# Chumlee in Pawn Stars **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 26, 2011, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chumlee-in-pawn-stars/569090 "2011-01-26T20:23:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chumlee-in-pawn-stars/569090/181 "2012-07-25T01:57:46Z")
I strongly disagree with viewpoint that the show is staged although I can almost understand why other people might see it that way. It was a very real pawn shop that attracted enough attention to lead to a popular TV show. What you see today is heavily edited but the people are real. It attracts all kinds of eccentric customers with odd things but that is mainly because of the TV fame. ‘Staged’ to me would mean that they get actors to bring in unusual things and go through a rehearsed script and no actual money changes hands other than the appearance fees. I truly do not believe that is the case with Pawn Stars. They select the most interesting items for the most profit value to show on TV and they do not always get them by any stretch. My family owned a pawn shop for many years and my father was an expert at it especially with firearms and Native American artifacts. We got some extremely weird and valuable things that we have to this day out of the selection. You would call bullshit too if you heard that we bought one of the only known examples of a prehistoric Australian aboriginal tool in perfect shape or a giant ancient shark’s tooth or a Tomahawk used at the battle of Little Big Horn. That is only a few examples. People come up with odd things that are both historic and valuable even in the oddest places. All of that showed up in a small town in Louisiana and later checked out with experts for thousands of dollars in profit each. Let’s not mention the drug dealers that wore tens of thousands of dollars of braided gold chains as proof of currency yet needed to pawn it over and over whenever they needed a loan for a few thousand dollars to cover their finances. Pawn shops are not glamorous by any stretch of the imagination but Pawn Stars checks out fine with my experience as long as you account for the editing and production values. They don’t want to show the dirtier side of the pawn business but the buy side is real as long as you keep in mind that they have lots of fame and resources to help them. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chumlee-in-pawn-stars/569090/182 "2012-07-26T00:37:40Z")
> [@Lochdale](#): > > Very scripted. The book is a good read though. > > When trying to close the deal they will offer “cash money”. As opposed to what, variable annuities? > Likeable guys though which is why it works. As opposed to a check. They can take their money right to the casino. ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2012, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chumlee-in-pawn-stars/569090/183 "2012-12-20T17:45:29Z")
> [@Lochdale](#): > > Likeable guys though which is why it works. …except for Big Hoss; can’t stand him. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2012, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chumlee-in-pawn-stars/569090/184 "2012-12-20T17:52:15Z")
Certainly the office scenes are all staged. But still, the Old Man says “Chumlee, you’re an idiot” as if he’s had years of practice. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2012, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chumlee-in-pawn-stars/569090/185 "2012-12-20T18:00:36Z")
> [@What\_the](#): > > …except for Big Hoss; can’t stand him. it’s really annoying the way he calls customers “man” all the time, no matter their age. Or gender, for that matter. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2012, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chumlee-in-pawn-stars/569090/186 "2012-12-20T18:30:15Z")
The guy who helps with automobile estimates… I think it is Kounts Kustom. Big guy who is always dressed in black. Anybody know why he wears that huge head band? Does he have F\*\*\* Y\*\* tattooed on his forehead? It can’t be that comfortable in the LV heat. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2012, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chumlee-in-pawn-stars/569090/187 "2012-12-20T18:34:43Z")
Balding is my guess, just like [Steve Van Zandt](http://media.masslive.com/entertainment/photo/11719741-large.jpg). [This shot](http://a0.twimg.com/profile_images/2677528813/c08b7d1fc04bae60615e9d48626976be.jpeg) makes it look like it’s all up front. Breaking news seems to be that Chumlee’s cutie on the night shift just got fired because of her past as a SuicideGirl. ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2012, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chumlee-in-pawn-stars/569090/188 "2012-12-20T18:53:41Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Did anybody see the episode where the guy brought in a relic of an American saint? The Latin documentation began with a strongly worded “NOT FOR RESALE IF YOU VALUE YOUR SOUL” (the general theme, not the actual words) which made Rick decide not to touch it. I thought that was a really peculiar episode: an item of enormous value but one that the only people who’d be interested in couldn’t buy. Kind of a Borgin & Burke’s feel. There are folks who’d buy it quite happily–they just took it to the wrong store. They needed to be at Obscura here in New York. Unless Mike and/or Evan are Catholic, I doubt they’d be bothered and the clients would gobble it up. (On the other hand, I do recall them being unwilling to buy some strange tribal artifact that was some sort of Bad JuJu.) What never ceases to amaze me are the people who fail to understand that the pawn shop (and Obscura, and every other show that involves a business that buys and sells items) is a business, and is in it to make money. Yes, we all heard the appraiser give an estimate of $5,000. No, the pawn shop is not going to give you $5,000 for it. What you are getting is the convenience of cash in your hand right now–no need to market the item, no need to find a buyer. What the pawn shop is getting is the opportunity to resell your doodad–_ **at a profit** _. If they pay you market for it, where are they going to find that profit? People can’t seem to understand this. Er… what’s a “SuicideGirl”? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2012, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chumlee-in-pawn-stars/569090/189 "2012-12-20T18:56:54Z")
Google it, but not from work. 😛 Basically, nude shots of tattooed women. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2012, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chumlee-in-pawn-stars/569090/190 "2012-12-20T19:25:19Z")
> [@LawMonkey](#): > > There are folks who’d buy it quite happily–they just took it to the wrong store. They needed to be at Obscura here in New York. Or [Loved to Death](http://www.lovedtodeath.net/) in San Fran. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2012, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chumlee-in-pawn-stars/569090/191 "2012-12-20T23:35:41Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > I dont want to let this book get out of the shop but be fair. Its used and has been read. The corners are curled and it has a coffee stain. Ill offer you #2.50 and that is my final offer. 😛 > [@Sigmundex](#): > > First, about the Subway debate - could it really be possible that Subway’s marketing people would want all of American seeing guys like ‘Big Hoss’ and ‘Chumlee’ eating their food? I mean I get the idea of Jared eating Subway (he’s SKINNY now!), but those guys??? I’m not saying he’s small or anything, but Big Hoss has lost a lot of weight since the show started. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chumlee-in-pawn-stars/569090/192 "2012-12-21T02:47:41Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > I’m not saying he’s small or anything, but Big Hoss has lost a lot of weight since the show started. He got the surgery. ---
**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chumlee-in-pawn-stars/569090/193 "2012-12-21T10:31:36Z")
> [@Susanann](#): > > Now THAT!!! is what is hard to believe. > > I never thought that retail clerking in a pawn shop paid that well (even if your dad or granddad owns the shop) . Does everyone who works in a pawn shop in the United States make over $100.000.00? If so…then why take out student loans to go to college? why go to high school? Per the article Sampiro linked to: > [@Las Vegas Weekly](#): > > each one [of the Harrisons] clears six figures annually. They were successful before the show launched. They didn’t make that kind of money before the show, they were just succesful. The article talks about the shop staff quadrupling since the show started, indicating the Harrisons hit a gold mine by going on air, as expected. ---
**Author:** ![S.M](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@S.M](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/S.M)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2015, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chumlee-in-pawn-stars/569090/194 "2015-06-05T13:00:29Z")
It should be no mystery to anyone that some of what we see (and hear) has been produced and edited. So what?!? If you want a pure taste of reality then live your own lives! Pawn Stars is entertaining. It also provides nuggets of information, that, more than once, have caused me to want to investigate further. Whatever caused some of you to begin watching it in the first place…it sounds like the honeymoon is over. Turn the page/channel. Walking away is better than staying in a bitter relationship. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2015, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chumlee-in-pawn-stars/569090/195 "2015-06-05T13:08:36Z")
> [@S.M](#): > > It should be no mystery to anyone that some of what we see (and hear) has been produced and edited. So what?!? If you want a pure taste of reality then live your own lives! Pawn Stars is entertaining. It also provides nuggets of information, that, more than once, have caused me to want to investigate further. Whatever caused some of you to begin watching it in the first place…it sounds like the honeymoon is over. Turn the page/channel. Walking away is better than staying in a bitter relationship. I think they did stop, two and a half years ago when the last post was made on this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2015, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chumlee-in-pawn-stars/569090/196 "2015-06-06T01:14:32Z")
This thread’s pretty old - let me call my friend who’s an expert on Pawn Stars threads. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2015, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chumlee-in-pawn-stars/569090/197 "2015-06-06T01:24:13Z")
An English friend of mine did a Western US trip a couple of years ago and stopped into that pawn shop in Las Vegas. He likes the show but was disappointed that no one on the show was in the store at the time. Said there’s an amazing variety of _Pawn Stars_ T-shirts for sale there. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2015, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chumlee-in-pawn-stars/569090/198 "2015-06-06T05:31:41Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > This thread’s pretty old - let me call my friend who’s an expert on Pawn Stars threads. I have no problem with that. I just know that the expert will agree with me that this thread is priceless. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chumlee-in-pawn-stars/569090.md?page=9)