Pawn Stars

Quote: AZDuffman

Also, lets remember this is a shop on Las Vegas Blvd. If anyplace in the USA is a magnet for the unusual, good or bad, that is it.

Now, even more so.

I've never pawned or sold anything in a pawn shop.

However, this summer, I'm gonna pick thru some of the stuff in my basement with the intention of finding something to bring THERE when I visit Vegas in September.

Since Vegas is such a vacation destination, I'm sure lots of people are doing just that, making it easier to find items and footage that makes good TV.

Quote: DJTeddyBear

Quote: AZDuffman

Also, lets remember this is a shop on Las Vegas Blvd. If anyplace in the USA is a magnet for the unusual, good or bad, that is it.

Now, even more so.

I've never pawned or sold anything in a pawn shop.

However, this summer, I'm gonna pick thru some of the stuff in my basement with the intention of finding something to bring THERE when I visit Vegas in September.

Since Vegas is such a vacation destination, I'm sure lots of people are doing just that, making it easier to find items and footage that makes good TV.

Youtube Pawn Stars first, they have a few vidoes there with helpful hints. You don't want Chumlee to get the best of you on TV.

Oh, and if you see Peaches there, give her my number :-)

Quote: AZDuffman

BTW: Chumlee is not his real name. I think they said it is Aurthur?

Chumlee is Austin "Chumlee" Russell, or so says the font of all knowledge Wikipedia

I went to the "Pawn Stars" pawn shop today. I wasn't planning to, but I was sent to Development Services office to get a signature for a business permit, and lo and behold, it was right across the street from the Pawn Stars shop.

The store is located at the intersection of Las Vegas Blvd and Gass, roughly half way between the Stratosphere and downtown, on the northbound side of the street. There were a lot of fans milling around outside the building taking pictures. Outside the door were ropes for standing in line to get in, but fortunately there was no line at about 2:30 on a Thursday afternoon, so I walked right in.

Immediately you notice the place seems smaller than it does on TV. This is a small pawn shop, the kind the deal mostly in watches and jewelry. There was not a lot of musical instruments and electronic equipment, things often seen in larger pawn shops. The place was filled with fans milling around. From the show you might expect to see Rick, the "old man", his son (I forgot the name), and Chumlee going about their business. The only one of them I saw was Chumlee, in the back of the store posing for pictures and signing autographs. I didn't plan to go there, so I unfortunately didn't have my camera with me. He seemed very friendly and happy to be a sudden celebrity.

It isn't that the rest of the store is unmanned, there were several young guys in black shirts assisting customers. There was also a big Hawaiian looking guy at the front door, probably for crowd control. Two things from the show I saw in the showcases were Superbowl ring, priced at $100,000, and the South Pole maker, priced at $5,000. There were some Atmos clocks on the wall. I've always wanted one, and inquired about the price. They ranged from $1,900 to $2,500. I'm tempted. The black shirt guy who helped me said he could help me on the price if I come back.

The show itself must have either been done before the store became a tourist magnet, or they clear out the gawkers on taping days. If you're a fan of the show, and are in the vicinity anyway, by all means, check it out. You'll probably get a picture with Chumlee, and they sell t-shirts too. It wouldn't surprise me if there is a line to get in on weekends.

Damn it, gonna have to go now. Im a sucker for a souvenir T-Shirt.

went there last year right after the series started if for nothing else to see the super bowl ring and the world championship boxing title belt. cool stuff. ms nap bought a ring then. took my friends back in august. he returned in december to find them closed for tv taping, but they were selling shirts in the parking lot.

i wouldn't sell anything to them if you want to get a good price. maybe you could get a good deal if you buy something, but know how to value what you are buying. i've seen i few things which i think is a good deal imho.

i think too many people sell their items too cheap as the shop has to make their margin. the guy who sold the shelby cobra body was nuts! it was an original shelby cobra! i wouldn't let that out of my hands at any price!

:)

Saw last night's episode, Rick really screwed up on that Austin-Healey. Anyone knows those things are mechanical nightmares. Ever hear the joke why don't the British make PCs? Because they can't get them to leak oil.

But my thought is are they nuts showing all that cash all the time? Stacks of big bills. Doesn't this tempt a crew of 4-5 guys (Ocean's 5?) to rob the store? Say 1 leader, 2 for crowd control and 2 to fill bags with cash and jewels? In and out in 90 seconds then dissapear into the city streets?

I'm not saying, I'm just saying.

Has anyone else thought this is giving the bad the idea to wait for Antwon's day off and try it?

You really think they have all that cash, just laying around in a Tupperware container, unguarded?

Sure, they DO have that kind of cash on hand, but it's locked up. They just brougth it out for the cameras.

There's a LOT of stuff that's staged for that show.

And on Antwon's day off, big bad Bubba takes over (or some other intimidating sounding character...)

Quote: DJTeddyBear

You really think they have all that cash, just laying around in a Tupperware container, unguarded?

Sure, they DO have that kind of cash on hand, but it's locked up. They just brougth it out for the cameras.

There's a LOT of stuff that's staged for that show.

And on Antwon's day off, big bad Bubba takes over (or some other intimidating sounding character...)

A good point, but I still think they are crazy to show it off for the simple reason plenty of folks who would do harm don't realize it is staged.

On another point, is it just me or do people seem to be a little more reasonable in what they are asking for things knowing the "auction price" isn't the "pawn shop buy" price?

Quote: AZDuffman

On another point, is it just me or do people seem to be a little more reasonable in what they are asking for things knowing the "auction price" isn't the "pawn shop buy" price?

I thought it was the opposite. People seem to *think* they are being reasonable by asking for a price that's less than the asking price. So what if it's only about 10% less. They think they can expect to get nearly the full appraised value!