History Channel's 'Pawn Stars' and their view on the value of Atari [Archive]

Manhattan Sports Club

07-12-2010, 07:56 PM

Enigmus

07-12-2010, 07:59 PM

Pawn Stars is scripted, and they have a mentally challenged relative working there, what did you expect?

Eduardo

07-12-2010, 08:08 PM

sixwayshot

07-12-2010, 08:18 PM

You know, some people genuinely haven't seen that stuff in decades. Don't go into a nerd-rage just because you think that the people running the store are ignorant. They're running a pawn shop. You can't expect someone at ANY pawn shop to be an expert on very specific things. Knowledge of Atari consoles/games is not something that you can expect someone like that to know. Quit acting like it's a given, because it's not. If that guy brought in that Atari equipment to Brand X Pawn Shop on the other side of the city, they'd have probably given him the same thing.

And, yeah, the show's obviously edited down. There's a pilot up on Youtube (A few of 'em, actually) that shows what they show was originally like. The original pitch was made for HBO (or another similar network), and it dealt more with the daily life in the shop, because, I doubt that many people bring in historical items or family heirlooms. That's all History Channel's doing.

spongerob

07-12-2010, 08:20 PM

You're telling me reality shows are phony?

LIES!

Really though, they're almost all phony. In this case, just think about it the way most pawn shops work, and the way most reality shows work.

These guys aren't experts on anything and only come close with the stuff they're familiar with away from work, or the stuff that goes through their hands most frequently at work. So when an Atari comes in with some generic games, when the cameras are rolling, they're going to put on a show. They'll pretend they have a clue about the machine, even go as far as to note something like it's fact (when gamers know they're liars) and will guess on a price. I worked at a pawn chain franchise and the main strategy was just guess and then lowball. Most pawn shops do the same. Now if they were smart, they'd open up their web browser, do 2 minutes of google-fu and come up with a more realistic price. But wah?! That would mean admitting they're not ZOMG TOTALLY ENCYCLOPEDIC IN PAWN KNOWLEDGES!

That thing will sit on shelves for whatever they try to sell it for, but no matter, they've got a network likely paying them enough to not worry about stock that doesn't move.

These guys are dopes. They don't know anything about games. But that's how reality shows work. Survivor hires failed actors and actresses to portray gimmicks with a cheese factor second only to something Vince McMahon thought up. And no one is ever truly in danger. There pretty much isn't a genuine single thing about American Idol at all. Anything with "Celebrity" in the title is scripted enough to have a source code. None of it's real, short of maybe the Dog Whisperer which isn't fake but is still heavily edited.

Know what I find funny? TLC has gone from actually educating people, to just vomiting up reality bullshit. What does the L stand for nowadays? What am I learning? And since when would a bunch of schmucky pawn store employees be considered history?

Bleh. TV is at it's worst it's ever been. Rant over.

garagesaleking!!

07-12-2010, 08:26 PM

spongerob

07-12-2010, 08:35 PM

Do you really think they dont know what they are doing. Corey and Chum play being dumb to promote the show and to provide comedic relief. I have watched this episode a couple times. When the camera wasnt rolling I guarantee they looked up every game, and judging by the fact that they paid what he was asking, Im guessing there were some pretty rare games in there. Im sure they did just fine profit wise.

It could also be a clever ploy to get people into the store.

Just look at this topic. Digitpress is a big site, it shows up in very simple google searches. The same goes for other sites where people discuss them overpaying like morons. When people hear about them overpaying, it makes them want to take their stuff in there. It promotes the show.

I'd bet, if they had any brains at all, they're using every available resource to determine average prices. These guys have no idea off the top of their head. The cameras aren't always rolling.

Oldskool

07-12-2010, 08:36 PM

They are only a few miles from me. I should stop in with my WORKING Atari and see what they say. Then go "actually I think I'll keep it". \\^_^/

spongerob

07-12-2010, 08:37 PM

They are only a few miles from me. I should stop in with my WORKING Atari and see what they say. Then go "actually I think I'll keep it". \\^_^/

Haha. Oh man I wish they were that close to me. I'd entertain myself once a week taking in all kinds of stuff that'd confuse the hell out of them.

tonyvortex

07-12-2010, 08:39 PM

I did think it was odd that they always call in "the experts" on everything else,including that PacMan cocktail.Even on the one where the person brought in all the old Playboys they made a small deal about looking them all up.

gbennett0321

07-12-2010, 08:51 PM

Heck, I'm going to pick up a bunch of cheap Atari crap at CGE, and then pawn it off (the pawn shop is located near the old strip in Vegas) LOL

gbennett0321

Manhattan Sports Club

07-12-2010, 08:56 PM

Of course I am hoping everyone will be smart enough to see the bit of deliberate irony within my 'nerd rage' expressed throughout the OP for humorous reasons, but in general I did find it rather irritating. I was suprised that eBay doesn't exist in their minds and stuff like AtariAge. The Atari community is so blatantly dedicated, is there really anything more I have to say? And fuck reality TV too, I already know it's bullshit, but sometimes seeing it on TV makes me glad I am not those people who take part in TV's brainwashing campaign or even that I fortunately do not have to be in their position to experience whatever small portions of it are in fact real.

portnoyd

07-12-2010, 08:57 PM

Pretty lame that the writers couldn't make them "know" about classic systems like that. Glad I don't watch the show.

atarikurt

07-12-2010, 09:14 PM

Tonight there is supposed to be a huge lot of Transformers.....I will have to watch.

Clownzilla

07-12-2010, 09:28 PM

The show is scripted but the items and the general histories (not the rumor based histories) about the items are real. As a history fan I appreciate this show but a person has to watch it understanding that in the end it's still "reality" TV.

Ro-J

07-12-2010, 09:29 PM

I saw the that episode of Pawn Stars (I actually like the show) with the 2600 a couple months ago. From the games I saw I thought $100 was a fair price for a buyer to pay for the entire lot. Unfortunately they're re-sellers and $100 was probably a bad price for them to pay since they probably won't get much more than that in return if they can find a buyer, their profit won't be worth the price of the shelf space it'll sit on until it sells.

Of course they're professionals and know a lot about the type of customers they see. Who knows who might walk into their store? The right person feeling nostalgic with a pocket full of winnings may pony up $200 for the lot.

Bojay1997

07-12-2010, 09:48 PM

On today's episode, some Fred Durst-looking shitbag traded in a relatively tacky looking 4-switch Atari 2600, loose, with a box full of games, demanding 100 bucks for it and these ignorant suckers acted amazed that it actually worked (oh wow, like it's impossible to find a working atari!) and accepted his offer, though the value of the games was never determined, and as far as I know they were all common ones, like the activision boxing game which they played during the show. Now, this Pawn Stars show comes off acting very informed about everything they buy, but since they can't get the value of Atari down worth a damn, it gives me plenty of reason why you can't trust TV and its generally fuckass bullshit.

I disagree with you. I think they paid fair market value for that lot which consisted of a working system, controllers and probably 50 or so games. Is there a lot of room for profit after you factor in what they paid? Probably not, but as someone else pointed out, a pawn shop caters to a different customer than Ebay or message boards like this. If someone didn't use Ebay regularly, where else are they gonna go to get a 2600? Swap meets and garage sales are largely cleared out and thrifts rarely get stuff of that vintage anymore, particularly in areas like Vegas with a fairly migratory population.

Guess what? Reality TV is not really reality. It's scripted or coached entertainment. Yes, they prep those outside experts before they show up and provide an appraisal. Yes, Rick and the other cast members have access to the Internet and other sources to assist in their decision making. So what? People working in a pawn shop in the middle of nowhere have the Internet as well. It doesn't make the show any less entertaining or interesting. In fact the only thing I don't like about the show is when they try and do some type of gag or deliberately scripted comedy event because frankly, those guys aren't actors, they're pawn shop folks who just happen to be interesting on camera most of the time.

Manhattan Sports Club

07-12-2010, 09:56 PM

I disagree with you. I think they paid fair market value for that lot which consisted of a working system, controllers and probably 50 or so games. Is there a lot of room for profit after you factor in what they paid? Probably not, but as someone else pointed out, a pawn shop caters to a different customer than Ebay or message boards like this. If someone didn't use Ebay regularly, where else are they gonna go to get a 2600? Swap meets and garage sales are largely cleared out and thrifts rarely get stuff of that vintage anymore, particularly in areas like Vegas with a fairly migratory population.

Guess what? Reality TV is not really reality. It's scripted or coached entertainment. Yes, they prep those outside experts before they show up and provide an appraisal. Yes, Rick and the other cast members have access to the Internet and other sources to assist in their decision making. So what? People working in a pawn shop in the middle of nowhere have the Internet as well. It doesn't make the show any less entertaining or interesting. In fact the only thing I don't like about the show is when they try and do some type of gag or deliberately scripted comedy event because frankly, those guys aren't actors, they're pawn shop folks who just happen to be interesting on camera most of the time.

The only problem is that I live in Vegas and many game stores that still carry vintage games like Play N Trade and Gameworld, among others, always have a few Ataris laying around. They also were quite abundant at thrift stores like Savers before the collectors took notice and began nabbing them, but that's another story. Regardless, if you know where to look you can get them relatively cheap, as Play N Trade sells them with all the parts for as little as 20 dollars when they have them.

spongerob

07-12-2010, 09:59 PM

It doesn't make the show any less entertaining or interesting.

That's debatable.

Gameguy

07-12-2010, 10:01 PM

Enigmus

07-12-2010, 10:09 PM

You think they were bad with not knowing the value on Atari stuff? Take a look at what Antiques Roadshow appraised them at a few years ago. Supposedly a system is worth $100+ by itself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyUpT0g2KAE

Eh, I've never taken anything from WTTW 11 (my area's PBS) to be the truth or something reliable. They're public access, it's always a free for all on certain things there.

spongerob

07-12-2010, 10:16 PM

You think they were bad with not knowing the value on Atari stuff? Take a look at what Antiques Roadshow appraised them at a few years ago. Supposedly a system is worth $100+ by itself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyUpT0g2KAE

He was fairly accurate, give or take, up until he said that machine itself went for as much as 200 bucks. I've seen in box bundles with games for far less than that.

FxMercenary

07-12-2010, 10:30 PM

sixwayshot

07-12-2010, 10:31 PM

spongerob

07-12-2010, 10:41 PM

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc184/fxmercenary/you_mad.jpg

:roll:

No negative opinions allowed apparently.

Greg2600

07-12-2010, 10:58 PM

I watch Pawn Stars here and there, my father all the time. It's cool to see the old stuff people bring in. I don't care about what the stuff is worth, I'm interested in the background and history of it. That's why I love American Pickers, too. You see stuff you've never seen before. I also like that they don't go crazy with the BS "backstage" crap and phony arguments you get on American Chopper, a once good show that I now hate.

kupomogli

07-13-2010, 12:17 AM

One thing you need to take into account with Pawn Stars is that it's on the History Channel. The original pilot (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kh5BJ7N0PeQ&feature=related) was supposedly pitched to an HBO-type network. Since the show's on the History Channel, they have to focus on the people who bring in antiques or family heirlooms and the like.

Why is the History Channel showing crap like this regardless? I mean the term history is knowledge of historical records and there's always some truth behind it. Reality shows rarely have a shred of truth behind them.

Arkhan

07-13-2010, 12:46 AM

Pawn Stars is fake, specially when they took the Coke fridge and "remodeled" it, the guy just switched it out.

Also the episode with the comics is pretty embarassing, those weren't worth even 25 cents a piece.

Pawn shops are pretty clueless about anything that is not TV, jewelry and current video game systems.

edit: and stolen tools, lots and lots of stolen tools.

lolwat.

yeah you caught them. they just swap out all the restorations. -_-

there ARE people that seriously specialize in that stuff?

or do you think classic car restorations are just them swappin out 57 chevys from the back room?

lol

nhm

07-13-2010, 12:47 AM

Why is the History Channel showing crap like this regardless? I mean the term history is knowledge of historical records and there's always some truth behind it. Reality shows rarely have a shred of truth behind them.

Have you watched it? They deal with MOSTLY historical type items on the show.

Tupin

07-13-2010, 12:56 AM

Pawn Stars and American Pickers are better than watching the same 2012 and Nostradamus shows they air 24/7 since they don't want to air Modern Marvels anymore.

Push Upstairs

07-13-2010, 07:47 AM

No more "Modern Marvels"?

Bastards.

Clownzilla

07-13-2010, 10:33 AM

Pawn Stars and American Pickers are better than watching the same 2012 and Nostradamus shows they air 24/7 since they don't want to air Modern Marvels anymore.

Admit it, there are a lot of people (like myself) that have a guilty pleasue in watching those "End Of The World Shows". Some of the drama and "over the top" predictions are kind of fun to watch.

garagesaleking!!

07-13-2010, 10:39 AM

I have seen several people mention why dont they know ebay. They do. Their ebat store is very active and I think they have like 20,000 feedback. They also sell autographed merchandise to make even more money.

BetaWolf47

07-13-2010, 11:17 AM

Not sure about you folks, but ah love watchin' me some pawn stahz, 'specially at night!

Eduardo

07-13-2010, 11:19 AM

Have you watched it? They deal with MOSTLY historical type items on the show.

Reality shows are always hot and way cheaper to produce than a reenactment of the battle of gettysburg. It's a number game. TLC hit it huge with Jon and Kate and that has nothing to do with learning.

Enigmus

07-13-2010, 12:12 PM

Reality shows are always hot and way cheaper to produce than a reenactment of the battle of gettysburg. It's a number game. TLC hit it huge with Jon and Kate and that has nothing to do with learning.

Yeah, TLC is not about learning, it's about fertile tattooed pageant parents who enjoy baking.

jb143

07-13-2010, 12:45 PM

Have you watched it? They deal with MOSTLY historical type items on the show.

I would like to see someone try to pawn off an "authentic" piece of a Roswell crash alien spacecraft. Then it would fit in with some of the other shows on the channel.

spongerob

07-13-2010, 02:41 PM

I get the items on Pawn Stars are a tad on the historical side sometimes but that's just reaching. That's like putting a car show on the food network just because once in awhile someone who owns it eats a cheeseburger at a drive thru. Just look at the ads. The entire tone basically pisses on the concept of history and sells it as a pawn shop reality show with some gimmicky characters.

ryborg

07-13-2010, 02:52 PM

This thread is dumb as hell. Who gives a shit what channel a show is on? Oh no, my precious learning channel! What have they done with Sci-Fi!?!?!? They're corrupting the system with their profiting! A good show is a good show on any channel, and in this era of DVD box-sets, hulu, DVRs, downloadable episodes online (legal and not), the actual channel itself could not possibly matter less.

Rob2600

07-13-2010, 02:53 PM

TLC is not about learning

Likewise, MTV and VH1 are not about music videos and SyFy has resorted to showing pro wrestling.

spongerob

07-13-2010, 03:08 PM

nectarsis

07-13-2010, 03:13 PM

lolwat.

yeah you caught them. they just swap out all the restorations. -_-

there ARE people that seriously specialize in that stuff?

or do you think classic car restorations are just them swappin out 57 chevys from the back room?

lol

Except somepf their "experts/restorers" are so full of shit it's not funny. Check the episode where they had an Indian mini bike restored. The "expert" was full of crap from the word go.

Eduardo

07-13-2010, 03:36 PM

lolwat.

yeah you caught them. they just swap out all the restorations. -_-

there ARE people that seriously specialize in that stuff?

or do you think classic car restorations are just them swappin out 57 chevys from the back room?

lol

Let me be specific then. The coke machine they swapped it out. It wasn't the same one he brought in.

Enigmus

07-13-2010, 03:43 PM

Likewise, MTV and VH1 are not about music videos and SyFy has resorted to showing pro wrestling.

TV in general has become garbage. TV is just one big usage of the "Network Decay" trope.

blue lander

07-13-2010, 03:56 PM

On today's episode, some Fred Durst-looking shitbag

I like Pawn Stars, but there's definitely a preponderance of fat Fred Durst looking shitbags on the show. Is that just the style out there?

Gentlegamer

07-13-2010, 04:15 PM

Why is the History Channel showing crap like this regardless? Yeah! What do pawn shops have to do with HITLER?

Kyle15

07-13-2010, 04:23 PM

Let me be specific then. The coke machine they swapped it out. It wasn't the same one he brought in.

Where is your source? ;)

Eduardo

07-13-2010, 04:41 PM

Where is your source? ;)

well Im a coke machine aficionado, just like you can tell a repro cart from an original I can tell

I dont know if i can link the episode here but its on youtube. Season 1 Episode 8. Look at the machine the guy brings in and look at the one he takes out. The Logo is indented on the metal, unless the guy as the original factory plate to change the logo on the machine and the actual machine to press metal and somehow could hammer out the old logo without leaving marks. It's impossible that it's the same machine. It's not even the same mechanism they are not compatible. I feel you are trolling me.

Heres the best explanation Ive found by BassPlayer at the DBSTalk forum:

If you look at the before and after/side by side photo they showed you can clearly see the radii of the corners are not even close.
The old rusty machine had large curves while the "refurbed" one had a small arc. So they couldn't have just switched doors. The machines are clearly different. (Yes I DVRed thge show)

There is no way the inside area of the original machine could hold the #72 mechanism they displayed in the final machine. The original box on the show originally used a #48 mechanism that featured four vertical staggered double troughs. 12 Bottles per trough. The feed in the "new" machine uses 9 inclined feeds of 12 bottles per feed and is a wider assembly.

And look at the Coca-Cola name on the front. That is a raised logo that was cast/embossed when the door was made. That is what makes it a Coke Machine and that's not something you would just grind away.
While the "new" machine does have its own raised Coca-Cola logo, it is smaller and in a different location. That's just not something you can add to an existing door.

The door on the original machine Rick H bought was actually in fairly decent condition. It was certainly restorable. AND it is a rather rare and desirable machine. Certainly worth a pretty penny to a collector. Much more than the one Rick H ended up with. The box however was toast. Besides the bullet holes there was considerable crush damage to the left rear of the machine. What I suspect is that Rick's Restoration simply gave them a credit for the door and then sold Rick H another machine. The original red door we saw, will probably be restored to its original Red glory and then inherit a reproduction changer and then be grafted onto an appropriatly sized box (from those we could see in the Rick's R graveyard). After being fitted with a repro/restored #48 bottle drop mechanism it can then be sold for a much higher price than Rick H will get for his Red & White 9 Flavor machine.

It is not the same machine.

MASTERWEEDO

07-13-2010, 04:51 PM

Where is your source? ;)

http://community.history.com/topic/7447/t/The-final-Coke-machine-thread.html

Basically

The machine rick brought in was a vendo (2 louvers on the sides)

The machine that was "restored" was a Cavalier (Multiple louvers on the side)

Watch the Youtube or it on TIVO... Went in with two louvers (Vendo), came out with multiple (Cavalier)

Bojay1997

07-13-2010, 04:51 PM

^And when they sell out like that we're naturally going to point it out. I don't dig the "meh" shoulder shrugging defeatist attitude. If they were showing quality shows that'd be one thing but these shows are designed mostly to appeal to the drool cup generation.

Sell out? What are you even talking about? History and its affiliated cable networks are not public broadcasters and they don't take government grants or money from donations. They are for profit broadcasters just like any other television network. All of their revenues come from advertising which is dependent on ratings. If you don't like a particular show or channel, there are literally hundreds more to choose from as well as other media and entertainment sources. In the end, nobody is forcing you or anyone else to watch.

Bojay1997

07-13-2010, 04:53 PM

http://community.history.com/topic/7447/t/The-final-Coke-machine-thread.html

I watch Pawn Stars occasionally and my dad watches religiously and loves it. Having said that, I don't think there is any other explanation but that they swapped out the machines. It bothered me a little when I found out, but then I remembered that it's just "reality" TV and doesn't necessarily stick to news guidelines for accuracy or truth.

Eduardo

07-13-2010, 05:04 PM

You can clearly tell they are different machines.

http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/9204/pawnstarcokelies.jpg

your eyes can be your source.

jb143

07-13-2010, 05:10 PM

I have not seen the episode in question but is it possible this was just something done in editing? I see things like that happen all the time on TV. In movies they even pay people to catch goofs like this but it still happens.

Eduardo

07-13-2010, 05:26 PM

You need to see the episode. Rick restorer goes into great detail about what he did to the machine and its all lies. Lies I tell you!

Kyle15

07-13-2010, 05:31 PM

well Im a coke machine aficionado, just like you can tell a repro cart from an original I can tell

I dont know if i can link the episode here but its on youtube. Season 1 Episode 8. Look at the machine the guy brings in and look at the one he takes out. The Logo is indented on the metal, unless the guy as the original factory plate to change the logo on the machine and the actual machine to press metal and somehow could hammer out the old logo without leaving marks. It's impossible that it's the same machine. It's not even the same mechanism they are not compatible. I feel you are trolling me.

Heres the best explanation Ive found by BassPlayer at the DBSTalk forum:

It is not the same machine.

No, I'm trolling. (Just a bit of sarcasm for good measure is all.)

However, an explanation like that would have been entirely fine the first time you posted. Detail helps, you know? :D

http://community.history.com/topic/7447/t/The-final-Coke-machine-thread.html

Basically

Wow. I know its been a while since I saw this episode, but those obvious differences from photos alone somehow eluded me.
Correction taken.

Eduardo

07-13-2010, 05:37 PM

No, I'm trolling. (Just a bit of sarcasm for good measure is all.)

However, an explanation like that would have been entirely fine the first time you posted. Detail helps, you know? :D

Wow. I know its been a while since I saw this episode, but those obvious differences from photos alone somehow eluded me.
Correction taken.

I know I should given out more details but so much mumbo jumbo that wouldn't mean a lot to anyone who's not into machines. A picture would've been pretty explanatory.

spongerob

07-13-2010, 06:24 PM

I like Pawn Stars, but there's definitely a preponderance of fat Fred Durst looking shitbags on the show. Is that just the style out there?

Probably just the type of people they only put on the show or maybe even get to dress that way. Who knows, but they may be trying to get us to hate them. Hating reality TV or certain aspects of it makes most people watch it more, as odd as that sounds.

Sell out? What are you even talking about? History and its affiliated cable networks are not public broadcasters and they don't take government grants or money from donations. They are for profit broadcasters just like any other television network. All of their revenues come from advertising which is dependent on ratings. If you don't like a particular show or channel, there are literally hundreds more to choose from as well as other media and entertainment sources. In the end, nobody is forcing you or anyone else to watch.

Yeah cool I get the "they're trying to make money" schtick. Just like they're free to air whatever they feel like, I'm free to point out that they abandoned the name in favor of whatever works. I just find it a little humorous that they haven't just changed their name to Theatrical and Rehearsed Drama TV. It'd make an accurate acronym.

To me when you are, say, the learning channel and for years you attempt to genuinely teach people, and you find your ratings aren't high enough so you just get desperate and throw on whatever people will watch, I'll point out the inaccuracies of your name. When you basically whore out, you open yourself up to attacks from the public. It's not like they even slightly attempted to make their educational programming watchable, which would've been a little more admirable had they tried that before overdosing on phony reality television.

TV just sucks, that's all there is to it. More and more in this era TV is treated as a relaxant or an opiate. Hard day at work? Plunk your ass down on the TV and "just watch". We don't even really care what's on anymore, we just watch to unwind and forget the workday and then go to sleep, only to rinse and repeat. It's not so much a "I really like ___ and want to see ___" line of shows on TV anymore unless you have HBO. Which is why garbage like this is on the air. People don't give two shits about quality or actual reality, they just want to be entertained. People just want keys jingled over their heads.

jb143

07-13-2010, 06:37 PM

To me when you are, say, the learning channel and for years you attempt to genuinely teach people, and you find your ratings aren't high enough so you just get desperate and throw on whatever people will watch, I'll point out the inaccuracies of your name.

Which is why they are no longer The Learning Channel. Now they are just TLC which I guess doesn't stand for anything anymore.

TheDomesticInstitution

07-13-2010, 06:40 PM

lolwat.

yeah you caught them. they just swap out all the restorations. -_-

there ARE people that seriously specialize in that stuff?

or do you think classic car restorations are just them swappin out 57 chevys from the back room?

lol

If you search for "Pawn Stars coke machine switch out" you'll find a lot of other people are talking about it too. It's a specific incident where a coke machine was supposedly restored and it was seen to be a completely different machine.

Here's a description. (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=163205)

EDIT: Oops I didn't read the rest of the thread before posting.

spongerob

07-13-2010, 06:42 PM

Which is why they are no longer The Learning Channel. Now they are just TLC which I guess doesn't stand for anything anymore.

lol got that right

shove it, learning!

Greg2600

07-13-2010, 06:44 PM

Same reason Headline News is now HLN.

gameofyou

07-13-2010, 07:04 PM

I've watched Pawn Stars from the beginning. Great show. And no, they are not experts on everything. There have been many occasions when they overpaid, or accidently bought a fake.

Famidrive-16

07-13-2010, 07:17 PM

You think they were bad with not knowing the value on Atari stuff? Take a look at what Antiques Roadshow appraised them at a few years ago. Supposedly a system is worth $100+ by itself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyUpT0g2KAE

lol, AR appraises video games now?

Must be new, I went with my mom in 95-96 to one of their appraisals and they had a list of things they wouldn't appraise, video games being one of them. It really sucked too, we had to stand in a line for like eight hours and the only result we got was basically "uuuhhh hmmmmm i dunno"

Kyle15

07-13-2010, 07:35 PM

I know I should given out more details but so much mumbo jumbo that wouldn't mean a lot to anyone who's not into machines. A picture would've been pretty explanatory.

Well hey, the more you know! :)

I love learning about stuff like this. Its better to be educated on many fronts than just a few.

Arkhan

07-13-2010, 09:24 PM

Let me be specific then. The coke machine they swapped it out. It wasn't the same one he brought in.

Ill give you that, the coke one looks swapped (I didnt see that one), but alot of the other restorations, you can totally tell aren't swap outs. like that old ass space capsule looking jukebox. That one was pretty bad ass.

as for the experts, I dunno. I dont pretend to be an expert in any of the shit they have dudes come on there to be experts about....

but Nectarsis, are you an Indian bike expert or something? Seriously, I'd like to know what makes the guy full of shit (Never saw that episode either)... because right now its just "expert on TV show" VS "guy on forum". so, color me curious.

SuperGamecube64

07-13-2010, 09:29 PM

While I enjoy watching Pawn Stars, those guys are the most terrible actors ever, and it is extremely apparant that a good 70% of the show is scripted.

Enigmus

07-13-2010, 09:34 PM

Does anyone think that this thread has strayed far enough from the whole "video game system gets priced way too high by supposed professionals" point that it needs to be moved to Off-Topic?

LaughingMAN.S9

07-13-2010, 09:37 PM

Let me be specific then. The coke machine they swapped it out. It wasn't the same one he brought in.

i saw the episode but its been a while, but if im not mistaken, wasnt that the episode where the guy who does the restoring said it wouldnt really be worth fixing to the original specs because it would cost too much and eat into his bottom line so he suggested they do a coke machine conversion to another cheaper model??? i.e. the one in the "after" picture?

Eduardo

07-13-2010, 09:37 PM

Ill give you that, the coke one looks swapped (I didnt see that one), but alot of the other restorations, you can totally tell aren't swap outs. like that old ass space capsule looking jukebox. That one was pretty bad ass.

as for the experts, I dunno. I dont pretend to be an expert in any of the shit they have dudes come on there to be experts about....

but Nectarsis, are you an Indian bike expert or something? Seriously, I'd like to know what makes the guy full of shit (Never saw that episode either)... because right now its just "expert on TV show" VS "guy on forum". so, color me curious.

Also their time frames are total BS, there's no way to do that ammount of work in one week like they sometimes say.

Arkhan

07-13-2010, 09:43 PM

Also their time frames are total BS, there's no way to do that ammount of work in one week like they sometimes say.

On what grounds? If you're getting paid by a big TV company to haul ass and restore some coffee grinder, or a juke box, I'd say the rest of the shit you have to work on can wait and you'd focus on that, lol.

Eduardo

07-13-2010, 10:02 PM

On what grounds? If you're getting paid by a big TV company to haul ass and restore some coffee grinder, or a juke box, I'd say the rest of the shit you have to work on can wait and you'd focus on that, lol.

Coffee grounds?

nectarsis

07-13-2010, 10:03 PM

as for the experts, I dunno. I dont pretend to be an expert in any of the shit they have dudes come on there to be experts about....

but Nectarsis, are you an Indian bike expert or something? Seriously, I'd like to know what makes the guy full of shit (Never saw that episode either)... because right now its just "expert on TV show" VS "guy on forum". so, color me curious.

http://www.oldminibikes.com/forum/general-minibike-talk/24259-pawn-stars-viewers.html

http://www.oldminibikes.com/forum/tags/pawn.html

http://www.oldminibikes.com/forum/general-minibike-talk/31513-rokon-2-wd.html

http://www.oldminibikes.com/forum/general-minibike-talk/24255-1500-pos-indian.html

The collective knowledge here is pretty massive. Even a few peeps that used to work for various mini bike companies bitd (Indian included).

On what grounds? If you're getting paid by a big TV company to haul ass and restore some coffee grinder, or a juke box, I'd say the rest of the shit you have to work on can wait and you'd focus on that, lol.

That would also many times require a rush job/cutting corners. Sure a lot of the "restore" jobs can be done fast, but hardly all in the limited time frames. Add the fact that many restorations aren't done "correctly" and can actually damage the value of an item. Ridiculous claims at cost of the restore, or the value when done is common on the show.

Eduardo

07-13-2010, 10:06 PM

I'm starting to think that Arkhan may be Chum Lee...

Enigmus

07-13-2010, 10:08 PM

I'm starting to think that Arkhan may be Chum Lee...

Also, I find it hard to believe he's a relative of theirs, due to his nonexistent appearance in the pilot and various other pre-show videos on the internet. Nevertheless, plus one.

Arkhan

07-13-2010, 10:23 PM

http://www.oldminibikes.com/forum/general-minibike-talk/24259-pawn-stars-viewers.html

http://www.oldminibikes.com/forum/tags/pawn.html

http://www.oldminibikes.com/forum/general-minibike-talk/31513-rokon-2-wd.html

http://www.oldminibikes.com/forum/general-minibike-talk/24255-1500-pos-indian.html

The collective knowledge here is pretty massive. Even a few peeps that used to work for various mini bike companies bitd (Indian included).

Oh, good to know. :D. I don't really have too much interest in most of the "expert required" stuff on the show. So if other people are like lolwtf, then the expert probably is full of it.

That would also many times require a rush job/cutting corners. Sure a lot of the "restore" jobs can be done fast, but hardly all in the limited time frames. Add the fact that many restorations aren't done "correctly" and can actually damage the value of an item. Ridiculous claims at cost of the restore, or the value when done is common on the show.
Maybe, but not always. If you dedicate your whole work day to that one specific job, it's probably possible. Maybe they round down to the nearest week, and maybe he works for 12-15 hrs a day on the crap. The stuff looks pretty good usually.

I'm starting to think that Arkhan may be Chum Lee...

Why? Because I was curious what made one of the guys called in as an expert full of shit? Asking why doesn't make a person stupid. I really wanted to know, and now I do.

nor does figuring strings were pulled to speed up the restoration of the shows items, as opposed to some random customer. Kinda like how celebrities get special treatment places.

sheesh.