Never worked in a pawn shop but I always got the feeling that a lot of interesting things never hit the floor. A good pawner had a list of clients and what they want and are willing to pay top dollar for it. Making you more of a broker almost. Correct me if I'm wrong. Love the show though. It's entertainment.
I saw an episode where a fellow brings in a Chris Craft boat and the youngest buyer makes the mistake of opening his mouth with a verbal offer that is quickly accepted. He gets royally balled out by his father about buying boats, especially without even checking them out. I also saw an episode where a lady came in with a better date Washington quarter expecting a few hundred dollars, but the coin was cleaned. I would like to see an antiques roadshow style program dedicated to coins with some of the best dealers in the industry represented appraising coins, notes, stamps, jewelry, etc.. The people need to be educated on such things.
You know what else I think at times is an act. The knowledge that Rick has. It is unbelievable, you think he is a scientist of antiques! One second he is like so what is this, then he starts going off about it in a whole nother' language! Anybody think he learns this stuff right quick, before he explains it to the customer? Not that I'm doubting Rick, he seems like a cool, nice guy, it is just that he seems like an encyclopedia at times, and one would think with this show being a crossroads of American Chopper and Antiques Roadshow, that you wouldn't see a human encyclopedia on board.
Would i go to far, If i called them crooks? I dont mean that in a totally negative Way but it just seems everybody that goes there lose,s money and they make A whole bunch, If they could just make it a little more fairer for the customer??
Depends on what the item is. Usually, they don't. Course too, the shop in Vegas is in a unique locale, and the majority of people bringing high valued items in are more likely than not headed to a casino after selling or pawning.
It is a business, they are in it for profits. There are a lot of odd-ball items, just because they are worth $3,000, doesn't mean that is what Rick will pay. There are not a whole lot of auctions for things people bring in, and it is a safer route, IMO, to just sell your item for $1,500 to Rick, than take a big risk of it selling for less than half of what it is worth. (Including fees and such)
Let's say you have an 1893-CC MS-65 Morgan dollar, slabbed by PCGS. You want to sell it. You take it to a coin dealer. Do you actually think he's going to pay you FMV for that coin? Trust me when I tell you, he is not. He's going to do everything he can to buy that coin from you for as low a price as he can, so he can re-sell it at a profit.
It gets on my nerves when Rick laughs at his own jokes. There is a you tube clip taken about 10 years ago before the show. Some guy is interviewing Rick. The pawn shop didn't look like it does now. It was kind of shabby. They had a walk up window where they did business from. Rick had a beard back then.
Out of my 20 or so guitars, about 1/2 have come from pawn shops. I have 2 in town that call me when a Gibson or a Martin come in. They will pay about 1/3 of the true value
I've been in that shop quite a few times. I had been checking things out there long before the show started, and truthfully his prices haven't changed at all due to being on tv. I will say most of his coins are a bit overpriced, but thats no different from every other pawn shop I visit anywhere. Guy~
I've made a few visits to local pawn shops, and I concur. For the ones that still hock coins, I have yet to see anything priced realistically. Most in my area now seem to accumulate them in bulk and then pass them to local coin exchanges rather than put them in their display cases.
I have never been to Rick's store, but I have been to a few coin dealers here in Las Vegas. The buy-sell range is very wide ! I recently took a 1932 s washington just to verify it's authenticity. The quarter is pretty nice. Anyway, I was offered $35. I put it back in my pocket and was asked to show it again. The dealer said, "Well it is Extra Fine, I will give you $60". As I was leaving, he told me $75. Needless to say, I still have it. But I now know that it is not a counterfeit for sure. LOL
FMV probably not, And yes i do realize they need to make a profit but Watching the show it just seems to me anyway in most of there Transactions are all one sided, And yes most people are there because They need the money it,s a perfect scenario for them!:rolling:
