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Posted: Jan 05 2011 06:30 pm

Ehh. I enjoy American Pickers. I actually know people that do stuff like that. I even know people who buy things from Pawn Shops and turn around and sell it privately and somtimes make double even triple their initial investment. I wouldn't consider it a day job unless you own a resell or antique shop like those fellows do but it's definitely a side job in which you can make quite a bit of money off of.

Posted: Jan 05 2011 06:39 pm

^ That's kinda what I figure. I can understand the dislike for Pawn Stars because of the characters I guess, but I really don't get a lot of people's takes on the AP team. In all the time I've watched the show, I've never once thought of them as smug or condescending. Oh well.

Posted: Jan 05 2011 06:52 pm

True. They are normally pretty outgoing. They tend to crack jokes to lighten the mood too. What they do is real, and people actually do that stuff. As I said before though, I enjoy it. It's pretty good entertainment. Much better reality tv then the garbage they have blasting on MTV.

Posted: Jan 05 2011 07:09 pm

The few times I've been forced into watching these types of shows I hated them. Those pawn shop guys come off as douchebags to me.

The AP people seem to never take no for an answer and try to browbeat someone into taking the price they offer. I can't imagine having cameras in your face helps make a decision like that. Does anyone want to look like an idiot that wouldn't take money for some old junk on national TV? Though when you do take it you end up looking like an even bigger idiot for taking a tenth of what the item was worth. Seriously these people should turn them away and go sell it themselves since they now know it is worth something.

Posted: Jan 05 2011 08:20 pm

Most of those people are hoarders, either that or they can careless. It's just like being a salesman. You must go out and pursue business and once you do you must be able to over come objections and that means not being shot down if someone tells you no. It's salesmen 101. It's called grinding. Customers do it all the time to salesmen, where's the hurt in doing it vice versa if it means you get a sale?

Posted: Jan 05 2011 10:23 pm

Yeah but the difference is customers go to a business, and thus can expect to get "ground" on by salesmen (obligatory stripper joke here), but from what I understand the AP people just show up and harass these people on their properties, right?

Posted: Jan 05 2011 10:29 pm

Blackout wrote:

Yeah but the difference is customers go to a business, and thus can expect to get "ground" on by salesmen (obligatory stripper joke here), but from what I understand the AP people just show up and harass these people on their properties, right?

As far as I could tell by the show that is what they do. Personally I'm a little surprised no one has shot them yet for trespassing.

Posted: Jan 05 2011 10:42 pm

Blackout wrote:

Yeah but the difference is customers go to a business, and thus can expect to get "ground" on by salesmen (obligatory stripper joke here), but from what I understand the AP people just show up and harass these people on their properties, right?

Well yeah, but its not like the people can't say go away. I'm sure that happens plenty, it just doesn't make it into the TV footage. And oftentimes they do have an appointment, or the people know they're coming--that's why their secretary is so important. She tracks down people willing to allow the AP guys onto their property already. If all they did was bum around hoping to stumble blindly into a garage of stuff a guy was willing to sell, they wouldn't make a living doing it.

Posted: Jan 05 2011 10:47 pm

I'm sure they wouldn't trespass if there were signs littered over the yard stating, "No Soliciting".

At any rate, they seem like nice guys and they buy mostly trashed anitques from people, clean them up, and resell them and most of those people are more then willing to sell em' those things.

They grind people because they are pursuing their business. ANY halfway decent salesman would do the same exact thing.

Joined: Oct 01 2009 Posts: 5316

Again, I must stress these guys are making a show. Most of the time they just don't show up, they were called in advance by the owners or someone who knows them. It would seem absolutely pointless to just drive across the country without any real goal in mind or place to start at. If the people didn't want them there, they could simply tell them to leave.

Posted: Jan 06 2011 12:32 am

Well that makes sense, withdrawn.

Posted: Feb 04 2011 11:00 pm

Eh, I've watched Pawn Stars at times. It's an OK show, and I like the some of the stuff the sellers bring in.

In one episode I've watched fairly recently, somebody actually brought in a Nintendo Virtual Boy, hoping to sell it for $200. However, the guys didn't want more than $80, partially because a bunch of unopened Virtual Boys were apparently found in a warehouse.

I kind of find it hard to believe that what they said is true, however. If someone could find an article confirming that, I'd like to read it.

Anyway, you can watch the Virtual Boy portion here:

UsaSatsui's Youtube Channel · Posted: Feb 04 2011 11:20 pm

That was pretty amusing. I'm also amazed you could get 80 bucks for one of those.

Joined: Oct 01 2009 Posts: 5316

Yeah, to be honest...the guy is lucky to get that. I remember when WalMart had them clearanced for $30. Outside of the novelty, I don't think it's worth even that.

This show actually pissed me off a little while back, when they showed Chum Lee on WWTBAM, but it turned out he was dreaming.

Why the fuck would you show me that?

Posted: Feb 05 2011 02:10 am

Good lord who gave those fat fucks their own TV show? I'm fat but god damn, take a walk up and down some stairs for your health's sake!

Joined: Oct 01 2009 Posts: 5316

Someone should pawn a liposuction machine, so they can test it out on Chum Lee and laugh when it fucks up.

Posted: Feb 06 2011 12:56 am

^ I have a Virtual Boy and I have Mario's Tennis and Virtual League Baseball. BUT. BUT, the damn base is ducttaped on there.

The Virtual Boy ain't worth shit - Warehouse or not.

ANYWAYS, back on topic. I watch AP and Pawn Stars on a fairly regular basis and both shows are pretty good to good. I think the skinny guy in AP is irritating at most times, and the girl at the store is beautiful beyond beautiful! Probably the only lady that can pull off the chest tattoo on the entire planet earth. I mean, no one else can pull that off, but she does it. Rawr!

UsaSatsui's Youtube Channel · Posted: Feb 06 2011 10:57 am

"Holy Grail, huh? Yeah, someone just found a whole warehouse of those, all sealed, so it really hurt the market. Can't give you more than 40 bucks"

Posted: Feb 06 2011 12:38 pm

^ I lol'ed.

Pawn shops really are one of the scourges of society. In my fascist dictatorship, I would outlaw them, along with the stock market.

Joined: Oct 01 2009 Posts: 5316

Why? It's not like pawn stores are terrible places by any means, over the years I've found some nice stuff and gotten some great deals.

Posted: Feb 06 2011 04:28 pm

Doddsino wrote:

Why? It's not like pawn stores are terrible places by any means, over the years I've found some nice stuff and gotten some great deals.

Of themselves they are not, however their generally unscrupulous business practices lead to wider spread theft and dishonesty. If the law did not compel them to, they wouldn't care less about checking to see if they were trafficking in stolen goods. On top of that, they take advantage of the poor and desperate, the easiest marks and the most dishonorable targets.

The stock market, basically same as above. except its the rich and greedy taking advantage of the well-off and greedy.

So yeah, if we're talking about my fascist dictatorship, they both go. Along with payday loans, too.

Joined: Oct 01 2009 Posts: 5316

Also under your guidelines, you'd also need to get rid of liquor stores, strip joints, casinos, porn shops, etc.

Yeah, your reign wouldn't last long.

UsaSatsui's Youtube Channel · Posted: Feb 06 2011 05:20 pm

Jack Slater wrote:

Doddsino wrote:

Why? It's not like pawn stores are terrible places by any means, over the years I've found some nice stuff and gotten some great deals.

Of themselves they are not, however their generally unscrupulous business practices lead to wider spread theft and dishonesty. If the law did not compel them to, they wouldn't care less about checking to see if they were trafficking in stolen goods. On top of that, they take advantage of the poor and desperate, the easiest marks and the most dishonorable targets.

The stock market, basically same as above. except its the rich and greedy taking advantage of the well-off and greedy.

So yeah, if we're talking about my fascist dictatorship, they both go. Along with payday loans, too.

And, what, people in desperate need of money in your government are, what? Executed?

Either you're bring ridiculous for the sake of humor and hyperbole, or you haven't got a clue about how real life works.

Posted: Feb 06 2011 05:43 pm

Doddsino wrote:

Also under your guidelines, you'd also need to get rid of liquor stores, strip joints, casinos, porn shops, etc.

Yeah, your reign wouldn't last long.

Probably not.

On the other hand, Castro's been going strong for decades.

Joined: Oct 01 2009 Posts: 5316

Uh oh...my stomach's grumbling...

I better not go to the grocery store, where those heartless bastards take advantage of my weakened state by charging 2 for $5 for Chicken Primavera.