we dont get the history channel anymore :(

I watched it and it was fun! It should spur good discussions as there will be those who think they might be taking advantage of folks they buy from.

Did anybody watch and if so what did you think?

I was not that impressed myself.
They seemed more like junk men out for a quick buck.

Saudi

I caught a few minutes of the show last night and it looks like a fun program.  It's the ultimate in dumpster diving with two guys traveling the country looking for unique collectibles.  If they see something in someone's yard, driveway or whatever, they ring the bell and offer to buy.  Two items they scored last night were an animated Phillip Morris/Johnny the Bellhop 3D sign and a carnival ride from the 50's.  Kovel's Komments had a blurb in their last newsletter:

We haven't seen it, but we hear the new History Channel show, "American Pickers," is good television, especially for collectors. The two hosts, Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz, make their living searching for antiques and collectibles to resell to dealers. They are followed by a camera crew while they hunt, buy, and sell and throw in history and humor. Watch them find the place we all dream about--the barn chock full of stuff that hasnt been touched for years. We know from the days of our TV shows that it takes hard work, long hours, and dedication to survive a series. Watch this one if you can. The show will only go 10 episodes if there isnt enough interest. It debuted on Monday, Jan. 18.

I hope those of you who get the History Channel will watch this program.  It's been too long since there was a good antiques/collectibles show on TV.  I set my DVR to record the series so I won't miss it.

I have been keeping up with the "BUZZ" over at the history channel site and boy is it ugly.

I do agree that these people are not "Collectors" but imho a bunch of leaches.  They swoop in and practacly take what they want.  If you say NO they just keep after you.

I have learned that PICKERS are considered bottom feeders only out to make a buck not like collectors who appreciate what is being offerd and willing to pay a fair price.

I am going to watch the next episode on Monday but to be honest I wish History would put on a quality show such as Treasures in the attic and other shows which we have been happy to support.

Please go to History.com and check out the posts over there this is not a communkity I want to be associated with.

Saudi

I agree with Foof.  Those Pickers have a resale business and there is nothing wrong with buying an item that can be resold at a profit.  Folks do it on e-Bay, at auctions and other places all the time.  In fact, the company I work for is in a somewhat similar business, they just buy larger items.  They resell large manufacturing machinery, often for ten times or more of the purchase price.  We have people who travel the country and work the phones and internet looking for machinery for sale, no matter if it is a single item or a plant that has gone out of business.

I haven't read the program's message boards and won't since I don't have the time but I don't see them browbeating Grandma into parting with family treasures; they're just making a deal for what most people would consider useless junk.  On last night's program it appeared that at least two of the sellers were enjoying the negotiations as much as anyone.  And I sure would like to see more of what they had stored!  It brought to mind a funky business that was a landmark around here years ago.  Kohler's Trading Post was a big barn of a building packed from floor to rafters with stuff.  You could find anything from an old baby buggy to the insides of a coffee pot to a crank for a model T to a skate key but you had to climb over and thru everything to find it which was more than half the fun.  Very few items had a price.  You just took your finds to the guy at the desk and made an offer.  If it was too low, he'd counter and so on until a deal was made.  I often wonder what happened to all that priceless junque when the property was sold.  Those American Pickers would have been in heaven!

 I really enjoy the show and I hope it gains interest in people bringing out more good stuff for others to enjoy marveling at or wishing they had  it!
I am a serious collector myself: I have over 2000 radios!
What a sickness!
Happy Collecting!!

   I can't decide about the morality of American Pickers.   Being neither a junk picker or a particularly avid collector, it's hard for me to decide if I approve or disapprove of this way of accumulating stuff.  I don't think it's morally wrong to buy low and sell high (after all, bargaining is done for almost every commodity in other countries), and yet I know I'd never be able to be as ruthless as those guys if I was doing it myself.  I sense, however, that in most cases the sellers as well as the buyers felt they got a good deal.   Interesting conundrum.....

Laurel

interesting read and video...i havent watched it online yet though

scott caught it online finally one snowy day while i worked from home  he thought the show was ok but liked pawn stars (or whatever its called) better

I think another side of the coin is that many of the folks who appear on the program probably don't have the means or desire to sell any of their stuff on eBay, an auction or anywhere else.  They may not even have thought about selling until the Pickers came knocking on their door with cash in hand.  I've probably donated items to charity that could have brought in a few bucks elsewhere but didn't want to go thru the hassle.