I came across this new show on the History channel last Sunday called Pawn Stars and was amused. It’s kind of a cross between Mythbusters, The Real World & Antiques Roadshow. People bring in interesting items for sale and they are tested for authenticity and functionality then the wheeling and dealing begins. The men in the shop are father, son and grandson. The son is the nominal host of the show and the personable one his father resembles an old Chicago gangster and the grandson a tattooed abrasive asshole. Interesting concept I enjoyed it.
I watched 2 episodes last night. It was awesome; I was pleasantly surprised.
My husband & I just stumbled across it a few nights ago, and we’re hooked. I call it “Antiques Roadshow for people who desperately need money.”
…and the grandfather reminds me of the grandfather I lost when I was about 8.
Or “Antiques Road Show” meets “American Choppers”.
It’s a guilty pleasure of mine also.
I’m glad the boat deal worked out for the grandson but I’d have given him at least as much hell for buying a boat that he didn’t even know could be used as a flotation device, let alone if it was restorable.
What I don’t understand is why people bring these amazing guns and swords and guitars that are worth thousands of dollars to a pawn shop. If you can get $2,000 for something at a pawn shop, even one specializing in high end merchandise, then you could probably get at least $3,500 on ebay and probably $7,500 if you shopped it in more specialized venues.
I can only assume they need fast cash both in cash and fast (so fast they can’t even wait a few days for ebay) which makes me wonder how relevant the fact they’re filmed in Vegas is.
And then there’s Chumlee. No idea what he is other than comic relief.
I was amused at one fellow who wheels in a suit of armor, and wanted something like $3500 for it, when it retails at more like $300.
One difference with a pawn shop is there is a process where you can get your item back - they are just loaning you money. I am not sure if that is true in every case but it is for some people. Many times the people don’t want the item back so in those cases it’s a straight sale of the item.
The bald guy reminds me of Bruce Willis.
I’d never heard of it, and based solely on the thread title, I was trying to guess what it was about.
Cutthroat competitive chess? Stylish pawn brokers and their wacky entourage? X-rated movies on Long Island? Oh well…
I love it–especially “the old man”. Great show! When they had the old Lincoln Continental, it was so cool for me because my daddy had the exact same car back in the early to mid-sixties. That was the main car I remember growing up. And the fact that “the old man” bitched about it–and then took it as his own personal car! Love it!
I caught it last week…I really liked it. Not bad for something that was on waking up from a nap on the sofa.
I liked the fact that the boat turned out to be a good deal too. And the dad is totally hawt!