American Pickers-Do we love them or hate them?

[anastasiabeaverhausen]

Hey Ya'll..I'm not around much these days, but love to stop in..still find some of the best forums and answers to questions etc etc... So, I gotta ask...do we love American Pickers or hate them?  I do know I want their job!!!!!!

[Good Buddy]

It certainly is an interesting show. I've watched several episodes. Cookie has indeed seen it, but she isn't interested in watching any more of them.
I'll watch more episodes, I'm sure but I wouldn't buy them on DVD or anything..

[mccoysnina]

I watch it off and on.  Love the premise, wish I had their job.
I know they have been criticised for taking advantage of uneducated people, but if you watch the show that is not necessairily the case.  Many of the sellers are quite aware of what they have and negoiate accordingly.  Many refuse outright to sell.  And certainly the items they pick are doing no one any good rusting away in a barn or cellar.
Most of us do the same thing on a smaller scale, at thrifts or garage sales.  It is always the same in business, buy as cheap as possible, sell for as much as you can.
Why jump on them for doing the same thing.
But for me, I prefer Pawn Stars or Antiques Roadshow.
AP can go on for a long time with nothing happening.
Jeannie

[valleythriftshopper]

I don't have the History Channel, but they finally put some shows on their website, so I have just recently been able to watch a full show and I really liked them.  There are some other full episodes on Youtube too now.  I think they actually pay pretty high prices for alot of stuff, although I wonder if they did that before they were being followed around by a camera.  They probably make more money doing the show then selling antiques so it may not be quite as realistic as picking in real life.  Still very entertaining, I always watch any new ones that pop up on Youtube!

[Jay2TheRescue]

I enjoy the show, but what you pay is walking a fine line...  You have to get it cheap enough to make a profit, but pay enough so you get asked back.  I agree though, there are some items I would have never paid as much as they do, but they have a list of clients lined up, and most likely they turn over their items quickly.

[subversivegrrl]

They seem to cater to a very specific range of customers - mostly gearheads and decorators.  I would also think they must have an established clientele, to buy some of the things on spec that they do.  But I like how it shows that there are treasures everywhere, and also that gut instinct that plays a big part in what you choose. 

I agree that I am sometimes amazed at what they pay and the low margin they seem to work with.  I don't think they're sleeping in that van, so they have to have SOME expenses when they're on the road, plus they have a business to maintain and one assumes homes and possibly families - can't help but wonder how they afford it.  Of course, we see only a very small amount of their wheeling & dealing - they probably have a very lucrative business, if they can afford to shell out thousands of dollars on something that will require thousands more to restore.  But then again, as I said, they seem to know people out there who are interested in buying rare things in terrible condition! 

One thing where I thought "that was something I would have picked up" - there was a show where the guy had a whole box of replacement ruby glass inserts for old railroad lanterns - basically, new old stock.  They scooped that up for just a few dollars, and each one of those I bet they sold for $20+, maybe more.   Replacement parts in good condition are worth their weight in gold, IMO, and will only be in more demand as the years go on.

[Me3434]

I have mixed feelings about em.  I hated it the first time I saw it because I did see them rip off an old man on a saddle.   I don't know.  They essentially do what we all do who are thrifters, antiquers....look for something valuable at nothing prices.  So I would be hypocritical to some sense to say that they're whole premise is wrong.  Mike Wolfe is cute though.  I just think his personality at times takes away from his cuteness.  Of course, I'm sure he knows this, and I don't want to add to his already swollen ego.

[trashtramp]

Personally, I would just like to see them be a little more fair with their pricing and not try to squeeze every last dollar out of a bargaining situation.

I mean, I understand that they have a business to run, but if someone's asking just $75 for a KNOLL CHAIR that you know is valued at $400, Jesus...why are you trying to talk them down to $50? I understand the whole "rush" of getting a great deal, but c'mon!

At this point, all I know is that if Mike & Frank showed up at my grandmother's house asking to look around, I'd tell her to say, "No."

[Good Buddy]

Personally, I would just like to see them be a little more fair with their pricing and not try to squeeze every last dollar out of a bargaining situation.

Agreed!

I think the tall guy is more annoying than the shorter guy who just kind of goes with the flow.

[azia88]

I love this show. Everytime I watch I want to go out and go hunting.  My husband and I sell on ebay. We go to garage sales, Goodwill and thrift stores, thrift stores in Mesa have their prices too high or have junk. So we stick with GW.
 Some of the stuff American Pickers passs buy I about die. lol... Like the Fisher price toys and other toys.  I scream get that!!!! oh my.People pay good money for that stuff they need to do homework on toys.

[valleythriftshopper]

Haha, I know what you mean.  Once there was a samsonite fashionaire suitcase in the background on one of their picks.  I would have grabbed that, they didn't seem to notice it.

[Frchgrl]

Well I love love love them and the show.

I can totally relate to them after all I guess I'm a "picker" too. I pick at thrift stores and resell the goods I find and genuinely love the items I find. And I totally know what they mean when they say they're gonna "pop."

I've seen some episodes where they offer some people more than what they offer because it's too low. 

[Jay2TheRescue]

I've paid more than the asking price before too, if the item is really valuable, and the person had absolutely no idea.

I've seen some episodes where they offer some people more than what they offer because it's too low. 

[valleythriftshopper]

There is a guy on Youtube that puts up a video every week called American Pickerman Yard Sale Edition.  He shows what stuff was found at yard sales that week then summarizes what previous stuff ended up selling for on Ebay.  If you are a yard sale picker you can get some good info from these videos.  The music he uses as a background is annoying though so mute it if you watch it.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/3B5QO3NMaoo&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18&amp;rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/3B5QO3NMaoo&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18&amp;rel=0</a>