Is anyone else addicted to American Pickers and waiting for them to pick trains?

We gave up satellite last year, however American Pickers was... an interesting show.

I have a feeling that if they did run into trains, they might not know what to do with it.

No so-called "reality" shows for me...none, zip, nada.

No. If you've seen one episode, you've seen it all.

Don't care for that particular show (American Pickers).

IMHO, they often seem to be taking undue advantage of their victims.

When selling, all the treasure hunting shows seem to place ridiculously high prices on their goods. Or perhaps used goods are just much less expensive in the places where I've lived.

Also addicted.Great show and can't what till they find some trains.

They picked homes with real steam locomotives and that

was really cool. They have an awsome job.

I generally watch it.  I'm beginning to find the episodes somewhat repetitive.  There is only so much "rusty gold" out there that is different.  Similar to watch is happening with Ice Road Truckers.  Same old, same old.  American Restoration and Pawn Stars are better.  Rick Dale always has some really cool stuff that he brings back to life.  Pawn Stars also has interesting things coming it.  It is amazing, however, that the store is always empty.  If you look closely you'll notice that the "Open" sign is facing in.  I believe that the store is closed for the tapings.

I rarely watch the show but was given a heads up on a recent show where they visited a motorcycle collector, racer, aficionado, and acquaintance of mine.

In this area, at least, one of the pickers was pretty knowledgeable but no match for the collector. They walked away with a few items but no one was taken advantage of.

I have no doubt there are train collectors with a warehouse full of trains that could make for an interesting show. Hopefully the fans of that show would give us all a heads up if that happened.

Pete

CW,

I agree with you to a point.  It does seem that they are taking advantage of the people they are dealing with.  But, in a recent episode, the one picker (Mike) was asking about a mirror with an ornate frame.  The owner only asked $25 and Mike told him it was worth more than that and gave him $75.

As noted here before, they have passed right by trains and train related items without giving them a second glance. They are either not knowledgeable or not interested in trains. Seems like signs, and motorcycles rank high with these guys.

As for the prices, it's all a matter of saying "no" if the price isn't right. There was a fellow with an Airstream trailer that wouldn't budge off of an obscenely high price.

I love the show   Very interesting to see what people hoard and collect.  I am a closet picker but then I have to place it in a tissue

quote:

It is amazing, however, that the store is always empty.

My wife and I were in Vegas last spring. We thought it would be fun to stop in the Pawn shop and look around. The line to get in was wrapped around the block.

We decided to go elsewhere.

Did anyone catch the Lionel 1668E in last night's episode?

Anyway, I just asked them if they do on their facebook page.

Its a good show for entertainment. I always feel they pay too little sometimes especially when the person asks for a reasonable amount. They always have to jab them for a few more dollars off. Then they post some insane amount they intend to ask for the item, and I say there is no way. Occasionally they will offer more, but not often. They have passed up on old trains a few times and head for some piece of junk and call it beautiful and say they have to have it. Old signs, bicycles and motorcycles is their specialty.

Gandy

It's something to watch but it's staged. I have seen them pass  right by toy train collectibles such as Marx metal buildings. I do like to see what they find/show though.

Ok, in case you guys don't know... (though I still love the show).

In the case of Pawn Stars, the people who bring an item in that they feature on the show have been pre-screened and told to arrive on a particular day/time for filming.  Obviously the cameras are not there at all times just waiting for something to come in.  The production crew and experts already know what the person has and if it will make good TV.  At that point they just present it to the pawn guys and film the occurance!  

I have a feeling its the same with "American Pickers", where a pre-screening crew goes out and see's if a lead is worth the show filming at that location.  If it is, then they send a crew first and give the guys the coordinates and in they come to arrive for filming.  

In both cases, I think the reactions are genuine and the items are real... but it is a bit set up.

Having said that.... I LOVE BOTH SHOWS!!!

I love the show. Reality TV or not I think it still gives valuable information. Many people forget that the market is not always perfect for the items the buyer want to re-sell thus why it seems like they are taking advantage of the owner. The buyers need to re-sell it again so that they can get a profit themselves.

Pawn stars is the same way except now they hardly sell stuff they buy. They mostly sell t-shirts and memorabilia from the show. Real shocker right? 

OH NO!!! REALITY TV ISN'T REALITY!  

It seems that way only if you consider what they expect to get versus what they pay for the stuff they buy, and nothing else.

Factor in the costs of travel, lodging, food, fuel, any vehicle payments, vehicle maintenance, insurance, appraisals, any rent or mortgage payments on their buildings, building upkeep, utilities, property taxes, income taxes, business taxes, the salaries for them and those that work for them, plus lots of other little expenses, and you will understand that all of these expenses have to come out of the difference between what they pay for items and what they get for those items.  And if the items sit for a long time, the money is tied up and doing nothing for them.  They have stated many times in the past that they have to be able to double their money on stuff they buy in order to stay in business.  Sometimes they do better, some times they do worse.

On the flip side, how much time, effort and money would their "victims" have to spend in order to get more money for the items they are selling?  Their money is tied up in the items and doing nothing for them, especially if it sitting around and deteriorating.  The pickers are assuming the risk that the item may not even sell in a reasonable amount of time and at a profit.

I'm sure they get some nice money for doing the show, but let's face it, this is low-budget cable, not a Hollywood network sitcom starring high-paid actors.  It appears that they are using the money earned to expand their business, as evidenced by the second storefront they opened in Tennessee, and they appear to really enjoy what they do.

My dad used to be a picker (back before it had a name) on weekends as a sort of a hobby, and came close once to doing it full time, and that is pretty much the business model a picker has to operate on in order to make it worth their while.

I enjoy these shows, mostly because they remind me of the days when my dad dragged us along on his picking adventures, but also because I actually learn a lot from these shows about what people consider to be of value, and the history of a lot of the items is fascinating to me.

Andy

Well said Andy. 

Many people forget about all the variables that go into a "picking" business. Really any privately owned business has to deal with this stuff and to be able to stretch the money in order to even get a profit after all the variables is pretty amazing if you ask me. 

quote:

"Is anyone else addicted to American pickets and waiting for them to pick trains?"

I clicked on this thread hoping I would find out just what an "American picket" was. Doesn't anybody at least try to proofread?

Since the thread turned out to be about a TV show, I watch the show from time to time, but, I would never wait around show after show just to see if they were going to find a rusty model train.

I don't feel the pickers are taking advantage of the sellers. They tell them that they have to make a profit re-selling it. They can't pay full retail and resell it. Many times I have seen Mike pay people more than they were asking. I have seen Mike make offers on items and it was obviously much more than the seller would have asked. When you guys buy train stuff here off the forum you don't pay retail for it. You either wait until the seller marks it down for the 6th time or you make lower offers for the item. American pickers is no different.

Rob

quote:

Factor in the costs of travel, lodging, food, fuel, any vehicle payments, vehicle maintenance, insurance, appraisals, any rent or mortgage payments on their buildings, building upkeep, utilities, property taxes, income taxes, business taxes, the salaries for them and those that work for them, plus lots of other little expenses, and you will understand that all of these expenses have to come out of the difference between what they pay for items and what they get for those items.  And if the items sit for a long time, the money is tied up and doing nothing for them.  They have stated many times in the past that they have to be able to double their money on stuff they buy in order to stay in business

All true.

Isn't it surprizing that any Hobby Shops survive at all, given that they have most of the same expenses, and a much lower mark-up.

I think that is the reason so many shops are failing and closing their doors.  They can no longer count on the meager mark-up to pay all of the bills and expenses.  And if they raise their prices to increase the mark-up, there is a real danger that their customers will go elsewhere.  It has been getting more and more difficult to run a business every year (I see it all the time where I work because I am privy to most of the company's internal finances).  The bigger businesses are usually in a better position to weather all of the cost increases in the expenses they have to pay, but even they have a breaking point.

Andy

The pickers are staged: In appearance, they just seem to walk up to people, cameras rolling, to announce themselves, as if it were a chance encounter, which its not.

Having said that, as a student of History, I do pick up nuggets here and there and so I like the show.

I have no expectations that they will focus on any trains. And, yes, I saw them walk by train items I would have stopped to investigate. But, its their show and they can go for it. But, I did like the American Civil War episode from Gettysburg.

Mark

I am a big fan of these shows even though they are not 100% real.  some of them are slow though and I would like to see more items flying thru.  I also added a new dimension for added entertainment. I'll setup my laptop and search on ebay or other sites to see what "the real" value is.  They get stung plenty or at least pass that sting along to their buyer.

So is everyone an actor at the storage auction hunter shows?

I know it's all staged but entertaining.  Beats some of the other losers on the tube.  Don't recall seeing many trains though.  These guys care more about an oil can, sign or motorcycle.

Back in the 1950's we used to call guys like that "junkmen." Imagine what mass media has become when pawnbrokers, junkmen & repo artists have become the new cultural heroes. 

As for 'toy train pickin,'  don't many of us do just that in the "member halls?"

I have it on GREAT AUTHORITY that you never miss a HOUSEWIVES episode!!!  And you ABSOLUTELY love BIG ANGE on Mafia Wives!!!

These guys were and are the real deal, they just made a show out of their job. They stick to signs, cars, and the like because the market is large for that stuff, very small for an item like trains. I used to run all over on the weekends in the 80s pickin, we called it junkin back then, very seldom did you find a dummy that did not know what his stuff was worth, same is true today. Today with the internet and tv everyone knows what their stuff is worth.

Ben, when you get to the bridge, whistle.

No not really... One does not "pick" at a regular train show or a retail store. Picking is done at garage sales, flea markets, and other similar outlets. I forgot to mention earlier that, the show has had an influence on me. I never thought I'd do it, but not long ago my wife was with me and we bought a box of trains at a flea market. After the buy was done she said you sounded just like Mike Wolf and Frank. I said what do you mean. She said you asked how much the seller had to have for the box, and they said $100, and you came back with I'm at $35 just like Mike would have. The seller came down in little increments until they were at $35 and the deal was made just like on the show. I've also bundled, and it does work!! Now that I thought about it, I've pulled a Rick Harrison a few times too telling the seller that $50 bucks is my final offer. Crazy how the shows do influence you.

Gandy

3rdrailmike,

  I also look forward to watching the show, I watched last nights episode and did see some old trains sitting on a shelf but the camera panned by to fast! I realize the show is "staged" but to me it is a clean,fun show no violence,swearing etc. A very nice change from the norm.

Jeff

The Picker guys main passion are old motorcycles and gas/oil memorabilia. I would not count on any train pickings,especially after one episode where Frank called a bay window L&N caboose a boxcar.

Pickers, Storage Wars, Auction Hunters, etc are doing a good job of ruining the "business" they are in. Ebay ruined the downstream supply chain - hobby shops, antique stores, train shows, etc. These guys are going upstream and destroying the venues / sources that supply everyone including eBay.

No cable for us.  Bruce Springsteen said it, "57 Channels (And Nothin' On)".

Besides that, the greatest American Picker, Doc Watson, died last month.  Often imitated, never equaled.

Pete

Me, too, nowadays.  Don't miss it a bit and the considerable annual savings makes it possible to buy more choo-choos and other stuff.

No

All this talk of American Pickers and not a single mention of Danielle?