Pawn Stars Question

[Siam_Sam]

Those people who leave without making a deal. They must still get paid for their appearance. What’s the rate for something like that?

[Elmer_J.Fudd]

A Chumley t-shirt at best, I’m guessing.

[Banquet_Bear]

@Siam_Sam

Those people who leave without making a deal. They must still get paid for their appearance. What’s the rate for something like that?

Do the Customers Get Paid to Showcase Their Trinkets and Memorabilia on...

@article

Do customers get paid to appear on ‘Pawn Stars’?

Similar shows, like Antiques Roadshow, don’t pay its subjects a penny (the long-running PBS series doesn’t even pay appraisers), so it isn’t too surprising to learn that the customers/sellers on Pawn Stars aren’t compensated for their 15 minutes of fame. In fact, just getting on Pawn Stars is a feat these days.

Given the show’s popularity, many people hope to come in with a bogus item and get their prepped and primed faces on TV, but that just won’t fly anymore. Even if you genuinely have an interesting, one-of-a-kind item worth selling, you likely won’t wind up on the show or deal with the Harrisons themselves. They’re just too Hollywood now.

Do the Customers Get Paid to Showcase Their Trinkets and Memorabilia on...

…although the article doesn’t cite its source.

[dolphinboy]

They don’t get paid a penny for appearing and have to sign a waiver giving the production company permission to use their likeness.

[Si_Amigo]

I went to the Gold and Silver Pawnshop while I was on vacation and took some gold men’s rings to sell so that I might have a chance to get on the show. I saw Rick in the parking lot filming a deal on some green decked out Harley and thought I might have a chance and went in.

I spoke with a guy who specializes in jewelry and asked him if one of the “stars” would be available. This was 10 years ago and he told me that they rarely came to the shop to make deals themselves unless it was for a show taping, like what was going on outside in the parking lot that day while we spoke.

So I worked out a deal on three gold men’s rings and settled on a much better price than anyone in the Detroit area was offering. Then he told me that he was going to give an extra $100 each because he said he was going to be able to sell these right away. I said sure and then he explained to me that the pawn shop has been super busy since the show caught on and that customers come in wanting to buy something just to say they got it at the Gold and Silver Pawnshop and that men’s rings were the hottest item in Vegas because when guys win some some money they often buy a nice ring. I was stunned, but when I left and the filming was over the line went around the block to get in.

[Siam_Sam]

Thanks for the definitive answer. I had just assumed they had to be paid something.

The wife and I went to Gold and Silver Pawn while we were in Vegas last month. I took her photo standing next to Rick. Well, it wasn’t really him but rather a life-size cardboard likeness. Good enough.