OK I know a lot of you like this show. To be honest it kind of pisses me off. The owner likes to present himself as a real expert an obscure trivia, but it is obvious that he is often simply repeating what the customer said in an attempt to appear knowledgeable.

Anyway, my real question is: is this show staged?

I ask because a lot of what they do just seems like bad business. Although not everyone agrees:
Dempsey posted on the American Pickers thread:

quote:

Originally posted by dempsey:
I think it's pretty safe to say the Pawn Stars guys do pretty well. If it isn't obvious than there is little else to say.

And I agree, it looks like they are doing well, but it sure can't be from the deals they make on the show.

Example: on a recent show a lady brings in a Faberge broach. The owner of the pawn shop tells her how rare and valuable it is, gives her the history of the piece, them asks what she expects to get for it. The lady says she was hoping to get a couple of thousand dollars. The owner says, "I'd like to give you $2,000, but I just can't rip you off. I'll give you $15,000."(the lady then tries to get $17K! but finally accepts $15)

What kind of business owner gives away $13,000? And, why would the lady accept $15K after learning that the broach was rare and valuable? Seemed pretty fake.


But the transaction that has really killed the show for me was the 69 Buick Skylark. The idiot son pays $3,000 for a 69 Skylark. It is rust free, but has other body damage. The interior is OK except that it is missing the front seats(it has those cheap fiberglass buckets that were common in VW dunebuggies, and they are not bolted down.) It is just a basic base model skylark. I think he paid about $1,000 too much.

But the real killer: he takes it to a "restoration" shop. This place is a real joke. The owner of the shop mistakes a loose seat for a rod knock..... The restoration is quoted at "4K to $5". When the idiot son comes to pick it up the owner tells him that the total for paint and interior work is $7K. The idiot sons says, well I've got $10K into it now. That seems pretty good, I should be able to turn a profit pretty easily." The body shop owner says, "Yeah, you should be able to get $13K or $14K".


Are you kidding? $13K or $14K for a base model 69 Skylark with a not original paint color, un-rebulilt drivetrain, and worn stock interior. Give me a break!

I think the show is fake. cdsw2sqaz

I enjoy watching the show--but one thing that I think is fake---there is never mention of stolen property. Think they really take in that much stuff and none of it turns out to be hot? Cops check pawn shops on regular basis and I'm sure find hot stuff all time. But the show is not as phoney as Dog--Bounty Hunter. His group of rejects from the carnival make every case seem like it's going to be dangerous---a big shootout etc--and they go down without a hint of trouble. Dog tries to be a preacher, but I think would be banned at most churches. He being a convicted felon cant even be armed and I doubt any in his group qualify either. Big shootout and no gun? He must be bullet proof. His wife is very proud of her big boobs. I'd hope she has big boobs. She'll go over 150 pounds and the other leg will weigh that much too.

He's a convicted felon, it is illegal for him to possess body armor.

Both shows are just entertainment.

I believe PS may have some staged components, but for the most part I think it's real. I've hung out in pawn shops for years now and let me tell you, people are funny. I like the show because it reminds me of the local pawn shop and some of the things you see go on in there.

I think the main guts of it are certainly real. They explain it like it is to the customer and are open about being able to pay only 50 cents on the dollar or whatever to make a profit on their end. The customer then has a choice, take the discounted cash or go try to sell it themselves on e-bay or something. It's all pretty simple. What they offer the customer has even gotten predictable.

Now, some of the embellishments are probably contrived, but that's to be expected. If anything I believe more of that can be found in the other "reality" shows.

I agree parts are real and parts are staged for entertainment purposes. They did mention in one of the episodes last year they most hold the property like 30 days for the police in case it ends up stolen. I find it amazing that people take stuff in there just so they can go gamble. Addiction I guess. If I wanted to get the most money I would not take it to someone that needs to turn a profit on it. Hell I would ebay it after I found its value.

quote:

What kind of business owner gives away $13,000? And, why would the lady accept $15K after learning that the broach was rare and valuable? Seemed pretty fake.

What, you think the guy is dumb enough to rip someone off on national TV?? Give her 2k for a 30k piece of Jewlery? How much business do you think he would loose???? They have spent 18 years building the reputation of that shop. Everyone takes grandma's cool antiques there so they have some extra gambling money in Vegas, and you expect them to blow all of that of 13k??
No, that 13k extra he gave her was an INVESTMENT. Think of all the people who will think, "Hey Rick is an honest guy, next time I'm in Vegas, I'll take my stuff to him"? You don't build a business by ripping people off. You do it by giving them a fair deal.

It's TV.

Of course a great deal of it is faked.

I read they advertise on Craigslist in Vegas to get folks to bring in weird stuff.

In my neck of the woods, folks bring into the pawn shops $40 DVD players and walk out with $5.

Best description of the show I have heard....Antiques Roadshow goes to Waffle House.

IT"S TV of course it's staged TV is not real re pete after me TV is not real!! TV is not real!! and the news media LIES too

Even Antiques Roadshow can be faked. At one time dealers in antique guns where pulling fast ones ! This resulted in the producer being fired and the ATF went after the two dealers big time !!