Anyone Contacted "American Pickers" lately?

[Step-down]

I've been to the Nashville store , old building nice tee shirts .... Lots of H-D Kuncklehead stuff not for sale ...

[richsfords]

I saw it on this visual machine once so it must be true!

Abe Lincoln

[Jeff/Illinois]

What Brent and Seth said is 100% correct. It's all fake. They don't 'ride around' in the white van and then stumble upon a 'find' they are flown in, put in the van, go to a place that has already been 'found' the items are already 'bought' ahead of time, it's all BS. The show was sold by Mike to the TV network they make their money per show not on the junk they 'pick'. Frank and Danielle were buddies of Mike and he landed them spots on the show. Frank was a fire code inspector nothing more.I know people that went to school with those three and they all laugh about what a scam it all is, they have known them since they were kids.

You go into the LeClaire store (I live 30 miles away been there several times) and it is always the same overpriced stuff, it never sells. If somebody is stupid enough to pay the tag price, shame on them anyway.

I had an antique gas pump years ago I didn't want, a pre-visible. They aren't worth much and don't even look good restored. I thought I'd sell it for a hundred bucks just to get rid of it, hell scrap value is more than that with all the brass they have in them. That pump brings $600 any day of the week unrestored. I called them, got an answering machine they never called back. Sent the tattoo freak lady an e-mail never responded. Took pictures of the pump, mailed it to them said 'come and get it' I'm tired of looking at it, all I got was cricket-cricket-cricket NOTHING.

So, a buddy that collects petroliana told me 'I'll give you $300 for it, but I'm going to restore it and sell it for a lot more.' I told him 'I'll be home Sunday to help you load it up' and it went down the road.

Yeah, those guys and that show drive me bonkers. They are fakes and cheats, bragging about the little old ladies they rip off Besides, they have been sued and the IRS decided they haven't been paying taxes correctly they have been burned over that too.

[31 Model A]

For those that believe reality shows are real, I have a bridge in Brooklyn I'll sell you....cheap too!!!

[rarebike]

Expensive coffee cups and other crap, shop online even.

www.antiquearchaeology.com/Vintage
www.antiquearchaeology.com/shop.php

[Mike Peters]

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We were at their original Le Claire, Iowa store last weekend as part of our spring fun run along the Mississippi River, and all that was for sale were some souvenir tee shirts, etc. The good stuff is display only, including a late 30's Harley knucklehead with a "do not touch" sign. It was a five minute stop, and then back on the Great River Road. I wouldn't go out of my way to visit any of their stores and I just take the TV show for what it's worth.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by Mike Peters

We were at their original Le Claire, Iowa store last weekend as part of our spring fun run along the Mississippi River, and all that was for sale were some souvenir tee shirts, etc. The good stuff is display only, including a late 30's Harley knucklehead with a "do not touch" sign. It was a five minute stop, and then back on the Great River Road. I wouldn't go out of my way to visit any of their stores and I just take the TV show for what it's worth.

I was at that shop a few years ago, and I wouldn't drive more than 5 miles out of my way to say I'd been there.

Your trip along the Mississippi sounds like a fun drive.

[31 Model A]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

I was at that shop a few years ago, and I wouldn't drive more than 5 miles out of my way to say I'd been there.

Your trip along the Mississippi sounds like a fun drive.

It is!!!! Other than a few other drives, Mississippi River Road is very enjoyable...when you have the road and not the Mississippi. My house is 50 feet off that road.

[old car guy]

Guys the show probably is a stretch as reported . But all of us on this site in reality are true pickers. We look for deals on the cars we have bought, we pick every part we have bought or have tried to. We travel hundred and thousands of miles for the one part or the elusive car we got a story about. This to me make us a real group of American pickers.
In my real job I am a picker . I buy antiques ,furniture or just about anything else that we can sell to make a profit off of. And we are doing it for fun and by George making a profit along the way. The funny thing is I have the same truck as them but ford did not give it to my wife and I , and they are not cheap. Retirement has been great wished someone would set up my deals for me.

[JJASON]

I would not trust them, they are in the business for the buck

[Chuck Sea/Tac]

"Wrasslin" is real. I think my dad believed that for a while. When I was a kid we drove 60 miles to Tacoma to watch Haystack Calhoun, who weighed in at 600 pounds. Anyone in front 6 or so rows got wet with blood and spit. My mom wasn't interested and didn't go.

[mountstimothy0]

They are indeed phones. They came to my home town " purchased" stuff from a shop by my house drove off for the show turned around came back and gave it back to them and left again. Ive never watched the show again its all b.s. for the show. Lost all respect for them

Sent from my LG-K371 using Tapatalk

[Dick Webber]

I have a friend who has bought 2 nice items featured on the show,so they do sell things. When I visted Nashville it was mostly souvenirs I saw.

[Larry Jenkins]

Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln. how was (is) the play?

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

As the crooks in an "OLD" Western Movie, were racin' to hide behind a HUGE rock, one Guy touched it & it JIGGLED--LOL---"Maybe" it wuz FIBERGLASS STUCCO??? I've seen them manufactured for YARD DECOR!
Once saw an Old Western, with an airplane vapor trail in the distance---LOL, AGAIN!
When watchin' movies, I often tell the Dog, "THEY CAIN'T DO THAT"!!!
Bill W. & Buster T.

[31 Model A]

Originally Posted by BILL WILLIAMSON

As the crooks in an "OLD" Western Movie, were racin' to hide behind a HUGE rock, one Guy touched it & it JIGGLED--LOL---"Maybe" it wuz FIBERGLASS STUCCO??? I've seen them manufactured for YARD DECOR!
Once saw an Old Western, with an airplane vapor trail in the distance---LOL, AGAIN!
When watchin' movies, I often tell the Dog, "THEY CAIN'T DO THAT"!!!
Bill W. & Buster T.

Bill, back in the late 70s I was on recruiting duty in New Orleans. I used the weekends to visit plantation homes and a few during the week travelling to and from high schools in other towns. One place I had a personal tour through was the Ashland Belle-Helen Plantation. It has been used in many movies including The Beguiled. They made the back look like the front because the front faced the highway. The prop master built two fake gate post with 2X4s and stucco. The plastic gates they used were gone. Those fake gate post were as hollow as a coons home.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashland_Plantation

In popular culture
The mansion was shown in several movies, including, Band of Angels (1957) where it also appeared on the movie poster; The Beguiled (1971), The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman (1971), Mandingo (1975), The Long, Hot Summer (1985) and Fletch Lives (1989).

BTW, the structure had no nails in it, all built will pegs and wedges, that's not FAKE information.

[Frank Miller]

Everyone stop for a minute and think. You're driving down the road and you see a house with a collection of junk so you stop in. Most likely you're greeted with a 12 gauge. Now imagine you drive up in a van with a film crew behind you. See my point. Even on This Old House you see them walking in the door from the inside which means the cameraman is inside the house already.
I sometimes watch this show for the purpose of window shopping. We all know these places exist and this may be our only opportunity to view them. The sales are real. What is not well known is the person is paid a fee for letting them film their "establishment". So when they move $10 on a part remember they could be being paid 10k for use of their property as a stage. I was at the Iowa store in 2013 and there was stuff on display but only souvenirs for sale. I reminded myself that business is owned by the History Channel. Stop and think for a minute and it becomes obvious.

[jm29henry]

What they do is the crew go to the site first and does day of pre filming and even pre determan the price that will be paid for the items purchased ,and then they act out the haggling !!!

[JDupuis]

I like seeing the "collectables" on the show. The American Pickers do a much better "job" of their "show". Try watching the Canadian Pickers. I know some of the people they've picked. And, yes, all staged. I keep flipping channels when I see the Canadian version. Jeff

[V4F]

I think to appreciate any tv show you need to accept it as it is , or why watch ? I like the show & I'm sure most is set-up . but then most tv reality shows are set-up ....... just watch & enjoy .............