Paying more than is asked. - American Pickers (2010) Discussion

[–] Gubbio 8 years ago

I've seen Mike do this a lot.

I think he does it as "good will" to try get people to believe that they aren't ripping people off.

Assuming they make money by reselling this junk, he knows what things are worth and what he can get for it, so giving people a little more makes him look like a "good guy."

I happen to believe that their main income is from the show itself, not from what they sell.

If reselling this stuff was their actual "bread and butter," I doubt they'd be so generous.

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[–] intrepidami 8 years ago

He makes $50k an episode...he can afford to give somebody $50 extra

They are not that generous and pull the I'll pay you more..about once every 5th episode..once.

I'm watching an episode on a marathon right now and Frank just paid $15 more for a tin dog, and then imeadiatly went for the woman's juggler on the next three buys..buying wind ups MIB worth $200+ and getting them now for $50 and $60 because he paid more on a cheap toy. And this is just the buys they show on TV. But in this same episode, same person all of a sudden an incredible deal went down, they bought all the old dead stock out of a early pharmacy, paid $500 and valued it at $1000..shaaa yeah..right! try at least $10,000!!!!!

All evolved out of cute little Frankie paying $15 extra for something.

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[–] PenTheater 8 years ago

What are your thoughts on tipping?

Ephemeron.

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[–] ewd76-944-910685 8 years ago

No problem with tipping for a service well done.

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[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] hammerbutt 8 years ago

It makes the people believe he's honest so later on when he tells them a $5000 item retails for $1200 they believe him

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[–] rmontro 8 years ago

I could see them wanting to be fair and pay a little more if they think the seller doesn't know the real value of the item. Shoot, they get accused of ripping people off enough now. Imagine if they really started to take advantage of people, they'd be drummed off of TV.

I could also see it being used as a technique to get their guard down. Let them think "Well, they are being fair with me, so the numbers they throw out must be good".

I used to watch Hardcore Pawn (terrible show), and Les the pawn broker would do this from time to time. Except with him, it would go more like this:

Seller: "This guitar is probably worth about $1500 retail. I would like to get $750 of it".
Les: "I can give you $750" (shakes on it, leaves and checks the value of the guitar).
"Turns out it's worth $60,000. I'll give you $755". :)

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[–] intrepidami 8 years ago

like i said, simply watch the episode where Frank generously pays $15 more than asked for a tin dog, and then starts setting the prices on old toys Still in their boxes, this after much discussion about the toys being too played with..and the woman is now saying ..sure..each time he throws out a price.

I'm sure many toy dealers would chime in that they'd have payed at least double what Frank was getting away with after saying he'd pay more.

It's a bait and switch, pure and simple.

The getting things fixed and then buyers just showing up virtually the very next day con they show on air constantly is also getting to be a drag.

The guys these shows use to refurbish things are all trying to get their own rehab show on TV, Like American Restoration that doesn't restore things, they actually re-purpose things.

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[–] bsowles 8 years ago

Part of it may be to offset the constant low-ball offers from the little, heavy guy. Since he's obviously new to the game, what he offers is usually far less than what the Mike dude would offer. The little guy could pinch a quarter until the eagle screams.

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[–] wesperkins 8 years ago

I've always assumed it was to get good will like others have said, and bc this is on TV, if the sellers see how much they got ripped off, they would complain. I have wondered if they knew a particular pick wasn't going to be aired if they still would do this. And I have noticed it's only Mike who does this, except for the time one of the posters mentioned earlier. But whether you think it's genuine or purely for their own purposes, it's a smart move to have them do this every now and then to make them seem fair.

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[–] bsowles 8 years ago

So much of this stuff is staged, so you never know anymore what's natural and what has been "artificially stimulated", to be nice about it.

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[–] Dovebelle 8 years ago

Is the negotiation staged?

My understanding is that the opening bid is usually for something on the smaller side, to get the seller used to selling something. More than once you see a hoarder who can't part with anything, even something covered with dirt and grime that's been up in an attic, unseen, for 20 years.

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[–] intrepidami 8 years ago

on this show? where we now know so much is faked? sort of based on real peoples antique acquiring. Where everything is lined up and negotiated months ahead of time? of course it's all staged.

Do the things they portray in this drama actually happen? Yes I was just in house where nothing I wanted was supposedly for sale until I'd made what the guy thought were great offers. After a few of those, they started showing m things and accepting every offer.

They often say "that's not for sale" and you say "not even for $100" and they can't shake your hand fast enough.

The most common excuse for not wanting to sell stuff is "we're saving that for our kids" and 98% of the time the kids don't want it. The millennial generation has ZERO regard for this stuff. Unless they're looking at it for selling themselves. As far as owning it for a cherished family heirloom? No!

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[–] intrepidami 8 years ago

on this show? where we now know so much is faked? sort of based on real peoples antique acquiring. Where everything is lined up and negotiated months ahead of time? of course it's all staged.

Do the things they portray in this drama actually happen? Yes I was just in house where nothing I wanted was supposedly for sale until I'd made what the guy thought were great offers. After a few of those, they started showing m things and accepting every offer.

They often say "that's not for sale" and you say "not even for $100" and they can't shake your hand fast enough.

The most common excuse for not wanting to sell stuff is "we're saving that for our kids" and 98% of the time the kids don't want it. The millennial generation has ZERO regard for this stuff. Unless they're looking at it for selling themselves. As far as owning it for a cherished family heirloom? No!

One thing that can backfire on you is "the over offer" when they think its a few dollars and you offer $100 and suddenly its not for sale anymore if its worth that much. That happens a lot! I've never seen them show it though.

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[–] intrepidami 8 years ago

yes

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[–] TandyMan (11098) a year ago

It's a text book haggling move. It makes the mark think you're fair and trustworthy. When you later start highballing them, they'll trust and believe you. Couple this with your knowledge on the subject matter and the mark will be putty in your hands. If anybody ever does that to you, immediately be on your guard and disregard everything they say. But basically you pay an extra 50 up front to save a grand on the back end. You'll notice some of the more wiley old timers don't play with that nonsense. You can actually see Mike get visibly frustrated about it.

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