American pickers

[robert shreveport]

See they're in my town this week.

[Rowdy]

Stopped in Iowa to see there shop in Dec. They have a nice T-shirt and trinket shop. Not much in the way of antiques. Disapointing to say the least. Have stopped watching their show since. What a couple of fakes IMHO. Rod

[mshmodela]

The show and pawn stars are getting very old...

[Fred]

Originally Posted by mshmodela

The show and pawn stars are getting very old...

Change the station !!..

[Curt Campbell]

I agree Rowdy. Stopped in Le Claire a couple years ago...wasn't much to it. All the reality shows are fake and staged...no surprise there. I am more tired of Pawn Stars.

[ericr]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

we talk about them periodically here. somebody told me that they really do not drive to these locations, that they fly in and rent a vehicle, or at least that is their recent practice.

also I wonder what their primary business is....estate liquidations or the like? surely it would be tough to make a living driving around this country on the if-come that they will make purchases at wholesale prices, whether the eccentric sellers are scripted or not.

[Tom Cavallaro]

I too was dissapointed after visiting the Nashvill store in TN. waited for over an hour to get in, the antiques were old...useless...and set as props as far as I'm concerned.
They survive on the 10.000 dollars the show gives them to film them plus the stuff they pick, they already have buyers for before they bid on it. That's why nothing is in the store.

[BlueSunoco]

Originally Posted by Rowdy

Stopped in Iowa to see there shop in Dec. They have a nice T-shirt and trinket shop. Not much in the way of antiques. Disapointing to say the least. Have stopped watching their show since. What a couple of fakes IMHO. Rod

X2 Rowdy I haven't watched those two in a LONG time got tired of their nonsense. The skinny one was really getting into himself. I believe Tom, that it's not $10K but $25K per episode each of those guys are paid. Now they want BIG bucks to show up at an event plus they won't sign autographs for free, gonna cost ya. Wow, like they are that important to begin with. Who promotes these clowns? Where does all that come from?

I 'popped' as they say and avoid that channel when I see them on.

[tbirdtbird]

Y'all are right on.
They do already have buyers and the prices they show for what they intend to sell at are BS. The prices in the Nashville store are a million dollars apiece for anything of any interest at all. The cheapest thing was one of their own coffee mugs but they wanted 25 bucks. sorry, not gonna happen. have not watched them since....all smoke and mirrors

Pawn Stars is nauseating the way they rape people

[Slowplane]

A friend stopped at the pawn guys in Las Vegas with an antique stock ticker that was her dad's. The front counter lackie came up to $300. After haggling, and gettin' the bald guy involved, baldy upped it to $450. told her he'd MAYBE get $700-800 for it on resell. She declined, took it home, and flipped it on ebay the next week for $4800.
My experience is to sell NOTHING to any pawn shop.

[pgerhardt]

The American Pickers is a produced and scripted show. All the negotiations and prices are done ahead of time by the producers. I long ago gave up on the notion that any of it was real, but still enjoy the show. It does drive me crazy when they walk right past some cool Model A or A parts to get all excited about an old crappy ice-cream sign!

I got a good laugh when Frank got all excited and bought a "1931 Roadster" that was actually a 28-29 Coupe!

BTW I get the impression from the show that the south is just filled with undiscovered Model A Fords and ford parts!

[31 Model A]

Just what reality show is worth a damn or really what it portrays as being what you think it is? Reality shows show only one thing, boredom abounds in everyday life today.....IMO!!!!!

[C26Pinelake]

Originally Posted by Slowplane

A friend stopped at the pawn guys in Las Vegas with an antique stock ticker that was her dad's. The front counter lackie came up to $300. After haggling, and gettin' the bald guy involved, baldy upped it to $450. told her he'd MAYBE get $700-800 for it on resell. She declined, took it home, and flipped it on ebay the next week for $4800.
My experience is to sell NOTHING to any pawn shop.

Pawn Shop = Desperate
Only the desperate sell to a pawn shop ! They should be called The Down and Out Shop !
Wayne

[Bob-A]

For the past few years. I have noticed the price on antiques and antique car parts on eBay. To be going up, up and away! I truely believe that
people who watch this show. Say to them selves, "Martha (or Milburn) those old car parts (or just old stuff in general) left by your deceased granddad/mother is worth a fortune! Just like on this TV show!" Some
high school buddies and I use to "pick" back in the late '60s. We did it for fun and to learn about the past. Not to make the "god awful dollar". i quit watching years ago. I do like "diggers" those guys are corney and look to have a lot of fun looking for buried junk...oops..lost treasures from the past. The best part: The fun is worth more then the items found 10 times over.

Bob-A

[BlueSunoco]

It's OK to slam Am. Pickers and such, and I agree all 'reality' shows are pure BS, BUT don't attack Honey BooBoo whatever you do Mama June ( I think was the Mom) has lots of junk in the trunk might be an 'A' out back of the shed.

They ARE down South where people are portrayed by TV as easy rubes and push overs, lacking in smarts but that ain't true. For sure. Plenty of fine folks down South.

[james hitchcock]

Pickers are due in my town in Feb. They had an add in the paper asking for leads. Visalia, Ca.

[tbirdtbird]

watch out now.....ain't no "rubes and push overs" in Texas...and none in Alabama either....

[31 Model A]

Originally Posted by BlueSunoco

BUT don't attack Honey BooBoo whatever you do Mama June .

"boredom abounds in everyday life today.....IMO!!!!!"

Honey Boo-Boo....perfect example, I rest my case.

[triumphleroy]

Got a call from the pickers in December requesting to visit and look at my hoard but never even called them back. I had heard through the Grapevine that they were to be in the area in January and several folks had given my name to them. Don't think I need the bother, I solved all my TV watching problems over thirty years ago when I got rid of my wife and Television and raised four children by myself without television...........Do not have TV in my home!

[tbirdtbird]

you ain't missin' a thing!

[29spcoupe]

I know for a fact that when they came to a friends place, they pre-arranged for a part to be bought for $450 when it was really worth only about $50. It is all staged. John

[Marvin/TN]

Well the way I look at it is that the people have a choice, either sell it to them or not and take it back home.

[Marvin/TN]

Why would anyone go to a pawn shop to sell something of value especially today with E-Bay and Craigs list. I did try Craigs list one to sell something and only got two scam replys. Both of them were on a ship out in the middle of the ocean somewhere.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by tbirdtbird

you ain't missin' a thing!

Not so sure about that.........I'm watching Julia Duffy right now on Newhart.

[Dave Mellor NJ]

Originally Posted by james hitchcock

Pickers are due in my town in Feb. They had an add in the paper asking for leads. Visalia, Ca.

A classified ad in a paper! Now that's something rare.

[Keith True]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I've never seen any of those shows.The idea of spending 25 bucks a month,(or whatever it is)just to watch a TV bothers me.If you are in a spot where you can't get a signal that is different.A couple of years ago we were at a Christmas party at the local junkyard.My wife was talking to a bunch of people we know,and they started talking about the show Pawn Stars.We talk a little funny here,and porn is pronounced pawn.My wife said who would want to watch a show about porn stars?If you want to see porn stars,just watch the porn.They were all looking at her like she had two heads,nobody had a clue what she was talking about,and she'd never heard of the show Pawn Stars.

[fordcoupe]

[QUOTE=tbirdtbird;1019737]Y'all are right on.
They do already have buyers and the prices they show for what they intend to sell at are BS. The prices in the Nashville store are a million dollars apiece for anything of any interest at all. The cheapest thing was one of their own coffee mugs but they wanted 25 bucks. sorry, not gonna happen. have not watched them since....all smoke and mirrors

I agree

[james hitchcock]

Dave, I should have said it was a story in our local newspaper. No classified ad. Asking for names and leads.

[joeypoconos]

Take it for what it's worth.


http://www.networth2013.com/mike-wolfe

Nuff said.

[mshmodela]

Originally Posted by Fred

Change the station !!..

LoL!

[ronn]

ericr-you mention how they make a living.........?

off of their sponsorship for the show. Mike was paid over 500k a year before Pickers
to sponsor Polaris snowmobiles.............
much better income then "pretending" to buy and sell junk for a living.............

I cant watch that show any longer either. Was fun for a short few.................

[BlueSunoco]

Originally Posted by tbirdtbird

you ain't missin' a thing!

Amen to that and we're about to pull the plug here on TV too, same old senseless waste of time pretty boring. The old shows on ME TV are about all I watch, stuff from the 60's early 70's. I could give a hoot about today's reality junk. That's all the better the untalented script writers and producers can come up with while they 'sell' their tainted way of life to the impressionable youth today.
.

[Bob-A]

BlueSunoco I agree with you 100% on the state of today's TV content. But there is no way I could give up my TV completely. If I did how could I see
our beloved "A's" and other late 20's, early 30's cars. As they lived in their natural wild habitat via TCM/Turner Classic Movies.

Bob-A

[31 Model A]

Originally Posted by Bob-A

BlueSunoco I agree with you 100% on the state of today's TV content. But there is no way I could give up my TV completely. If I did how could I see
our beloved "A's" and other late 20's, early 30's cars. As they lived in their natural wild habitat via TCM/Turner Classic Movies.

Bob-A

Buy DVDs from the TCM library and play them on your PC monitor!!!!

[ronn]

I know it's off topic, but I gave my TV up for 3 years and didnt miss it much.................

just installed netflix for 8 bucks a month and watch what I want when I want-good for the winter.

[2935ford]

Like it or not.....at 6 figures a show..........hmmmmmm, not a bad living, yes?

[takomaned]

My wife and I went to NYC last fall for Antiques Roadshow. We had things that we weren't able to identify. One of the appraisers we saw was knowledgeable and friendly.
The next "expert" we saw told us to "Go home and look it up on the internet". I asked him to show me where it is on line, and after 15 mins. of scrolling he said he'd need to do more research. He than gave us a price he thought it was worth, even though he didn't know anything about it. We weren't impressed.

[Vonn Ditch]

Actually the guys you see on TV aren’t Mike and Frank at all. They are stand in doubles. The real Mike and Frank are parked outside in an air conditioned bus directing every move. They employ sleeper cell pickers in every town in the USA to feedback secret data on the where abouts of copious amounts of Americana. Mike and Frank, both former CIA agents themselves, then hire detectives to stake out the unsuspecting holders of valuable cars, motorcycles and antiques of all kinds. All this information is fed back to Danielle, who herself is not what she appears, being heavily involved as a secret agent in international reconnaissance and demolition, all while disguised as a roller derby, and burlesque queen.
Yes my friends what seems to be an unsuspecting television show is in reality an elaborate plan to corral every single Harley Davidson and Indian motorcycle on planet earth to be kept in a former nuclear missile site underground in a location know only to the three pickers.

[1wonton]

While it's obvious that these two clowns are as phony as the buys they make what is interesting is seeing all the American collectors/hoarders and their collections. Makes me not feel so isolated.

[Nabco]

JMHO but I enjoy these shows and never miss them, of course they are scripted, but so is a movie and those are entertaining, so why can't a scripted television show be entertaining.

No way I could give up my TV's, between my primary residence and my vacation home I'm spending $250 plus per month on cable and satellite TV, plus Netflix. It is the way I choose to spend money for entertainment, I'm sure a lot of people spend this kind of money on cigarettes, cigars, booze and other things that I think is a total waste of money.

SO, again IMHO, to each his own.

Rant over......

[Vonn Ditch]

+ 1 Nabco

[FL&WVMIKE]

Here in Daytona Beach, there was a newspaper article about a man, who sold them a neon sign, from a girly bar. remember that ?
He described, on how a team, from "AMERICAN PICKERS", was in, a couple weeks prior to the "random pick" of Frank and Mike. It was the first time that he met Frank and Mike, but it was all staged.
I still love to watch the show, not because of Frank and Mike, but to see just what some people do have stored away.
I just wish that I had discovered it !
I don't know why Frank lets them portray him as a cheapskate, who is trying to chisel every dollar he can out of the people.
MIKE (mikeburch)

[mshmodela]

Originally Posted by Vonn Ditch

Actually the guys you see on TV aren’t Mike and Frank at all. They are stand in doubles. The real Mike and Frank are parked outside in an air conditioned bus directing every move. They employ sleeper cell pickers in every town in the USA to feedback secret data on the where abouts of copious amounts of Americana. Mike and Frank, both former CIA agents themselves, then hire detectives to stake out the unsuspecting holders of valuable cars, motorcycles and antiques of all kinds. All this information is fed back to Danielle, who herself is not what she appears, being heavily involved as a secret agent in international reconnaissance and demolition, all while disguised as a roller derby, and burlesque queen.
Yes my friends what seems to be an unsuspecting television show is in reality an elaborate plan to corral every single Harley Davidson and Indian motorcycle on planet earth to be kept in a former nuclear missile site underground in a location know only to the three pickers.

Wow that makes total sense now... Thanks LOL!

[Brian T]

If these programs entertain you that's good ---- however if you believe what you are seeing then you have a problem.

[INVISIBLEKID]

If those guy's came around here ,and to my place, it would be knuckles up! Knowledge is half assed,but the way they try to con the unknowing pisses me off to no end.... I've watched before,only to get frustrated...... if I should ever want to get my blood pressure up,I'll watch they're shinnanigans.
And the whole- "we picked it= we ripped this poor guy off for $X,but we can sell it for $X , just burns me up. Sure- find a score,and make a few bucks,no prob,but damn! hey- I'm gonna have a new reality show about my garage,how s%it doesn't go right,and I throw things and make them stick into the sheetrock. Should be a hit!

[ericr]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Originally Posted by INVISIBLEKID

If those guy's came around here ,and to my place, it would be knuckles up! Knowledge is half assed,but the way they try to con the unknowing pisses me off to no end.... I've watched before,only to get frustrated...... if I should ever want to get my blood pressure up,I'll watch they're shinnanigans.
And the whole- "we picked it= we ripped this poor guy off for $X,but we can sell it for $X , just burns me up. Sure- find a score,and make a few bucks,no prob,but damn! hey- I'm gonna have a new reality show about my garage,how s%it doesn't go right,and I throw things and make them stick into the sheetrock. Should be a hit!

I empathize with your thots but I suspect they tell the eccentric hoarder in advance that they only buy wholesale. Also, everyone says the show is all rehearsed, which makes sense because surely otherwise there would be confrontations with the sellers.

Whether they have private collections that they add to by buying at retail, I'm not completely sure. They both talk about being motorcycle collectors....

[SSsssteamer]

American Pickers' "cold picks" where they knock on the doors of homes that look like good pickings from the road, you know that even those stops have to be staged. How would you react with several vehicles stopping in your driveway, camera men standing on your lawn behind Mike and Frank and taking videos of you while their pickers are handing you their sheet of paper? Reality is: I think that the live cameras would chase away more prospects than secure purchases from them. I know that strangers at my door taking videos of me and my home without my permission would make me feel violated and I would ask them to leave. There is a lot more going on behind the scenes than is portrayed. Pretty phony. Another thing is the vast amount of good stuff that the guys handle and they don't even ask if it is for sale. They put it down and then pick up the lesser desirable item to dicker on. I recently closed my cable account and am now streaming from my computer through Roku. I calculate that I am saving $1,440 in cable costs a year by doing so, and that doesn't even figure in for inflation. For free, I still can watch the back episodes of American Pickers and much more, if I so desire.

[INVISIBLEKID]

I know that MIKE =easy to remember,is into bike's,and I'm sure he know's what to look for,and that would probably be for personal collection.= hey- we all do it....have to buy a bunch,keep what we need,and off the rest...Part of the game to keep us a float..... Money tree's aren't sprouting with our drought here!
But even scripted- how (well at least not me) tell a guy your gonna make a killing on his stuff you'll only give pennies for? Hey- reality TV.
Sure- I've flipped for profit,but just cant go in that way,and buffalo like they do...... I guess that's why they have a show,and I cuss at things,and have to learn some things the hard way.....
if it was that simple, I wouldn't have any moral's/values.... But the TV paycheck probably helps.........

[edmondclinton]

Originally Posted by SSsssteamer

American Pickers' "cold picks" where they knock on the doors of homes that look like good pickings from the road, you know that even those stops have to be staged. How would you react with several vehicles stopping in your driveway, camera men standing on your lawn behind Mike and Frank and taking videos of you while their pickers are handing you their sheet of paper? Reality is: I think that the live cameras would chase away more prospects than secure purchases from them. I know that strangers at my door taking videos of me and my home without my permission would make me feel violated and I would ask them to leave. There is a lot more going on behind the scenes than is portrayed. Pretty phony.

Absolutely! You know even those "cold picks" are staged. Many people would view those two characters as a nuisance. And if they just decided to go ahead and look around, that would be a dumb thing to do for sure.

In some areas of Texas a person can get shot nosing around on people's property.

[ronn]

"If those guy's came around here ,and to my place, it would be knuckles up! Knowledge is half assed,but the way they try to con the unknowing pisses me off to no end.... I've watched before,only to get frustrated...... if I should ever want to get my blood pressure up,I'll watch they're shinnanigans.
And the whole- "we picked it= we ripped this poor guy off for $X,but we can sell it for $X , just burns me up. "

I agree-really get pissed when they buy from an older fella that seems to be going feeble and then they laugh like they are buddies........... jackasses!

[Rowdy]

I met them in a local antique shop a couple of years before the show started. Mike seemed to be a decent guy. I thought Frank was pushy and rude. They seemed relatively poor at the time and were driving an older Ford van. Seems they found a way to fleece a TV network and likely are not close to being the same people they were then. Rod

[Jeff/Illinois]

I had a mint condition pre-visible gas pump (Bowser from about 1912) that I wanted to get rid of. It was all there, basically just needed cleaned up and/or a fresh paint job. Still worked. Cleaning out the garage and this thing weighed a ton, tired of tripping over it.

I e-mailed Danielle in Leclaire, Iowa their HQ. No response. I called them on the phone. Got an answering machine, never called back. I took photos of it and mailed them a letter, I only wanted a hundred bucks was worth a considerable amount more (not huge dollars maybe $400-$500 as-is.) Waited six months never heard a word from them. I only live across the river.

Finally gave it to a guy here in town who was out of a job I knew he needed money. I don't know or care what HE did with it.

Am. Pickers a phony outfit?? I sure believe THAT

[Marshall V. Daut]

"Absolutely! You know even those "cold picks" are staged."
You mean that people don't sit around their houses wearing wireless microphone transmitters in their hip pockets or dangling from their belts, just on the off-chance that some television show will stop by that day? I'm CRUSHED! to find this out!!
Marshall

[edmondclinton]

Originally Posted by Marshall V. Daut

"Absolutely! You know even those "cold picks" are staged."
You mean that people don't sit around their houses wearing wireless microphone transmitters in their hip pockets or dangling from their belts, just on the off-chance that some television show will stop by that day? I'm CRUSHED! to find this out!!
Marshall

Maybe they will show up at your house. How would you react if they did?

[BlueSunoco]

edmond, if they showed up at Marshall's house he'd have to borrow Mitch/Pa's 1927 Thompson 'Chicago typewriter' and go full auto on 'em

[Marshall V. Daut]

The battery in my wireless microphone transmitter died this morning. I wear the transmitter 24/7, like the people on "AP" do, just in case a camera crew should stop by some day. Because no one has yet done so, I probably won't put a new battery in the transmitter. It'll just be my luck that a camera crew will stop by the house TOMORROW to do some videotaping. Won't I be embarrassed that I didn't put in a new transmitter battery!?!
Marshall

[Rowdy]

Marshall, I sold my wireless and bought a paper sign to keep pickers away along for dog food for vicious looking dog in the yard. Most people are scared to death of him dispite the fact he is a gentle dog that likes to play with the grandsons. He looks like a pitbull, but is a dalmation boxer mix.The best of both worlds IMHO. Rod

[Fred]

How about when Mike asks for a price & the guy says $50.00, Mike says Ok, I will take it, But that is to low, I will give you $100.00 ?? Its just like that at Hershey every year !!.. Right ??...

[mot]

i cant stand watching the American pickers and pawn stars
BUT
yesterday at Turlock,i talked to my friend Vern Mariott from Auburn Ca
he was on their show recently and they picked his hoard
i asked them if it was staged or prebought
he told me no
he said he haggled a lot with them ,and that wasnt shown
they were at his place for 8hrs and edited most of it out
but he swears his experience was legit
tom

[edmondclinton]

Originally Posted by mot

i cant stand watching the American pickers and pawn stars
BUT
yesterday at Turlock,i talked to my friend Vern Mariott from Auburn Ca
he was on their show recently and they picked his hoard
i asked them if it was staged or prebought
he told me no
he said he haggled a lot with them ,and that wasnt shown
they were at his place for 8hrs and edited most of it out
but he swears his experience was legit
tom

If that is the truth then those AM pickers are a couple of bold, nosy characters indeed.

How did they know that your friend had a hoard and wanted to sell things?

[mot]

call Vern Marriott in Auburn Ca
hes the one who told me,hes the one who was on the show
Ive been to his house many times and waded through his horde
i just asked him if it was fake or real
he and his brother both said it was real ,nothing staged beforehand,just a lot edited out
they showed up at 8AM and set up the cameras and started wading though his stuff
he wouldnt sell any of his toys but everything else was for sale at Verns price

[Straightpipes]

I'd be happy to see them here. I'd sell them a car. They could give me about twice what they are worth....... 28' Chevy a 29 Durant. Or, I've got a half dozen Fordson tractors which they should own.
If you see it on TV it is most likely BS. Now it's all reality shows or political lies.
Pawn stars has to take the crown for absolute stupidity........

[Terry, NJ]

With Pawn Stars or American Pickers, you soon get the idea that they are contemptuos of the people they buy from, especially Pawn Stars and Hardcore Pawn (set in Detroit). I know that "Pickers" have their expenses. Back in the 70s I did it myself. It's a bragging thing! I was taught early not to brag about how much money you made on a deal. People don't like to hear it. All the "we really like yous" and waving goodbyes don't make up for the fact that that they will get a better price for the item than the sellers would. I know that they provide a much needed buyer for items that many sellers can't sell locally, but the bragging really rankles me sometimes.
Terry

[cee eee]

Originally Posted by tbirdtbird

watch out now.....ain't no "rubes and push overs" in Texas...and none in Alabama either....

No stupid pushovers in Mid. Tn. either

[INVISIBLEKID]

Just re- visiting..... And a lil poll for ya all....LOL Would you let them "pick" at your place? I'm holding on to my seat now!

[Marvin/TN]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

My question is "why would anyone go to a pawn shop to sell something expecting to get full value for it?" I certainly know I never did a paint job on a car for my cost. Hard to keep the doors open that way.

[Marvin/TN]

Daughter born before their wedding. Goes to show that the old saying is right. "First child can come anytime it's the second one that takes 9 months" In saying that I was not saying anything bad about them just tying to be a little funny.

[Steves46]

Originally Posted by C26Pinelake

Pawn Shop = Desperate
Only the desperate sell to a pawn shop ! They should be called The Down and Out Shop !
Wayne

In my opinion most sell so that can get a few more plays in on the Black Jack or Craps tables. It is stunning to see the number of pawn shops in Reno and Las Vegas. What gets me are the clowns that come in and say they are not sure what their piece is worth-are you kidding me? A few searches on the web should certainly give them some idea of what they have.

[C26Pinelake]

Originally Posted by Brian T

If these programs entertain you that's good ---- however if you believe what you are seeing then you have a problem.

Right on my friend. You couldn't be more right !
Wayne

[2935ford]

Originally Posted by Marvin/TN

My question is "why would anyone go to a pawn shop to sell something expecting to get full value for it?" I certainly know I never did a paint job on a car for my cost. Hard to keep the doors open that way.

Because they get their 10 minutes of fame being on TV.....and to some people, that means something!

[Sgtdoogie]

Originally Posted by mot

i talked to my friend Vern Mariott from Auburn Ca
he was on their show recently and they picked his hoard
i asked them if it was staged or prebought
he told me no

Ironically, the year before Vern, they picked Deb and Al Casner. They had the engine that was the same type as the Spruce Goose and they started the giant motor. Vern lives on Dry Creek and Deb/Al have a shop on Hwy 49, which the two are only about a mile apart as the crow flies.

http://www.auburnjournal.com/article...star-treatment

It should come as no surprise, that the driving part is completely stage and the path is completely wrong. Knowing where they filmed (about a mile from my house), the Mike part of the conversation was them on Dry Creek passing Tractor Suppy. The Frank part of the conversation was filmed on an early portion of the street. Then after they got the call from Danni, they show them driving on 2 lane freeway in the country, but it's not Auburn...and likely not even California.


Regards,
Doogie

[Sgtdoogie]

Originally Posted by 1wonton

While it's obvious that these two clowns are as phony as the buys they make what is interesting is seeing all the American collectors/hoarders and their collections. Makes me not feel so isolated.

If you read about them on Reddit, there was an AMA with one of the show's creators.

Mike is the real picker. He has the store in Iowa (and now Nashville). He actually does collect, and he actually buys and sells stuff. He does know a lot about items, particularly bicycles and motorcycles. He came up with the idea with another guy(Sorry, I don't remember his name, or the Reddit link..just going off memory). I worked for NISSAN in 2013, and I went to the Nashville show. Yes..the store had a metric ton of t-shirts, coffee cups, etc. However the store was packed with items that I had actually seen on the show. Were they cheap? Uh no. But there were many many items that were legitimately from the show. When I was there, they had just picked Rick Neilsen from Cheap Trick, and the guitar from the show, was in the store..just like they said they were going to do on the show.

Frank is Mike's friend since Middle School. Frank was in the fire fighting field, if I remember, training or something. So he likes fire fighting memorabilia (That was on an episode). Anything he buys on the show, he's generally just buying it for his collection. They talk about pricing, but he's likely not selling it. Some of those items, might just be for Mike as well.

Danni D is a dancer by trade. There are many videos on YouTube of her burlesque dancing. She does not "work" for Mike in the Iowa store, she is a character on the show. She doesn't find picks, or do any of that stuff for real.

The producers of the show find the picks and go there in advance. Now I've heard from people here in town, that Mike really likes Auburn...which is why I think they've filmed here 3 times. The producers go to the site and find the items and go through everything in advance. This shouldn't surprise anyone. They can't afford to show up to film a TV show, without vetting the items and know if they will have anything worth filming. The free styling? is all done in advance as well.

They put all the stuff in their truck, drive away...and then it all comes out and goes in the real truck. There's often the usual on a show....lots of staff, workers, catering, etc. So it's clearly not just those 2 guys and 1 camera guy. It's a TV show....so they are going reshoot things, etc...make sure the dialog, lighting, etc is correct.

I think you would have to be very naive to think the show is "real", as in how it is presented on TV. But none of that takes away from the fact that the people they put on the show are very real, their stories are their stories and the items are part of history and Americana.

Does the fact Danni D really doesn't work for Mike in the shop pouring over leads really matter or lesson the history presented on the show?


Regards,
Doogie

[Sgtdoogie]

Originally Posted by Terry, NJ

With Pawn Stars or American Pickers, you soon get the idea that they are contemptuos of the people they buy from, especially Pawn Stars and Hardcore Pawn (set in Detroit).

I actually have first hand experience with Pawn Stars. Once again, what actually happens and how it's presented on TV is not the same. That doesn't take anything away from the items, IMO. The items are real, but the story behind it and how the shop operates is not real, it's TV.


My friend is the drummer for Judas Priest. In 2013, he decide to sell his 2004 Ozzfest tour drumkit that Tama built for him. Now, you're probably wonder why would he sell a kit, is he broke? No, not at all. You see, famous artists are signed by music vendors. In his case, he was a Tama artist for 25 years or so, but he switched in 2009 to DW Drums. He is not allowed to play his Tama set anymore..ever. So the kit was just sitting in storage doing nothing but taking up space (and drums take up a LOT of space).


So we set the drumkit up in my dining room to take photos and video, and the original thought was to sell the kit on eBay. I have attached a photo.


But while sitting around, we got the idea to sell the kit on Pawn Stars. So he made a few phone calls, and the producers of the show called him back. They asked him about the kit, the history, etc and how much he wanted. They said Rick is on vacation, but we'll give him the information and call you back.


Meanwhile, I came up the idea that I would walk into the store to sell the kit and when they asked where it was, we would walk out back with the kit on a flatbed truck with him playing drums. We thought it was cool.


A day or two later..it wasn't long, the producers called back. They said we told Rick about it, and he said he wasn't interested. That was that.


The kit was eventually sold to the Hard Rock Cafe. They put rock memorabilia in their restaurants....so it's probably hanging on a wall somewhere or sitting in a warehouse. Who knows.


I have actually been to the store. They do not film in the actual store. They have a replica next door that they film the show. Rick, his son and Chumlee don't actually work in the pawn store, they are legally not allowed to by Nevada law because you aren't allowed to film people trying to pawn items. If they were actually in the store, people would take pictures and videos all day, and people would unintentionally filmed against the law. So they just show up on set, and film the show. So all the banter and stuff about Chumlee being lazy and not working, is all just part of the entertainment of the show.



The items on the show are legit, but definitely not people just walking in out of the blue with a copy of the declaration of independence. That would be impossible to film. Hours and hours of filming junk would be very expensive. So like any show, it's all set up in advance, crew, catering, etc are all ready with items pre-vetted and then they film an episode.

[Tom Wesenberg]

I was riding along on a business trip with my neighbor, and we made a side trip to the Iowa Picker's store. Glad I didn't waste my gas making the side trip. OK, to stop in if you are already in the town, but don't bother driving out of your way to visit.

[37 Coupe]

Used to be a guy on the Old Fordbarn a few years ago who was on one of the episodes.I cannot remember his user name but this was on the Early V8 Forum where I met him and sold him an engine one time. He was on the episode that was scripted to promote the Nascar museum when it first opened and the guy owns Ralph Earnhardt's '37 Ford coupe that he raced. I called him up or emailed him the morning after the shows airing.I remember asking him why I saw a couple nice Ford parts that they walked right buy and I thought he told me they bought a lot of stuff that was not on the show. It is just entertainment but I do like the shows that have old cars or parts in them not some of the other stuff like doctors equipment etc.Another show I used to like was Wayne Carini's Chasing Classic Cars but cannot really relate to that big money part of the hobby.Wayne's dad was a Model A restorer.

[woodiewagon46]

What the pickers need is a "car purchasing advisor". I remember that Model A they purchased. Loaded with reproduction parts, missing original parts, wrong interior, wrong color and paid top dollar. I guess when you have advertisers throwing buckets of money at you it doesn't matter.

[24ruxstel1339]

I really enjoy the things they come up with.
I sometimes turn the sound off and just watch.
The 3 are a little hard to stomach for me.

If it wasn't a staged production, I would invite them here...
They would be "stoked" !

[Terry, NJ]

[ I used to like was Wayne Carini's Chasing Classic Cars but cannot really relate to that big money part of the hobby.Wayne's dad was a Model A restorer.[/QUOTE]

Wayne Carini seems more of a gentleman and I thoroughly enjoy watching him, When I can! The FIOS I have doesn't provide it. Furthermore, He never seems to reveal the prices paid or realized. I saw him take a bath on a car once (A Packard, I believe) and he handled it with grace and calm. I respected him for that. It was more than I was capable of. C.C.C. is a great show! Maybe it's all an illusion, but They seem to respect the intelligence of the viewer more than the others.
Terry

[29abone]

i used to work with a clown that used to refer to himself in first party as a "picker" , used to drive me crazy listening to him try to swindle some old lady out of her late husbands antique whatever. He would always tell me about this show, & all the crazy treasures they would find, & would also tell me i should watch it. I don't have the time for t.v. I've got a garage full of model A's to tend to. When i'm not in the garage, i'm actually out finding my own treasures, i just don't put them on t.v for the whole world to see.

[rfitzpatrick]

29--
You "Tend Model A's" -- I like that

[rocket1]

In my opinion shows like American pickers and chasing classic cars hurt the hobby by inflating prices.

[larrys40]

actually I've met Wayne Carinni several times and he is a great guy. His dad started out restoring Model A's and Wayne is a car guy through and through... no matter if it's an early Ford or one of the other more fancy makes. You can think what you want but the visibility and interest the shows draw of the quality ones ( not the chop em up variety) really help promote the old cars and probably do more to get people interested than chasing them away. Wayne didn't know me from adam but spend time chatting with me for some time. I give him and A+.
Larry Shepard

[41plym]

I like Wayne, but I would kill to spend a day with Roger his mechanic.

[Bob-A]

Originally Posted by 41plym

I like Wayne, but I would kilo to spend a day with Roger his mechanic.

ditto..... He's the best part of the show besides the Classic cars. And I mean real classic cars: Cadillacs, Lincolns, Peirce-Arrows, Packards etc.


Bob-A

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

When watching TV, just throw "REALITY" out the window. Ever watch James Bond, 007??? CRAZY, but LOTS of FUN! "Sometimes" he sleeps with the ENEMY, if she's got a GREAT BODY!!
Bill Fun

[fredski53]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Don't have t.v., but got internet!

[California Travieso]

Originally Posted by fredski53

Don't have t.v., but got internet!

You can find the episodes on YouTube. Just type in Chasing Classic Cars in the search function.

David Serrano