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Author Topic: American Pickers  (Read 467 times)

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Offline buffermop

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American Pickers
« on: October 04, 2010, 04:23:07 PM »
Anyone ever watch this show on the history chanel? How can they estimate the real value of most of this junk until they actually sell it? ???
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Offline saddlebum

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Re: American Pickers
« Reply #1 on: October 04, 2010, 05:18:18 PM »
I don't know but it amazes me how much some of that junk is worth.
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Offline torpedoman

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Re: American Pickers
« Reply #2 on: October 04, 2010, 06:57:53 PM »
who cares the real money is the t.v. show, if they loose on every deal they will make a pretty good living.
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Offline subdjoe

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Re: American Pickers
« Reply #3 on: October 04, 2010, 07:21:00 PM »
Quote from: buffermop on October 04, 2010, 04:23:07 PM
Anyone ever watch this show on the history chanel? How can they estimate the real value of most of this junk until they actually sell it? ???

How does any vendor set the price of something?  Say at a farmers market?

With experience they have a feel for what the retail market price will be.  I would bet that they spend a lot of their off time looking at what things sell for at auction, they go into antique/junk stores and see what prices are like. They know what kinds of things their regulars will buy for how much. 
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Offline bilmac

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Re: American Pickers
« Reply #4 on: October 05, 2010, 01:58:58 AM »
I bought a place a year ago that was a huge junk pile. Been cleaning it up ever since. This fall we had a yard sale that I advertised as an American Pickers type sale. Didn't put a price on anything, just let the folks wander around the place then we negotiated a price if they found a treasure. Actually I didn't do much negotiating, I asked such low prices that hardly anybody made a second offer. My objective was to get rid of the junk so I could put in gardens. I gave an old camper to a kid and he and some buddies worked like slaves hauling it away. We were both happy. One mans junk is another mans treasure.
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Offline guzzijohn

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Re: American Pickers
« Reply #5 on: October 05, 2010, 03:36:15 AM »
Experience and research is how it is done. I have heard some people complain that the pickers and the pawn folk are screwing people. Somehow they do not realize that these people are business folk who need to make a profit and have many expenses. I would also guess they screw up once in awhile and loose a significant amount of money now and then that needs to be made up. I do not feel anyone is being screwed if both parties are agreeing on the price. Boy, the pickers do run into some major hoarders. Look at the mark up on most retail stuff. Furniture for example has a 200% or more markup at full retail price.
GuzziJohn
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Offline slim rem 7

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Re: American Pickers
« Reply #6 on: October 05, 2010, 03:46:04 AM »
 yep ..i look on it as free enterprize..kinda interesting..
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Offline javaman

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Re: American Pickers
« Reply #7 on: October 05, 2010, 08:10:43 PM »
these shows are just a big farce, i have a friend that is a picker and if he found half that stuff he would be a millionare.  thats all this program is ,a show just like all of the other farce reality shows
I'll bet they would just love to go thru Mr. Haneys barn from Green Acres..   in can hear him now---what we have here is a genuine sword carried up the hill by Theadore Roosevelt in the battle of Iwo Jima
 oh what a find but i will have to bring it to an appraiser    picked sword   $300
                                                                                     apraised price $700
                                                                                     profit              $400 
                                                                                       YEAH RIGHT                 
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Offline digs68

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Re: American Pickers
« Reply #8 on: October 06, 2010, 02:55:24 AM »
These shows are fun to watch.
When something is "valued" on the show, they're hoping to get that price based on past sales, etc. I would imagine quite a bit of their "picked" items wind up hanging on the wall with a price tag on it for a long time. Of course it helps having your own show! I'm sure they get alot of customers who just want to visit the "American Pickers" store and buy a souvenir.
As far as "Pawn Stars", I get a kick out of it too, but I'm always frustrated at those folks who find out their item is worth up to $15,000 from an expert, who is also a collector/appraisor, then turn around and sell it to the pawn shop for $7000.
I'll bet that, very often, the appraisor returns and buys the product from the pawn store after the seller leaves. Unless you really want the dough bad, why wouldn't you try to advertise it for sale on craigslist first? Or take it to a local antique auction and see if it will bring more money.
My guess is that the sellers get a chunk of money from the producers of the show for appearing or making a sale on the show that makes it worthwhile.
How about "Swamp People"? Anyone watch that show? I get a kick out of it too.
Chris
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