egg episode, after he saved her butt then she wanted to argue over a higher price! She was an idiot.

As for American Pickers the premise is great but the 2 guys they chose are creepy and skanky weasils. I seldom watch it for that reason.

FFI- AKA Matt Crum

[deaknh03]

As for American Pickers the premise is great but the 2 guys they chose are creepy and skanky weasils. I seldom watch it for that reason.

I'm pretty sure anybody they picked to be on their show about dumpster diving would have been a little greezy and rat like.

[fish-fighting-illini]

    I'm pretty sure anybody they picked to be on their show about dumpster diving would have been a little greezy and rat like.

  You might have a point there. lol

[FordNFishinLover]

Personally, i cant stand pawn stars. To me is seems all those guys do is rip people off. That bugs me to death.

I really enjoy watching american pickers. I'd imagine its because i love rummaging around old barns or upstairs and such, trying to find things that are neat or antique.

I also enjoy watch a new show where they go through storage bins that people have left behind or counldn't pay for anymore.

[frogtog]

They have another one on now called Gold Rush and it's pretty good. If it weren't for the History and Nature channels I would never watch TV.

[SirSnookalot]

I don't think Pawn Stars rip people off, people come and expect top dollar for an item, in reality they are selling wholesale not retail.  For example, an individual may want to sell a piece of jewelry valued at $5000, the wholesale cost probably is more like $1000-$1500 if that.  Why would a pawn shop buy that item at retail when he can buy it from a manufacturer for a lot less.  In addition gold, silver, diamonds, etc. are on a fluctuating market, 1 year it can be high, the next year they can be very cheap, like any other commodity.

There is a cost to the cash they pay out, under normal conditions most use a line of credit, some are probably are using cash out of their own pockets now as cash borrowing is tight.  Items don't immediately sell, sometimes it takes months and months and sometimes the items just never sell, all this is figured into what their purchase price will be.

The pawn shop is the last stop, if the items were so hot people could easily just sell them off ebay or put an ad in the paper, pawn guys know that.

[Luke at Gouldsboro]

I like Rick. the old man is a dick, big hoss doesn't know anything, and chumlee is a waste of oxygen, dumber than a box of rocks. I watch the show to see what kind of stuff people have, and I love when people think they have something really expensive and it's a reproduction or knock off item

[northern basser]

All these shows are somewhat staged.  They kind of have to be.  To what level they are is the question.  I think PS is more staged than AP,  but PS has the much needed diverse cast.  A doofus,  a wannabe,  a know it all, and a grouch.  Makes for decent entertainment.

I like both shows probably equally.  The places and people they meet on AP is entertaining also.

[tyrius.]

Personally, i cant stand pawn stars. To me is seems all those guys do is rip people off. That bugs me to death.

I really enjoy watching american pickers. I'd imagine its because i love rummaging around old barns or upstairs and such, trying to find things that are neat or antique.

Hmm, in both shows the people are trying to pay as little as possible so that they can turn around and sell it at a profit.  These places need to have a big markup because they have to cover all of their overhead and carrying costs of the items (some take years to sell).  I haven't seen a case of Pawn Stars actually trying to rip someone off. 

[jdw174]

I like Rick. the old man is a dick, big hoss doesn't know anything, and chumlee is a waste of oxygen, dumber than a box of rocks. I watch the show to see what kind of stuff people have, and I love when people think they have something really expensive and it's a reproduction or knock off item

I'm with you almost 100%.  Big Hoss is a smart-aleck twit.  Chumlee couldn't find his butt with both hands and a flashlight.  Only place I disagree with you is the old man.  He's not all that bad.  Rick is my favorite.  Go into any pawn shop around here and about the best you'll get is .25 on the dollar.  IOW, they'll put a price on it almost four times what they pay for it in the first place.

[SirSnookalot]

This show is pure television entertainment, it's so far removed from the reality of how pawn shops operate.

Selling or pawning an item is a last ditch effort to raise money, if the items were that hot they could easily be sold to a dealer or private party for more money.  Selling at a pawn shop is like buying a car with poor credit, you are going to pay a higher interest rate and pawn people know it.

I enjoy watching the show.