Pawn Stars

[samurainoir]

I think it was fortunate that the show sold to the History channel so that the focus is on old items of interest. From the looks of the rough pilot on youtube, it could have easily devolved into much more of a freak-show on another channel who might have featured the downtrodden and needy. Not an accurate portrayal of a pawn shop, but for me it's much more interesting with the unusual and historical items as the focus for the most part and not necessarily the people coming in.

[Sideshow Spock]

I see in the promos that the Pawn Stars will be looking at an extensive Transformers toys collection tonite.. should be fun

[EMCE Hammer]

I watch it now and then. I could do with a little less Chumley & Big Hoss at this point.

[Adam West]

You can tell "The Old Man" is a real grouch and I a real patronizing SOB.

He's the worst of them all when it comes to wheeling and dealing which is probably why they don't show him doing much of the negotiating. I wouldn't want to walk in to sell something valued at $3,000, have someone call me son and try to offer $1,000 tops.

At least Rick is willing to pay 50% and sometimes more if he thinks the item will bring foot traffic into the shop.

I always like when he says "Back In the Day"....which is at least one time per episode....back in what day?

His other "old school" nasty negotiating style is to counter with a lower offer than his last when he has reached his limit. He'll say $2,000, get countered with a $2,500 and he counters with $1,500. Maybe he's accustomed to doing most of his business with people who are desperate and I'm sure a good amount of them are (you don't see them on TV) but some of the people don't appear that desperate. They have something that was an heirloom and I guess they don't want to deal with Ebay or placing it in an auction.

I have been to a local Pawn shop near my house and I typically see lower grade engagement rings, a few watches, a ton of guitars, tons of power tools, and sometimes something out of the ordinary but nothing real noteworthy. Everything in the local pawnshop is tagged with 3 prices. The first is the initial price, the 2nd is the price they'll take if it hasn't sold by the date listed on the price tag, and the 3rd is the lowest price. I'm not sure if this is done by design or just a lazy way of not having to retag everthing and keep inventory moving. I bought one item there which was a nice snare drum for my son for band. I offered the person somewhere between the 2nd and 3rd price and although the stand was being sold seperately for some reason, asked him to throw that in as well. He took it. I really could have taken it or left it and I think he sensed it.

[Xanthophobiac]

This show is way to addicting. I could go on in detail about the many things I hate about the show... Yet I can't help but keep watching. Way to many interesting things go through the store. We also inherited a ton of antiques from my grandfather (He collected pretty much everything) and more than once I've picked up some important details on what is junk and what is not.

[Hector]

I pawnd one item in my entire life.

I was in college, and needed some quick cash BADLY...so I pawned my almost new Apple II (it was super expensive at the time)...they loaned my $500...full payment due in three months plus interest.

Well...after I took care of business, and when I got my check from my part time job...I immediately went back after only one week.

I was blown away...the pawn shop dudes had set up my computer...and were using it for their business transactions...

I was sooooooooo.

I immediately took out my cash...handed them the money with interest...and screamed for them to disconnect everything at once...and give me back my computer.

It had two scratches already...my computer was mint when I handed it to them.

I told them to give me a discount on the interest for the scratches, they said they didn't scratch it...and said no to the discount.

I almost wanted to buy a gun from them too...so I could blast them fools...lol.

I left with my computer...and gave them all the finger.

Needless to say...that was my first and last time I pawned something...never again.

[Hector]

BTW...I can't understand why people go to these dudes to sell their stuff.

Why not ebay? Craigslist? Auctions?

The pawn shop dudes have ebay auction prints on their walls...I'm sure they buy and sell on ebay too...lol.

[Sideshow Spock]

Becuz they want cash on the spot.

[toys2cool]

I pawnd one item in my entire life.

I was in college, and needed some quick cash BADLY...so I pawned my almost new Apple II (it was super expensive at the time)...they loaned my $500...full payment due in three months plus interest.

Well...after I took care of business, and when I got my check from my part time job...I immediately went back after only one week.

I was blown away...the pawn shop dudes had set up my computer...and were using it for their business transactions...

I was sooooooooo.

I immediately took out my cash...handed them the money with interest...and screamed for them to disconnect everything at once...and give me back my computer.

It had two scratches already...my computer was mint when I handed it to them.

I told them to give me a discount on the interest for the scratches, they said they didn't scratch it...and said no to the discount.

I almost wanted to buy a gun from them too...so I could blast them fools...lol.

I left with my computer...and gave them all the finger.

Needless to say...that was my first and last time I pawned something...never again.

that's why I hate pawn shops and the more desperate you look the more they take advantage

[B-Lister]

being as how my family is in the antiques business ourselves, this show makes us drool sometimes. ESPECIALLY the rare historical stuff.

but we always end up mad at Rick and Company, and ESPECIALLY the pickers, because they pass up some amazing stuff, in favor of something they could make a quick buck on.

yes, I know the name of the game, at the end of the day is money, but when you're passing up a $1500 dollar clock, to make $45 on an old sign, just because it's not gonna sit around as long, I just kinda get irked.

[Lonestarhobbies]

I'm totally infatuated with Pawn Stars and American Pickers. Both shows are just right up my alley.

I LOVE shopping pawn shops...... my wife and I regularly make a loop around our area hitting stores in a day. Lately we've been buying up a bunch of great DVD's at the pawns for $2 each. Last weekend I bought the complete original Battlestar Galactica DVD boxed set for $6!

I also have bought a bunch of guitars from pawns over the years......nothing gets me going faster than a cheap diamond in the rough electric guitar from a pawn

[Adam West]

Did anyone see the Transformers collection last night? Honestly, I think the guy just wanted to be on TV because he had a ton of Transformers, was wearing a Transformers T-shirt and even had Transformers wall posters all over the house.

When asked why he was looking to sell he responded that he had a baby on the way and needed to make room (I thought, why not box them up and store them away until later)? A local toy dealer looked at the collection and estimated it between $12-$20K. The seller wanted $20K, they offered him $8K, he countered with $18K and I think they came up to $10K to which he said no so no deal. If it were a money issue, he could have simply have sold them on Ebay and although it would have taken a while, he would have gotten his money's worth.