O.K. - "Pawn Stars" - What do you think???

"oly" wrote in message
...
On Aug 22, 1:58 pm, Reid Goldsborough
wrote:
On 8/22/2010 3:10 PM, oly wrote:

IMHO, the practical experience of working in a Pawn Shop for over
twenty years could very well offset the apparent lack of diploma-like
credentials from some institution of higher learning.

He really worked in a Pawn Shop for all this time? I guess that's some
kind of more proper pawn shop, a noun of a different case. From you
postings I can also see how you would say that this is the equivalent of
a college degree in art history, archeology, or a similar topic, an
offset to this. Perhaps he could get a college degree for such
salt-of-the-earth real-world experience then use it to teach in a
college setting, setting straight those elitist ivory tower snobs and
know-it-alls with their vacuous book learnin' and field research.

--

Consumer:http://rg.ancients.info/guide
Connoisseur:http://rg.ancients.info/glom
Counterfeit:http://rg.ancients.info/bogos

Pretty weak there, even by Reed "standards". Mr. Harrison could
possibly have excellent academic credentials, but he doesn't wear them
on his sleeve (like some people). He is apparently a very successful
businessman (unlike some people).

BTW, what are your formal academic credentials, there, Gainsburger?

oly
******************

I wouldn't be surprised if Rick was pulling in more income than most English
Lit majors with Doctorate degrees, even without the TV deal and maybe even a
high school education. Looks like he has more fun, too, without six figures
remaining on his school loan.

The way his restoration experts butcher some of the rusty hulks he buys in
the name of "restoration", I'm surprised he doesn't polish all the old coins
he takes in. His "restored" vending machines, juke boxes, gasoline pumps,
old cars, etc. would make any serious collector of these items gag.

"oly" wrote in message
...
On Aug 22, 5:55 pm, "Bremick" wrote:
"Reid Goldsborough" wrote in message

...

On 8/22/2010 2:17 PM, oly wrote:

It's frequently contrived

I can't watch it for this reason. It's a typical unreal reality show,
largely faked reality, scripted and heavily edited so that all realism
disappears. In this case, the guy who runs the shop often affects
knowledge of esoteric items that you know he couldn't possibly have. To
counter this fakery, he does call in experts about other items. Still,
the
overall quality of the show may be best summarized by a statement of one
of the pawn shop's customers, who professed knowledge of the
authenticity
of some medieval item she brought in because she saw similar items in
movies, a statement that elicited no response.

I think that's part of the attraction of the show-- seeing how stupid and
gullible some people can be about the value and authenticity of the items
they bring in, much of which they seem to "find" in their grandfather's
gtarage. That, along with the price they expect to get from a pawn shop.
In contrast, I also get a kick out of watching the Rick get a $7,000
appraisal by one of their experts and then offering the seller $750. It
sure beats watching "amateurs" sing and dance each week. Bring back Arthur
Godfrey and Ted Mack.

Ted Mack's Original Amateur Hour!!! Bring back the original "high
test" Milk of Magnesia. Great-Aunt Em lived 97 years thanks to the
stuff.
**************

Don't forget Geritol and Serutan ("Natures" spelled backwards!)

**************

When I was really young, I had a hard time distinguishing between
Arthur Godfrey, Ronald Reagan and my Great-Uncle Elmer. They all
looked the same to me, Ronald Reagan might have been a touch younger
looking than the other two.
************

When I was a kid and Arthur Godfrey was making his transition from radio to
TV, he was like the Walter Cronkite of his day. I don't recall your
great-uncle Elmer.

On Aug 22, 6:06*pm, "Bremick" wrote:
"oly" wrote in message

...
On Aug 22, 1:58 pm, Reid Goldsborough
wrote:





On 8/22/2010 3:10 PM, oly wrote:

IMHO, the practical experience of working in a Pawn Shop for over
twenty years could very well offset the apparent lack of diploma-like
credentials from some institution of higher learning.

He really worked in a Pawn Shop for all this time? I guess that's some
kind of more proper pawn shop, a noun of a different case. From you
postings I can also see how you would say that this is the equivalent of
a college degree in art history, archeology, or a similar topic, an
offset to this. Perhaps he could get a college degree for such
salt-of-the-earth real-world experience then use it to teach in a
college setting, setting straight those elitist ivory tower snobs and
know-it-alls with their vacuous book learnin' and field research.

--

Consumer:http://rg.ancients.info/guide
Connoisseur:http://rg.ancients.info/glom
Counterfeit:http://rg.ancients.info/bogos

Pretty weak there, even by Reed "standards". *Mr. Harrison could
possibly have excellent academic credentials, but he doesn't wear them
on his sleeve (like some people). *He is apparently a very successful
businessman (unlike some people).

BTW, what are your formal academic credentials, there, Gainsburger?

oly
******************

I wouldn't be surprised if Rick was pulling in more income than most English
Lit majors with Doctorate degrees, even without the TV deal and maybe even a
high school education. *Looks like he has more fun, too, without six figures
remaining on his school loan.

The way his restoration experts butcher some of the rusty hulks he buys in
the name of "restoration", I'm surprised he doesn't polish all the old coins
he takes in. *His "restored" vending machines, juke boxes, gasoline pumps,
old cars, etc. would make any serious collector of these items gag.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Based upon the deafening silence, does Reedie even have a legit
bachelor's degree???

Exactly how people feel about "working-on" stuff varies from hobby to
hobby. For instance, in military medals (rather similar to coins),
polishing is absolutely O.K.

If I don't know some genuine collectors in an area, people who've made
it clear to me what's the norm, it's difficult to say whether
restoration is good or no.

In coin collecting, cleaning is a blanket excuse for dealers not to
buy if that's how they feel at any given moment. However, we know
what happens all the time.

oly

"oly" wrote in message
...
On Aug 22, 5:45 pm, "Bremick" wrote:
"oly" wrote in message

...





Anybody watch "Pawn Stars"??? Rick Harrison, the Old Man, son Corey
and flunkey Chumley at their Pawn Shop in Las Vegas??? (Well,
actually, it doesn't belong to Chumley).

It's really one of the few TV shows (besides Wheel of Fortune) that my
wife and I can sit down and both enjoy.

It's frequently contrived (it has to be, it would take years and years
for all that good stuff to come in off-the-street, although you might
see most of it over one or two decades), and I think that the prices
paid tend to be difficult to believe - at least somewhat high, I would
guess. Probably slightly glorifies a hard-nosed and tough business.

Also, television shifting from the supposedly profitable "house-
flipping" to "guess what I just gotta pawn today" is a sign of the
times.

But still, a really good TV show.

Anybody have any insights???

oly

My wife and I and another couple stopped in there last October enroute to
St. George, UT for the Huntsman Senior Games. Hardly anyone in the place,
compared to what the scene looks like today in the latest episodes. The
only "regular" there at the time was the Old Man and he happily(?) posed
for
a photo with us. Then he left, hopped into his purple pickup truck and
drove away. The couple we were with bought a diamond ring and were quite
happy with it. Otherwise, most of the effort in the shop seemed to involve
the display and sale of Pawn Stars T-shirts.

I agree that the whole show seems contrived with people bringing items to
a
pawn shop that they could easily sell elsewhere for more with minimal
effort. Especially coins. I saw common date silver dollars in their
showcase for $25 apiece. I have to wonder what they paid for them. I
should have asked what they would offer. IMO, it is interesting and it's
the only reality-type show I come close to watching. I see too much
reality
every day without using the TV.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I can think of at least a half-dozen old timey coin dealers who fell
out of exactly the same mold as "Old Man". His wife or somebody got
him off some bad habits in just a nick of time. He's a gem.

There's nothing wrong with selling tee shirts, IMHO. It's fairly
honest and straight-forward.

Many sellers could get a lot more for the good stuff, especially by
bringing in a specialized auctioneer, but the sellers apparently
aren't the types who can plan much ahead. Gotta have cash today,
friend??? That's a service you're gonna pay for.

******************

If I had a Civil War Confederate pistol or a set of Educational notes and
had done enough research to know that, I would at least try a couple antique
dealers and coin shops before settling on a pawn shop. But who knows, maybe
these people did just that.

I didn't buy a T-shirt.

On Aug 22, 3:11*pm, oly wrote:


Pretty weak there, even by Reed "standards". *Mr. Harrison could
possibly have excellent academic credentials, but he doesn't wear them
on his sleeve (like some people). *He is apparently a very successful
businessman (unlike some people).


Rick mentioned he dropped out of high school in the tenth grade
because he was making $2,000 a week

----
Frank Provasek Rare Coins www.frankcoins.com
http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/frankcoins Texas Auction License
11259, Board member of Texas Coin Dealers Association,
Member TNA, ANA, PCGS, NGC, ICTA - Full Time Since 1991

On 8/22/2010 4:11 PM, oly wrote:
Mr. Harrison could
possibly have excellent academic credentials

This also is hilarious. Yes indeedy, he probably does have excellent
academic credentials. Isn't it obvious by how much knowledge he displays
on the show? But the word "excellent" here is highly subjective. I
suspect, from your posts, you'd consider this as having graduated from
high school. Or was graduated from, if you're a Miss Thistlebottom type,
though this passive construction is no longer considered the only
correct one now makes you look fuddyduddyish.

With your trying to hard to poke fun at me by misspelling both of my
names over and over, I know you're no Miss Thistlebottom and suspect
without a Google search you even know what this means. You're much more
of a Mr. Harrison, actually very much like him, come to think of it.
Just the type, in a general kind of way, from what I've seen of his TV
persona anyway.

But feel free to share your SAT scores, GPAs, degrees, academic honors,
and anything else you feel is of academic relevance, since you're asking
so vociferously about my academic background and suggesting I didn't
graduate from college. I did, with a bachelor and then a master degree.
But I don't regard what a person did in preparation for a career as
being the best indicator of that person's current proficiency or
expertise. Relevant background, yes, useful, mostly, necessary, not
necessarily, depending.

--

Consumer: http://rg.ancients.info/guide
Connoisseur: http://rg.ancients.info/glom
Counterfeit: http://rg.ancients.info/bogos

"oly" wrote in message
...
On Aug 22, 6:06 pm, "Bremick" wrote:
"oly" wrote in message

...
On Aug 22, 1:58 pm, Reid Goldsborough
wrote:





On 8/22/2010 3:10 PM, oly wrote:

IMHO, the practical experience of working in a Pawn Shop for over
twenty years could very well offset the apparent lack of diploma-like
credentials from some institution of higher learning.

He really worked in a Pawn Shop for all this time? I guess that's some
kind of more proper pawn shop, a noun of a different case. From you
postings I can also see how you would say that this is the equivalent of
a college degree in art history, archeology, or a similar topic, an
offset to this. Perhaps he could get a college degree for such
salt-of-the-earth real-world experience then use it to teach in a
college setting, setting straight those elitist ivory tower snobs and
know-it-alls with their vacuous book learnin' and field research.

--

Consumer:http://rg.ancients.info/guide
Connoisseur:http://rg.ancients.info/glom
Counterfeit:http://rg.ancients.info/bogos

Pretty weak there, even by Reed "standards". Mr. Harrison could
possibly have excellent academic credentials, but he doesn't wear them
on his sleeve (like some people). He is apparently a very successful
businessman (unlike some people).

BTW, what are your formal academic credentials, there, Gainsburger?

oly
******************

I wouldn't be surprised if Rick was pulling in more income than most
English
Lit majors with Doctorate degrees, even without the TV deal and maybe even
a
high school education. Looks like he has more fun, too, without six
figures
remaining on his school loan.

The way his restoration experts butcher some of the rusty hulks he buys in
the name of "restoration", I'm surprised he doesn't polish all the old
coins
he takes in. His "restored" vending machines, juke boxes, gasoline pumps,
old cars, etc. would make any serious collector of these items gag.- Hide
quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Based upon the deafening silence, does Reedie even have a legit
bachelor's degree???

Exactly how people feel about "working-on" stuff varies from hobby to
hobby. For instance, in military medals (rather similar to coins),
polishing is absolutely O.K.

If I don't know some genuine collectors in an area, people who've made
it clear to me what's the norm, it's difficult to say whether
restoration is good or no.
********

Some of the ones that amazed me were *******ized vending machine and gas
pump restorations that included pirated parts from various unrelated pieces
and original innards replaced with the restorer's interpretation of what
best filled the space. The results looked nice (almost TOO nice) and may
have brought a profit, but not likely from a collector. I suppose that's
the shop's bottom line anyway.

Another one was a 1960's Lincoln Continental that they sent out to be
restored. It came back with little authentic innards left, yet they
envisioned getting a price for it that a true and faithful restoration might
bring. Never heard the results.

*********

In coin collecting, cleaning is a blanket excuse for dealers not to
buy if that's how they feel at any given moment. However, we know
what happens all the time.

oly

On Aug 22, 2:22*pm, "Mr. Jaggers" wrote:

When is it on? *If that show airs opposite any of my favorite FoxNews shows,
I'll miss it.

James the Conservative


GASP!!! "It's the big one Elizabeth!" Fred Sanford

"Bremick" wrote in message
...

"oly" wrote in message
...
On Aug 22, 1:58 pm, Reid Goldsborough
wrote:
On 8/22/2010 3:10 PM, oly wrote:

IMHO, the practical experience of working in a Pawn Shop for over
twenty years could very well offset the apparent lack of diploma-like
credentials from some institution of higher learning.

He really worked in a Pawn Shop for all this time? I guess that's some
kind of more proper pawn shop, a noun of a different case. From you
postings I can also see how you would say that this is the equivalent of
a college degree in art history, archeology, or a similar topic, an
offset to this. Perhaps he could get a college degree for such
salt-of-the-earth real-world experience then use it to teach in a
college setting, setting straight those elitist ivory tower snobs and
know-it-alls with their vacuous book learnin' and field research.

--

Consumer:http://rg.ancients.info/guide
Connoisseur:http://rg.ancients.info/glom
Counterfeit:http://rg.ancients.info/bogos

Pretty weak there, even by Reed "standards". Mr. Harrison could
possibly have excellent academic credentials, but he doesn't wear them
on his sleeve (like some people). He is apparently a very successful
businessman (unlike some people).

BTW, what are your formal academic credentials, there, Gainsburger?

oly
******************

I wouldn't be surprised if Rick was pulling in more income than most
English Lit majors with Doctorate degrees, even without the TV deal and
maybe even a high school education. Looks like he has more fun, too,
without six figures remaining on his school loan.

The way his restoration experts butcher some of the rusty hulks he buys in
the name of "restoration", I'm surprised he doesn't polish all the old
coins he takes in. His "restored" vending machines, juke boxes, gasoline
pumps, old cars, etc. would make any serious collector of these items gag.

According to Wikipedia,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pawn_Stars

he was pulling down $2000 a week when he dropped out of 10th grade.

"oly" wrote in message
...
Anybody watch "Pawn Stars"??? Rick Harrison, the Old Man, son Corey
and flunkey Chumley at their Pawn Shop in Las Vegas??? (Well,
actually, it doesn't belong to Chumley).

One of the few programs that I enjoy watching. It is more like a
collectibles program with everything having a historical aspect--appropriate
for the History Channel.


It's really one of the few TV shows (besides Wheel of Fortune) that my
wife and I can sit down and both enjoy.

It's frequently contrived (it has to be, it would take years and years
for all that good stuff to come in off-the-street, although you might
see most of it over one or two decades), and I think that the prices
paid tend to be difficult to believe - at least somewhat high, I would
guess. Probably slightly glorifies a hard-nosed and tough business.

It has to be contrived. I can't imagine a company having a camera in the
parlking lot and asking every customer what they have to sell and how much
they want for it. The experts are pretty interesting also. Talking to a
friend the other night, he suggested that maybe the customers go to the
experts first with something to sell and the experts send them to the pawn
shop when that something is interesting. I can imagine the the experts'
businesses have been helped by the exposure they receive on this show.


Also, television shifting from the supposedly profitable "house-
flipping" to "guess what I just gotta pawn today" is a sign of the
times.

But still, a really good TV show.

Anybody have any insights???

It must be successful because a takeoff on it called "Hard Core Pawn" (about
a pawn shop in Detroit) debuted a week or so ago on the crime channel,
TruTV. The contrast is dramatic.


--
Richard
http://www.richlh.com
Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as
well dance