Pawn Stars

[Lookingglassman]

Anybody watch this show on the History Channel? It is a reality show that features a family that runs a pawn shop in Las Vegas and all the stuff they buy and the nuts who bring in the stuff.

What drives me crazy are the folks who bring in a very rare item and when the appraiser looks at it and states it could fetch as much as $10,000 at an auction, they end up selling it to the pawn shop for $4000.

FORGET THAT! If I had a rare item like that I would tell Rick and his crew to forget it and try to sell it at an auction in order to get more money.

 

[bigdaddy]

FORGET THAT! If I had a rare item like that I would tell Rick and his crew to forget it and try to sell it at an auction in order to get more money.

Because you want / need the money now, not in months and months after an auction.

I enjoy the show. I find it so stupid when the people find out that something is $10,000 and they go "I want $10,000 for it". Do they not understand they are at a pawn shop!?

 

[Mr. Adventure]

Ever see the one with the Edison phonograph with all those songs on wax rolls? I don't think they ever said what that was worth but I was thinking it had to be a lot more than what they paid for it.

I suppose though the average person probably doesn't get expert appraisals when they try to pawn something that isn't on a big TV show so they at least know what they're getting into.

 

[Amaris]

I love the show. I wish we had pawnbrokers like these guys! I remember when we brought in a very hard to find Yairi (guitar), worth about $1800. The broker took a look at it, and offered us $50.

 

[mythme]

Ever see the one with the Edison phonograph with all those songs on wax rolls? I don't think they ever said what that was worth but I was thinking it had to be a lot more than what they paid for it.

I suppose though the average person probably doesn't get expert appraisals when they try to pawn something that isn't on a big TV show so they at least know what they're getting into.

That instance baffled me as well. Maybe the machine isn't worth that much (I have no idea) but I would think that the recordings (although not of high quality) must be valuable, at least for historic reasons. I don't know what that particular fellow had, but he had quite a few of the rolls. If there was music, opera, speeches, comedy skits, etc., I would think that stuff would be priceless.

I was also wondering after I saw that if such recordings have been gathered together, catalogued, and perhaps transfered on more usable media in the Library of Congress or some other such place.

But digressing - Yeah, I love this show. Its like Antiques Road Show with a little more pizazz. Although Chumley can't possibly be as stupid as the acts.

 

[Timby]

I enjoy Pawn Stars, though I'm a bigger fan of American Pickers as I've known Mike Wolfe for years and I'm proud to call him a friend. (The NDA while History was deciding whether or not to pick his show up was a bitch and a half, though.)

Keep in mind that the vast majority of the people going to the shop in Pawn Stars are idiots who have lost their life savings at a blackjack table, so they need money and they need it now.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

^^ On Pickers, it's even more lopsided because they never get to find out what their stuff's worth until it's sold. I picture some of those guys tuning in later and cursing the TV though I'm sure they get something for participating on the show that might make it worth it.

 

[Lookingglassman]

I understand a person needing money, but unless you are living out of your car I just dont see selling something for far less than you can auction it for.

At least the one dude who had the clump of Indian silver minted coins from a shipwreck was smart. He wanted $750,000 for it and Rick offered him $200,000 and the guy turned it down and walked. He said he had them up for auction, but they didnt meet the reserve.

The luckiest guy was the one who had the old Shelby mustang body he got for free out of a storage facility. I think Rick paid him $50,000 for it.

 

[propita]

Love the show. "The Old Man" is just cool. Chumley? My god, the fact that he can breathe and stand up at the same time is amazing!

A thing is worth as much as someone is willing to pay for it. These people bring their stuff in, expecting top dollar--they should go to an auction house if they want collectors' value for the thing.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

I enjoy this show a great deal. It's kind of an off version of "Antiques Roadshow" with far more interesting characters.

 

[Nowhere Man]

I like Pawn Stars and I like all of Histor's reality show
even Axe Men who rapes our environment, but what happened to the history part? Pawn Stars offers some History, but it seems like all of there programing has either turned to reality or just Armageddon docs. There's no history involved,what happened to the civil war, the old west, the revolution. What about ancient times or the far east, there's much to be told. I know there's more to discuss other than Hitler.

 

[Bloodwhiner]

What happened was ratings. They need higher ratings and the reality/doomsday shows deliver that.

Too bad as I enjoyed the history better.

But I do like Pawn Stars at times even if it is pure editing and staging. Chumley can't be as dumb as they show, that has to be editing. If he were that stupid there is no way they would keep him behind the counter. I can't imagine he really appreciates the depiction (unless he is that stupid).

 

[Colonel Midnight]

Ever see the one with the Edison phonograph with all those songs on wax rolls? I don't think they ever said what that was worth but I was thinking it had to be a lot more than what they paid for it.

I suppose though the average person probably doesn't get expert appraisals when they try to pawn something that isn't on a big TV show so they at least know what they're getting into.

That instance baffled me as well. Maybe the machine isn't worth that much (I have no idea) but I would think that the recordings (although not of high quality) must be valuable, at least for historic reasons. I don't know what that particular fellow had, but he had quite a few of the rolls. If there was music, opera, speeches, comedy skits, etc., I would think that stuff would be priceless.

I was also wondering after I saw that if such recordings have been gathered together, catalogued, and perhaps transfered on more usable media in the Library of Congress or some other such place.

But digressing - Yeah, I love this show. Its like Antiques Road Show with a little more pizazz. Although Chumley can't possibly be as stupid as the acts.

I agree with you on pretty much both counts. Personally, I think the Edison phonograph machine was just one of those items that's hard to price out. If anything, it needs to be in a museum someplace.

The 'Old Man' nailed it when he said that whoever buys it will just stick it on a shelf in their living room and never play it again. Sad, but true.

What's pretty funny are the items that are SO weird you can tell the shop would have nothing to do with -- like the "Indian Spirit Totem". You felt sorry for the guy selling it, but I agree with Rick -- I'm sure the demand for those things is particularly high.

Seriously -- Chumley can't be THAT stupid, can he? Sheeesh! Like the episode where he's asked/ordered to go over to the Old Man's house for a necklace, and it takes him 4 hours?

He should have been shown the door after that stunt, no matter the family relation (if any). Talk about a negative role model...

Cheers,
-CM-

 

[Kail]

Great show, I love it. BTW, Chumley can be that stupid, I've met a lot of people dumber than he is. Very often they are very funny, but you kinda feel bad for laughing at them. Same with Chum. Is it wrong to laugh at stupid people?

 

[bigdaddy]

Love the show. "The Old Man" is just cool. Chumley? My god, the fact that he can breathe and stand up at the same time is amazing!

A thing is worth as much as someone is willing to pay for it. These people bring their stuff in, expecting top dollar--they should go to an auction house if they want collectors' value for the thing.

Exactly, like the clump of coins. if they didn't meet the reserve at an action it means they really aren't worth as much as the guy thinks.

Chumley I don't think is stupid, I think he is retarded and the family employs him because he is family.

 

[Lookingglassman]

Chumley is hilarious and is one of the best people on the show. I also like the old man, especially when he gets mad. I was falling over laughing when they took his old car to fix it up and told him they sold it.

 

[Timby]

Chumley can't be as dumb as they show

Yes. Yes, he can.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

Whenever I hear the name Chumley I can't help but think of the Tennessee Tuxedo show.

Maybe they make a show with Chumley and Mikey from American Choppers working together.

 

[tharpdevenport]

I remember a recent episode (SPOILERS if you havent' seen it), where they had a terrible day:

TWo of the boys bought something for a ot of money they shouldn't have, Chumley drops a ball & chain on a display case, breaking the glass and what ever was in the case, then at the very end of the show during the rolling credits, the Old Man has Hoss(?) getting in a pick-up to delivery a chair they paid a little too much for, but found a lady who wanted it and just as the credits were over, he pulls out, the chair slides out the back, and breaks into pieces, with the Old Man saying, "You fucking idiot.".

 

[Ryan]

What drives me crazy are the folks who bring in a very rare item and when the appraiser looks at it and states it could fetch as much as $10,000 at an auction, they end up selling it to the pawn shop for $4000.

FORGET THAT! If I had a rare item like that I would tell Rick and his crew to forget it and try to sell it at an auction in order to get more money.

Like they've said a million times, there's no guarantee you'll get that much money several months down the line plus the auction house takes a cut. Plus it's a freakin' pawn shop. Expecting to get anything close to auction value is stupid. You'll maybe get a third to half.