MovieChat Forums > American Pickers (2010) Discussion > Can anyone tell me.....?

Can anyone tell me.....?

posted 10 years ago by Gubbio
8 replies | jump to latest

I watch this "show" only occasionally now. I watched last night, and to my amazement, Mike and Frank are still digging old, dirty, rusted, chipped, metal signs out of the dirt, having orgasms over them, and paying a hefty price for them.

We have to accept their word that someone actually wants this crap, but I wish they'd do a follow-up program showing WHERE some of this stuff winds up.

I know there's a collector for everything, but it's hard to believe that there is such a demand for this junk. They act like it's gold.

Same with Frank's old oil cans and bottles.

[–] SidekickinWhiteFury 10 years ago

I don't think there is a demand for any of this crap. Who has the space to hang some huge, garish metal sign in their home?
$3500 for an old oil can? Come on.
The show used to be, they would buy something for $100 and claim to sell it for $175. Now we see them paying $55,000 and $35,000 for items? Pickers don't do that.

"We're from Iowa."
"Well, we're from Iowa so we like anything carcinogenic."
"Well we're from Iowa so we like anything that brain washed our ancestors for decades."
"We're back in Iowa."
If I took a drink every time they say "Iowa" I would be dead from alcohol poisoning.

[–] Gubbio 10 years ago

"We're from Iowa -- and we're brain dead!"

[–] perfectpawn 10 years ago

My assumption is that the stuff they buy becomes the property of the History Channel -- a few years ago there was, for a few months, an "American Pickers" store in NYC where items picked on the show were offered for sale at exorbitant prices. I think another similar store opened later.

Judging from what few interviews I've read, it would appear that at one point in time Mike and Frank did both earn a "living" (at least a side living) picking things and selling them. But no real business in the world would be able to survive, let alone thrive, in the manner presented in this show -- going all over the world to buy products (sometimes at only a maximum of a few hundred dollars profit!) which will be sold in a store in nowheresville Iowa or Atlanta.

For that matter, has anyone ever been to these stores? I'm assuming they're either sets or they're like the Pawn Stars pawnshop -- nothing but History Channel merchandise.

[–] Gubbio 10 years ago

My assumption is that the stuff they buy becomes the property of the History Channel --

I have no doubt that the show is scripted, staged, and these guys are not the independent contractors they pretend to be.

But, the way they RAVE over this dirty junk..... It would be interesting and refreshing to see just where some of it ends up (with collectors of this stuff).

Strictly curiosity on my part. Otherwise, I do not see its value.
Their ravings make them look like fools.

[–] Cydnee9999 10 years ago

On his FrankFritzFinds website he says he sells exclusively on Collectors Quest website except for his t-shirts. I don’t remember his eBay store name.

http://www.collectorsquest.com/history/franks-picks

On the Collectors Quest website, many items have been marked “sold” but it is unclear if the price listed is the actual selling price. Most of the items that are sold are from Season 3, a few from Season 4, and more than a few are from “Frank’s Personal Collection” with no indication when they were sold. Season 3 is listed as June 1, 2011 through September 26, 2011 and Season 4 is listed as November 28, 2011 through October 21, 2012.

It would seem the inventory is rather limited on the website. He may sell more stuff out of his storefront. Although this comment was on his FFF FB page:

Reviews

Dan Anderson

Cold and damp with nobody home! Bar next door was the entrance and they said just go in, which we did but lights were off and some furniture in the back was wet and damp! Ouch!

Drove up from Georgia, what a let down.
about 2 months ago

Infrequent FB posts from “Frank” on his FFF FB – last entry was May 2, Feb 14 before that, then Dec 12, 2013…

If you can believe the Collectors Quest website, he does sell those rusty old signs but it doesn’t seem like he makes much money on them. Even if he is using personal funds to purchase them, History Channel or the production company are likely paying all of the transportation costs to get them from the “pick” to Savanna, IL. I would imagine the same applies to Wolfe.

It doesn’t look like History Channel handles his media or appearances anymore either. No link to History media (Heather D., who infamously astroturfed Pawn Stars (with a positive review) on a media website w/o identifying herself as a History Channel publicist), just a Gmail address to Fritz himself; unlike Wolfe, who also has no History Channel publicist link on his website, but links to his representatives - Creative Artists Agency and Rogers & Cowan.

Wolfe no longer sells anything on his website except t-shirts and those ugly custom-made lamps. His eBay store, antiquearchaeologyleclaire, has a 1936 Ford truck for sale, otherwise nothing.

If you look at his feedback, he sells a lot, and by that I mean MOST (90+%) of his sales are for autographed Antique Archeology posters.

Found this website that discusses purchasing from the AA stores and inventory.

http://www.oldgas.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=458 453&page=all

Put “American Pickers” in the website search and lots of threads pop up concerning these two guys. Many interesting comments even in the shows early days.

[–] JDoe18 10 years ago

PerfectPawn, the pawnshop use to be real, my dad did business in Vegas (organizes trade shows) and went before they got all famous. I went with him on one of his business trips after they were famous and he said the shop didnt even look the same. Less pawnshop stuff and more history merch... Also he said he didnt have to wait to get in the store either.I guess how could you turn all that publicity and money down and refuse to change your store. Im sure most would let the show affect their jobs if they were paid well enough for it.

[–] Syn84 10 years ago

I wouldn't say its all all crap. I would love to own that Von Dutch VW motorcycle they bought in one of earlier seasons. Its one of a kind. VW never made motorcycles and Von Dutch's stuff is priceless these days. It was built on a rare '42 Harley Davidson chassis with a VW engine, Honda gas tank and pin striping done by Von Dutch.

[–] Gubbio 10 years ago

I wouldn't say its all all crap. I would love to own that Von Dutch VW motorcycle they bought in one of earlier seasons. Its one of a kind.

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder," just as "One man's trash is another man's treasure."

Personally, I'd like to see more antique furniture and tools.

I've had it with rusty signs, rusty oil cans, and rusted hulks of bikes that they pull out of the dirt -- and Mike creams in his pants over. Seen one, you've seen them all.