so how are you feeling about American Picker now?

[grasswire]

I admit to growing fond of the show simply for seeing the truly stellar collections the boys visit on their travels. I had no idea there were so many back road de facto museums, protected by fierce collectors who are willing to part with precious little!

Very, very entertaining. What say you?

[Vinca]

1. I'm still watching, but I'm not a big fan.

I suspect after the initial outrage the shows were edited to show them paying too much for some things and showing relatives with the old people who seemed to be targets. It's not nearly as entertaining as "Pawn Stars," but I'll probably continue watching because there's always something new to learn.

[democraticinsurgent]

2. I'm with you, Vinca

I enjoy some of the segments, like the one where they dug up vintage movie posters underneath an old stage.

I can't stand the two pickers, though. The tall dude is arrogant and insensitive and seems more like a day trader type, while the bearded guy is just annoying. They give collectible buyers a bad image.

Pawn Stars is way better and it SHOULD be way worse. Its charm is directly related to the warmth of the 3 generation family that runs it, and the fact that they clearly offer fair prices based on solid research.

[Stinky The Clown]

3. I'm with you and with Vinca!

[eleny]

4. I've been watching

What I still don't like is how they try to be nonchalant when I know they're working the situation hard. Maybe that's what it takes when the old codgers are tight.

I felt sorry for the guy who sold them the old German black seated metal toy. That seller sold it to them because he knew they had the same appreciation as he did. Then, next thing you see is the ka-ching tally. Pfui.

And then the previous week they left an old guy sitting in the sun on his garden tractor for an hour while they poked through his big shed. Taught them a lesson because he decided not to sell anything. That old guy could have collapsed in the heat while they pursued the "honey hole".

I record it, watch it when I've got nothing going on and then delete the recording. After all, it's old stuff.

[Vinca]

5. That toy bothered me, too. In the end they made a lousy $50 off it.

[eleny]

6. At least the guy who sold it won't feel ripped off if the $50 is accurate

[pengillian101]

9. I agree.

"And then the previous week they left an old guy sitting in the sun on his garden tractor for an hour while they poked through his big shed. Taught them a lesson because he decided not to sell anything. That old guy could have collapsed in the heat while they pursued the "honey hole".

The guy was clearly enjoying the visit until then.

I quit watching the program. The pickers tend to offend me how condescending they are to these older folks.

[Duer 157099]

7. I think they need to merge American Pickers with Hoarders

At first I sort of liked American Pickers. It seems they pay high prices, I wish they'd visit me. They could probably do much better at yard sales and thrift stores, imho.

What I want to know is who they are selling their stuff to.

[eleny]

8. They sell some of their stuff at auctions

I don't know if it's online or real life auctions. But my impression was online from something they said or I've read.

They also talked about selling to collectors and also people who decorate restaurants. They sell things from their website, too.

[Stinky The Clown]

10. Pickers, by definition, pick items from the wild and wholesale them to retail dealers

Most often they pick items they know their clientele wants as opposed to serendipitously finding stuff and trying to peddle it. They also sell to movie prop houses, costumers, photographers, restaurant chains, interior decorators, etc. In short, they sell only to the trade. Of course they're free to sell retail, but if they end up competing with their clients for the same customers, they'll soon end their picking career.

[pengillian101]

11. Pickers, by definition, pick items from the wild and wholesale them to retail dealers

Thanks for that insight, who knew that? Not me - lol.

:hi:

My best buys were at a farm auction where no dealers knew about it - a $15 4-poster bed frame and a $15 dresser from the the turn of the century.

Unbelievable buys. I felt terrible about it though. This was a friend's grandparent who died in the 1970's and it was not advertised.

I still have them in our home and still love them. They are in the guest bedroom.

[northoftheborder]

12. American Pickers

I like watching American Pickers. I love the old places they find, and the "characters". There is so little on TV that I watch at all. Better than 90% of regular programming.

[Vinca]

13. So . . . thanks to the influence of the picker show, I am now the proud

owner of an American Express Moneygram sign - lighted - for half a buck. Who the heck is going to buy the dumb thing?:rofl:

[grasswire]

14. hang it in your front window

See who comes calling! It just occurred to me that if I nailed a lot of old hubcaps outside my home, I'd get more company perhaps.

I saw an auction ad today where they had a LOT of old commercial signs. I'd go but it's across the river.

[grasswire]

15. look at the listing from this sale

Too far away for me, but oh my.

http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/gms/1740306656.html

[Vinca]

16. Ooh - that looks like a good one. Especially the pottery.