doinworkinvans Posted July 26, 2012 Share #1 Posted July 26, 2012 Cajun Pawn Stars is ridiculous. You know that awkward feeling you get when someone is just completely embarrising themselves and you can't even look...thats Cajun Pawn Stars. It's BEYOND scripted and every time they mention something war related I just cringe. Now, I'm no expert by far, but they could make it a little more believable that they actually knew a little something before hand. Sheesh. I'll stick with Seinfeld. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgtdorango Posted July 26, 2012 Share #2 Posted July 26, 2012 Yeah, i watched it last night, a guy brings in two beautiful WWI US trench knives, a 1917 and a 1918.....they have an expert come in with a great evaluation and prices them at around $1,000 for the pair...then they proceed to rape the seller and give $360 for the pair and the fool takes it!!!!.....the show is silly stupid at times but still just entertainment !......mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronnie Posted July 26, 2012 Share #3 Posted July 26, 2012 Someone, somewhere recently said they liked Cajun Pawn Stars because they were honest.....last night they ripped that poor guy a new booty hole! He didn't have to take the money but, holy cow! He was a dum bass for taking the money but they were just sorry in what they offed! Their first offer was $250.00! What a rip off! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack's Son Posted July 26, 2012 Share #4 Posted July 26, 2012 I don't believe ANY of these shows, they will screw the seller every time. How about Pawn Stars offering a guy $200 more for his Cubs World Series Press Pin? The pin is worth way more then they told the guy anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted July 26, 2012 Share #5 Posted July 26, 2012 Yeah, i watched it last night, a guy brings in two beautiful WWI US trench knives, a 1917 and a 1918.....they have an expert come in with a great evaluation and prices them at around $1,000 for the pair...then they proceed to rape the seller and give $360 for the pair and the fool takes it!!!!.....the show is silly stupid at times but still just entertainment !......mike They are buyers - their legal responsibility is to their company, not to the seller. They are not his financial advisers, not his appraiser, not his nanny: again, their job is to get things for as little as possible and I have yet to see them hold a gun to a seller's head. Typically the seller has little invested in the item(s) and the money they get is all profit. The buyer meanwhile is tying up money in the item, has store overhead, will pay state and federal taxes on any profit and pretty much takes all the risk. At the end of the day the buyer may end up netting less than the $360 the seller got. There are no ripoffs here: both parties knew what was going on and there was no duress. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suwanneetrader Posted July 26, 2012 Share #6 Posted July 26, 2012 They are buyers - their legal responsibility is to their company, not to the seller. They are not his financial advisers, not his appraiser, not his nanny: again, their job is to get things for as little as possible and I have yet to see them hold a gun to a seller's head. Typically the seller has little invested in the item(s) and the money they get is all profit. The buyer meanwhile is tying up money in the item, has store overhead, will pay state and federal taxes on any profit and pretty much takes all the risk. At the end of the day the buyer may end up netting less than the $360 the seller got. There are no ripoffs here: both parties knew what was going on and there was no duress. I agree. I know of no pawn or antique shop (in real life) that offers to have a seller's item appraised and then give them more than they originally asked for. Pawn Stars is a joke, I only watch it for when their friends or a paid "show your rare item guy" brings in something you do not get to see very often. Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juvatwad Posted July 27, 2012 Share #7 Posted July 27, 2012 In general, when a buyer wants to double his money, it makes sense. If I sell him something for $500, then he turns around and sells it for $1000, we both make $500, except he probably will actually pay taxes on his end Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgtdorango Posted July 27, 2012 Share #8 Posted July 27, 2012 In general, when a buyer wants to double his money, it makes sense. If I sell him something for $500, then he turns around and sells it for $1000, we both make $500, except he probably will actually pay taxes on his end I agree on doubling your money and everyone is happy, and i fully know what the deal is with pawn shops or dealers buying and reselling but man they lowballed that guy, you cant tell me they will only charge $350 for each of those knives and make $600-$700!....im sure they can sell those knives at $500+ for the 1917 and $700+ for the 1918.....i still like the show and will continue watching occasionally...... .mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willysmb44 Posted July 27, 2012 Share #9 Posted July 27, 2012 I know for sure that at least three items shown on Pawn Stars were totally staged (as I know the people in each case, I work in the same office as someone who 'sold' an item to them on the show he'd never even seen beforehand), so I have no reason to believe anything I see on any such shows. How about the times on "American Pickers" when they supposedly drive up to a person who has no idea they're coming and the camera is already inside the house when they knock? Does anyone really believe this? Oh yeah, they do. And many people still think that WWF/WWE wrestling is real, too... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R Michael Posted July 27, 2012 Share #10 Posted July 27, 2012 Took the words right out of my mouth. I know for sure that at least three items shown on Pawn Stars were totally staged (as I know the people in each case, I work in the same office as someone who 'sold' an item to them on the show he'd never even seen beforehand), so I have no reason to believe anything I see on any such shows.How about the times on "American Pickers" when they supposedly drive up to a person who has no idea they're coming and the camera is already inside the house when they knock? Does anyone really believe this? Oh yeah, they do. And many people still think that WWF/WWE wrestling is real, too... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
History Man Posted July 27, 2012 Share #11 Posted July 27, 2012 If you go to a pawn shop dont expect to get a fair amount for your item, as FS said they are in the business to make money and try to get things as cheap as possible. I think that if someone wants to get a fair amount for an item they should get in contact with a collector or put it online. That being said I think it was a low price they gave the guy since they could sell one of those knives for more than they paid. Just like that pawn stars episode when they lowballed the guy with the CBI A2 becuase no one likes the transport pilot items, what a load of crap! Philip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Austin R Posted July 28, 2012 Share #12 Posted July 28, 2012 If you go to a pawn shop dont expect to get a fair amount for your item, as FS said they are in the business to make money and try to get things as cheap as possible. I think that if someone wants to get a fair amount for an item they should get in contact with a collector or put it online. That being said I think it was a low price they gave the guy since they could sell one of those knives for more than they paid. Just like that pawn stars episode when they lowballed the guy with the CBI A2 becuase no one likes the transport pilot items, what a load of crap! Philip A lot of pawn shops sell their items a lot less than the value. The knifes may have been appraised at 1000, but they may sell them for $600 or $700 to keep things moving. Sure the item may be worth 1000s, but it may sit for months at full retail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HattonWWII Posted August 16, 2012 Share #13 Posted August 16, 2012 Yeah, i watched it last night, a guy brings in two beautiful WWI US trench knives, a 1917 and a 1918.....they have an expert come in with a great evaluation and prices them at around $1,000 for the pair...then they proceed to rape the seller and give $360 for the pair and the fool takes it!!!!.....the show is silly stupid at times but still just entertainment !......mike I saw this and felt awful for the guy getting absolutely taken on beautiful war relics! :thumbdown: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwb123 Posted August 17, 2012 Share #14 Posted August 17, 2012 I have sympathy to a point. Is there anyone in the country who has not heard of eBay at this point? Or Craigslist? And as far as folks living in the country, every county has a local auctioneer. Failing that, there are gunshows everywhere that allow people to walk in with items for sale or trade. If that sale was real and not staged, you have to wonder why someone would short themselves that way. I keep asking myself why people sell primo stuff to Pawn Shops, but I guess it happens every day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doinworkinvans Posted August 17, 2012 Author Share #15 Posted August 17, 2012 I have sympathy to a point. Is there anyone in the country who has not heard of eBay at this point? Or Craigslist? And as far as folks living in the country, every county has a local auctioneer. Failing that, there are gunshows everywhere that allow people to walk in with items for sale or trade. If that sale was real and not staged, you have to wonder why someone would short themselves that way. I keep asking myself why people sell primo stuff to Pawn Shops, but I guess it happens every day. My sympathy stops when they interview them after they leave the shop and say I'm gonna go.blow it all at the casinos! Thats probably why a lot of them use that pawn shop there is because they want that quick money for gambling...crying shame! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted August 17, 2012 Share #16 Posted August 17, 2012 If that sale was real and not staged, you have to wonder why someone would short themselves that way. I keep asking myself why people sell primo stuff to Pawn Shops, but I guess it happens every day. I buy a lot from people who answer my ads and I tell them straight out they can get more money by becoming a retailer - selling on ebay or craigslist - but most don't want to do that, they want easy money and don't want to have learn marketing, product photography and other skills needed to be able to sell at "full retail." So often they tell me words to the effect of, "I watch Pawn Stars and know you have to make a profit too," and are happy to get a wholesale price (especially since their cost basis for the items being sold is often zero). Craigslist.... well, that's a cesspool, and if you live in urban areas you've seen one too many news stories about someone getting mugged by a purported Craiglist buyer or seller. And if they have listed on Craigslist and used an email address they probably learned how responding an email from your Craiglist ad is going to get you on someone's spam list and/or result in a reply from an overpayment scammer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
historyandcultures Posted January 12, 2013 Share #17 Posted January 12, 2013 I also think all of those shows are fake and staged in every way. The "experts" are often off base in their evaluations and sometimes in their identifications. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TLeo Posted January 12, 2013 Share #18 Posted January 12, 2013 I tried watching Pawn Stars a couple times but lots of it has to be fake and that guy Rick is a total jerk. Saw a bit of one where a guy had brought in his dads (pilot) leather jacket with P-38 artwork and he tried to tell the guy that it wasn't right because P-38s were only flown in the Pacific. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottG Posted January 13, 2013 Share #19 Posted January 13, 2013 My favorite quote on Pawn Stars is " let me call a buddy and get him over here to look at that". Then, out of the blue in walks Craig Gottlieb to do an appraisal. So, I am to believe that Rick in Las Vegas calls Craig in So Cal and he just pops in for a no fee appraisal of an item... Its crap, just made for entertainment but I do believe the crazy numbers thrown out will hurt the collecting community eventually. As for American Pickers, when a goofed up modern Russian tanker helmet goes for what they estimate I will be a rich man! I think they also paid around $450.00 for a one piece US Navy Colvinex leather flight suit. I would sell anyone those for half that much and count myself lucky! Scott. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
historyandcultures Posted January 14, 2013 Share #20 Posted January 14, 2013 I remember seeing one Pawn Shop show where the owner would buy an old cannon if it would fire. Its like they never heard of metal fatigue. They took the artillery piece to a range, fired it, and the Pawn Shop guy allegedly paid some fastastic amount.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vintageproductions Posted January 14, 2013 Share #21 Posted January 14, 2013 Everytime I see these discussions come up, I remember what I was told by our producers, " There is no reality in reality tv". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LtRGFRANK Posted January 15, 2013 Share #22 Posted January 15, 2013 If the show was real Chum would have been fired in the first night. Totally fake but fun to watch to see all the items. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted January 16, 2013 Share #23 Posted January 16, 2013 So, I am to believe that Rick in Las Vegas calls Craig in So Cal and he just pops in for a no fee appraisal of an item... That's basically how it works: he does it for free, but he has something like more than two dozen appearances on the show this season and on each one he gets an on-screen ID of his business (they used to not do that, and just used first names). Do you realize how many incredible buys he must be getting as a result of that kind of advertising? I would suspect he films more than one show each time he flies to Las Vegas from San Diego, but I'd gladly pay for my own ticket to Vegas every week to get that kind of exposure. As a full-timer militaria picker I find that Pawn Stars helps me, as a lot of people say "Oh, I watch Pawn Stars all the time and I know you dealers have to make a profit." They have come to expect that they are going to sell something for maybe no more than half of retail. I have not found one instance of members of the general public having some sort of inflated sense of worth for militaria: if anything, most are surprised at how much I offer them. The people with the inflated sense of worth are some pickers and antique dealers who don't deal in much militaria. They over-pay and over-charge, but, again, the don't represent the general trend out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkrem1227 Posted January 16, 2013 Share #24 Posted January 16, 2013 ever seen the shop in person? there is a waiting line to get in! not for me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flightpath Posted January 16, 2013 Share #25 Posted January 16, 2013 Hi, just something interesting I saw this week on TV (probably seen long ago in the US), 'Kajun Pawn Stars'..... a guy brought in a '1913 Patton pistol sword': a very nice 1913 dated Colt M1911 mounted in the guard of a very ugly but rare US cav sword. They said only about three were ever made, the expert was brought in and said it would be worth around $20,000 he ended up selling it for about $12,000 (if I remember right). As has been said, the sellers in these shows are pretty dumb if they think they will get a good deal, the pawn shops are there to make a profit and when the expert says his retail price the seller should get out and try to sell the item on line of some other way to get more money. cheers, -John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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