User reviews

Been a fan of the show since the first series. Corey and Rick seem good guys and good luck to them. I don't understand why Chumlee is some kind of hero in America. He isn't funny- and he pretends to be dumb like Paris Hilton (albeit with slightly more facial hair) but spoils the show. Would be better if Chum went- Rick and Corey would do the selling and the Old Man would complain in-between. Chum, the scripted story and constant laughing at stuff that isn't funny are the downsides to the show. Would be much better if the staff didn't pretend they were working and produced a show where they come out of the back for great items only...we know they don't work on the shop floor off camera and it's insulting that they still carry on the pretense after all these years. I have been to the shop - very poor touristy style attraction...not a pawn shop as such. Just cashing in on the T-Shirts and other low quality merchandise. Don't go to Vegas just to visit there - you'll regret it.

I have just recently gotten into Pawn Stars and I find it to be a great mix of entertainment and history lessons. The main draw for me is the simple give and take that goes on between the Pawn Store operators and the people who bring items in looking to make quick money. Clearly the biggest draw for this show is Rick, the pawn store owner. Although his dad (the old man) and his son (big hoss) are big parts of the show, it is Rick who makes this show interesting and worthwhile. I don't think that Hollywood could have scripted someone who could make a pawn store owner a truly likable and complex individual. Rick manages to show interest and respect to every person who brings in something for sale while managing to explain his position in understandable terms. The bottom line is that a pawn shop is a place for people in need of quick cash to sell just about anything, just at bargain basement prices. If someone wants to get maximum money for their goods they would have to do market research, team up with a reputable auction house, or go on ebay and roll the dice that someone may make a high enough bid. Otherwise, you can go for the easy money of a pawn shop (albeit much less money.)

A couple of final notes about the characters on the show, as I stated earlier Rick is far and away the star of the show and he is really what makes it watchable. His father doesn't contribute a whole lot other than some standard old man talk. His son (Big Hoss) is pretty much a waste of space and contributes nothing to the show unless you like to watch a very (very) large person walking around in Ed Hardy jeans acting like some kind of tough guy. He is a very simple person, clearly having missed many of the complexities of human nature possessed by his father. Finally, Chumlee is one of the most enjoyable characters ever to grace television, the large man-child with a good heart and a simple mind. All in all I would definitely recommend watching this show to anyone.

To comment on classicalsteve from Oakland, CA's post. The most important point was, as with ANY business situation. : Do your homework on current market values! I don't think in the case of Pawn stars that these guys necessarily make an offer based on what YOU think you should get for it, but rather, what they think or know they can get for the item. No different than any other wholesale to retail business.

Although there are similarities to antique roadshow, these guys are offering INSTANT CASH in most cases. When they are unsure of an items value, they bring in experts in their field, and they do it while the customer is there. It is funny when the expert says an item is worth 3000 retail and then the customer expects 3000. As Rick says over and over, I can't stay in business paying retail.

As to Steve's comments on collectibles; I don't think they are making 10x what an item is worth. Anyone that stupid to sell so cheaply deserves to get hammered in my opinion. If you are a collector, then you should be doing your own homework on channels to sell through, and there are plenty of them. If you feel your best option is to sell to a pawn broker, then what would you be expecting? Steve, I'd like to know in your opinion, what exactly the value of "culture" is, as you state in your post. They are pawn brokers. That's what the show is about. Your post suggests that the SELLERS of the items are not interested in the money, which is clearly not the case. Every single person is most interested in what they can get for their item. And I also don't agree with your assessment of "the poor seller at their mercy due to lack of knowledge." Knowledge is something that can be acquired, and sellers should obviously have acquired some concerning their items value before entering the arena of buying and selling. Also how could they tell the buyer what they intend to resell the item for when they really never KNOW what they're going to get. Market forces are constantly at work. Personally I think you paint a picture here that these guys are crooks, when in reality, this is business as usual. Buy low, sell high. You are clearly not a businessman. The interaction between the characters is highly entertaining, and somewhat informative as well.

Mike

I like reality shows about interesting people going about their daily routine especially when it too is interesting. This show revolves around a pawn shop in Las Vegas and there are apparently a lot of strange things that happen there so there are going to be some interesting things for people to want to sell. So we get to see during each episode some interesting stuff people bring in, some rare stuff, and some just plain strange things. You also get to see people haggle over price, people getting mad when they are told their stuff is not worth all that much money, and people get really happy as they find their stuff is worth a fortune. The show centers around a dad, his father and the son. It also has a guy called Chumlee who I just can not believe he is as stupid as he appears to be. All the guys are interesting, it is fun to watch when one of them buys something not worth anything and then the others pounce. The show is humorous to go along with seeing all the interesting things people bring in. Things that people have sold on the show include very rare coins, hot air balloons, numerous cars and a whole bunch of other stuff. Things they have not bought include a car that was obvious crap that the guy who was trying to sell it got ticked off when Rick (the dad) backed off after a person with mechanical experience looked at it. All in all a fun show to watch.

I personally love this show, it is interesting, there is cool facts, and unlike other pawn shows I have seen, these people are not really trying to rip people off. I like how they bring in experts to tell what the piece is and give a price. This shows me that they are not there to rip the person off. It is also interesting to learn the history of the items, for most of the items have historical background. Although they do have great things, I find it funny how much they advertise their sponsors within their show. Like they always have Subway and they explain in great detail what is contained within their sandwiches and why it is so good. Makes me laugh every time.

Very enjoyable show, I highly recommend it.

Love it! Basically, it's entertaining, but my family always learns something. Regarding the comments about motive, everyone and anyone on the show is in it for a buck, including those selling items. As for what's on the show and it being hand-picked. Of course it is. No, we don't want to see the everyday stuff. It's the History Channel for goodness sake. We want to learn, to see unique items -- items we might not otherwise know about or experience. Loved the stamp as currency. Who knew!! That's what it's all about. The audience wants to soak up history! Just enjoy the show for what it is. Love all the characters, too, esp. Chum and Rick. If I ever make it to Vegas, the pawn shop is on my list of must-sees! A

These Pawn Stars are alright, but are extreme rip-off artists. The items that are brought on the show are extremely rare and are sought after by collectors due to their rarity. The sellers are obviously hand picked due to their rare items. The Gold and Silver Pawn Shop is owned by three generations of men. Richard "Old Man" Harrison is the patriarch of the family and started the pawn shop in 1988. Rick Harrison is the son of Richard and is the star of the show. He knows the art of rip-off like the back of his hand. Corey "Big Hoss" Harrison is the son of Rick and grandson of Richard. Having worked in the shop since youth Corey is now in his twenties and is being groomed to own the shop one day. Corey's best friend since childhood, Austin "Chumlee" Russell is an employee at the shop and butt-end of the others joked. The Old Man is the often picked on due to his age and the fact that he contributes little effort to the business. Corey and Chumlee probably weigh more than the whole shop and really contribute nothing to the shop or show unless your looking for some very fat person with a lot of tattoos in Ed Hardy jeans acting like some kind big shot. The constant bickering and fighting between the four is often annoying and irritating. the constant mention of "making a profit" by Rick is annoying.

The show consist of a seller who come in to the shop and either Rick, the Old Man, or Big Hoss trying to buy the item he/she is trying to sell. The pawn stars only goal is to buy the item for as little as possible and maximize their profit by up to 1000%. Do not ever ever ever sell tho the Gold and Silver Pawn Shop. These men will rip you off royally. Do not go in there expecting retail for your item because if you do you will be constantly reminded by Rick "we have to make a beacoup profit." An offer of 30-50% is reasonable. Experts are frequently called on the show to appraise an item. Most pawn shops have an in-house appraiser that works for the shop. Rick has admitted on the show that he hates sellers that know the price of the item they are selling. Rick often rolls his eyes at experts because they reveal the true price of the item and its rarity to the seller. When ever there is no expert needed Rick and company usually act as if the item is not that valuable when in fact they are extremely valuable. This often gives the seller the impression that the item is worthless.

Most sellers go in the shop with little to no knowledge of what their item is worth. This allows Rick and company to take advantage and and downplay their interest so that they can lowball the heck out of the seller. Whenever an expert comes in for certain items they often give a price that is from such a price to such a price (like from $1,000 to 5,000). It would seem that the seller could give a price in the middle and the pawn stars would still be able to make a profit.

When it comes to negotiating, the seller does it all. Rick and company will offer a lowball, el cheapo price and WILL NOT BUDGE one penny above that. Say an item is appraised by an expert. The expert says the item is worth $5,000. The seller will ask for $5,000. Rick will jump all the way down to at the most $2,000.The bickering will go on until either the seller gets angry and leaves or finally excepts the price and falls right into the scam that the pawn stars run. There in no negotiating whatsoever. The seller will go up, down, and all around but Rick will not move his cheap price.

And you have to admit that Rick and company have their own private collections in which they can get items for cheap prices. They have even admitted on the show that they keep things for themselves.

And from what I hear, off the camera, these guys are rude and mean. I have read some things on the Internet from people who have been to the shop. They said that the Pawn Stars weren't even there. And some one got yelled at and cussed at by a director that was filming a scene in the parking lot when the person tried to leave. They said during filming that the entrances to the parking lot are barricaded and blocked off.

All in all these guys are rip-off artists not unlike the Amreican Pickers that are misrepresenting collectible items. Don't get me wrong both shows are interesting to watch.

I was interested at first, but as I learned that the show is fake and uses actors and items that are from museums, I was set back. Also REAL customers have widely reported that the main characters are usually not there and show up only when the show's been shot.

For me, I am interested to see old items and learn their history, but this show is an anticlimax fest where almost non of the items are real or valuable or even rare. And using items from museums and private collections, it's just pathetic.

I don't like their attitudes and the show is overall sort of vaguely interesting, but its fakeness makes it difficult to watch.

PAWN STARS is one of my favorite shows. Many factors contribute to the show's success, including the fact that it's based in Las Vegas. The name "Pawn Stars" is truly inspired. I'd love to know who came up with it.

The show revolves around the activities of a real pawn shop, Gold & Silver Pawn. Drive down Las Vegas Blvd toward the downtown area and after you pass the Stratosphere you'll eventually see it on the right side. Due to the popularity of the show, you may find it difficult to find a place to park. Once you do park you'll have to stand in line to get in if you're just a tourist (but the guard will let you through if you've got something to pawn or you're redeeming an item already pawned). The truth is that the shop is very small, but the family is working on enlarging it.

Anyway, let me address some of the previous comments. Every time I've visited the shop the entire family was there but obviously they must leave to tape the segments that take place at other locations.

And yes, the segments involving high ticket items involve some pre-arranging. The camera crews aren't going to stand around all day waiting for a rare item to be brought in.

Most importantly, there is a total misconception and lack of understanding about the fact that the place "rips off" everyone.

Let's say you walk in with a rare Tuba that you believe was played in Sousa's famous band around the turn of the century. People bring in items that they assume are authentic because their grandfather told them it was. Very often it turns out their grandfather lied.

The bottom line is that 99% of the sellers have no authentication or documentation to back up their item. This immediately makes your item worth a fraction of what a documented item would be worth. Buying something without any supporting documentation puts the entire risk on the pawn shop. If it turns out to be phony (or stolen), they lose all the money they paid you for it. A company can only take a big risk if there is a potential for a big reward. As you've seen on the show, they get burned occasionally, too.

This brings us to the various experts -- my favorite part of the show. At best, these experts can only state that they THINK an item is authentic. They will usually say something like "It might bring $5000 at auction." You'll notice, however, that they never give anyone a written appraisal. It's just a blue sky number which you as an individual would have almost zero chance of getting. Here's why...

Speciality auctions for rare items occur very infrequently due to the time involved in getting enough items, promoting the auction to potential buyers, finding an appropriate location for the auction, getting items shipped to them, preparing and printing catalogs, etc.

But you don't KNOW anything, remember? That's why you're standing in a pawn shop with a blank look on your face. If you knew some Tuba collectors, knew about auction houses, wanted to pay for a costly appraisal, were willing to wait months or years for a rare musical instrument auction... well, you MAY be able to sell it yourself.

The other problem that the collectors and auction houses don't know YOU -- and they'd be very unlikely to accept a unauthenticated piece from an unknown seller. It's a closed loop and you're not in it. And even if you are lucky enough to get your Tuba into an auction, it might sell for $500, not $5000. That's how auctions work. Big risk.

So now the Pawn Stars ask you how much you want for your allegedly rare Tuba. You of course say $5000 because that's the number you heard from the expert. But that's just a fantasy number a collector might pay in a highly specialized auction that may never take place. The risk is all on the Pawn Stars to sell the item and make a PROFIT.

The guys might get lucky and quickly find a collector who will buy it, or they might never find a buyer. The shop takes a big risk and must have a chance of making a big profit, knowing that it still might be a fake. They also factor in whether that type of item is currently in demand or not and if they personally know potential buyers.

That's why they are going to offer you a much lower amount than $5000. It's a business, folks. If you don't like their offer you can just thank them and leave. But you need cash now, right? Take the money!

Then go to the casinos and get rich at blackjack or slot machines!

I'd just like to add that I would have rated this show a 10 but it has no hot-looking babes in it! Hey, it's Vegas, guys. Where's the cleavage?

I do quite enjoy this show, even though it may not reflect what goes on in a real Pawn Shop.... I mean, if I had some ancient artefact, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't try and hock it at some dodgy LA pawn shop....it's all played out for the cameras. But what really boils my blood about the show is the way uber-smug Rick cackles out loud at his own 'jokes'.....so annoying! Corey is extremely rude to some of the customers as well...he and Rick have got extremely overblown egos...Chumlee's the best character in the show. I like Rebecca who comes into the shop when they've got a rare book as well. But I've heard about people on vacation who've been into the store and it's absolutely nothing like what you see on TV...the show cast are never there unless they're filming an episode, when they close the shop anyway...completely fake....and I just feel the need to put my foot through my TV when I hear Rick Harrison overblown ego wetting himself laughing at his own 'quips'. The only reason people laugh at their own 'jokes' is because they aren't funny.

Hubby and I were looking for something on one night (lets face it, 500 channels and mostly nothing of worth on to watch) so we switched to this show out of boredom.

Honestly, its fascinating.

I LOVE this show.

The interaction between the owners and the workers is great to watch. Last night gave me a total laugh when the father said his son was too busy to ride the balloon and Chum was too stupid (and btw, he is. I swear the guys nearly mentally retarded, just not quite which only makes him stupid).

And the items that these guys pick up are just incredible. I'd LOVE to visit this store just once. They must have a treasure trove of museum quality items.

If I'm ever in Vegas, I'm heading to this shop.

I have been a diehard fan since the show started. Yes of course it is highly edited, and in no way, is this the real way the shop operated state of the money making basis. I get it I understand. Still fun to watch. Biggest pet peeve, the show now has its long time recurring love-able, lazy goof off employee Chumlee appearing as a scholar. Suddenly he amazingly is able to critique and describe items brought in ranging from the 8th century to scientific world renowned achievement. It's insulting to a seasoned viewers intelligence. Stop adding so much fantasy... Rick has always made this show what it is, respectfully to the Old Man, Everyone else is filler.

In theory, Pawn Stars is about people who sell or pawn items (mostly the former). This often involves staged moments where someone brings in a rare and possibly expensive item, leading to some clumsy, states-the-obvious exposition ("Steve McQueen was cool!"). Where the show succeeds or fails is based on the people who work in the story. The Harris family. "The Old Man" is the perpetually crotchety grandfather who knows best and never lets anyone else know otherwise; son Rick, with a welcoming smile and a hearty nicotine chuckle, is the gruff-but-fair owner and the show's main representative to viewers; grandson Corey, who has little patience with anyone around him, is the sour apple of the bunch, rude and annoying in some ways, but in others, refreshing, as he is far from TV-friendly casting. Then there's Chumlee, the official comic relief, stupid and silly but kind at heart.

The show is incredibly formulaic. The museum man in the hat will stop in to give a lecture. Rick/Corey will go out and shoot a gun/cannon/get Chumlee to shoot a gun. Old Man will grouse about expensive tastes and not being included. Chumlee will stand around with his eyes closed and mouth hanging open.

With predictable material, the show rests on the entertainment value of the regulars. The Old Man is always good for a laugh, mostly because he's kept in a low-key role, and is there just enough to add some punch to the usual squabbling or posturing. The weakest is Chumlee, who only works well in group settings. The "comedy" stories where he leads, especially when he supposedly has to train new employees, are unwatchable.

Pawn Stars is a very solid show which, with a few tweaks, could be even better.

I have enjoyed this show for several years BUT Rick's pronunciations drive me insane!! It would seem he is incapable of pronouncing the word, "CAVALRY", each time bragging of his knowledge of the United States Army "Calvary". It is C A V A L R Y!!! Can someone help him? Please? And he recently was bragging about his knowledge of World War II battles wherein he was talking about the battle of "LEYET!??? Please, someone explain to him before he looks more dumb that it it the battle of "L E Y T E ", pronounced "LAY TI". Apart from these blunders the show is pretty great and I continue to watch it. I grind my teeth, however, when he says dumb things like those pointed out. Thanks for your help.

This show must be seen as what it is, primarily entertainment. Anyone who believes that the word, "Reality" as in "Reality TV," makes it so…is naive. All so-called "reality" shows are mostly fiction as they must be to be entertaining. "Reality TV" is simply a form of entertainment that has a much lower budget…in keeping with the economy of the day and the extraordinary spread or programming now available that media specialists in advertising agencies have to engage. At the bottom line, the show is highly entertaining and in fact, addictive. It engages various elements; teaching, character study, humor, history and human nature. Are the sellers hand-picked? Of course they are. Can you really imagine not hand-picking them?

All of the "Stars" of Pawn Stars are excellent and we can each select our favorite depending upon our own personalities. There isn't one that we don't feel we would like to know or that we do not seem to have known in our past. As it turns out this show is one of the continuous streams of excellence produced for and by the History Channel.

Finding it becoming irritating as they all seem to be getting more arrogant each episode especially rick whose demeanour is increasingly overbearing & terse towards customers.Then there's big loss,the knob polisher look it up, who looks & speaks down through his nose at everyone,next is chum,one explanation for the vacant looks & jaw dropping bad acting is the headful of bong water & froot loops

This is one of those shows that makes you shake your head and wonder how it ever got on that particular channel in the first place. After all, this is on the History Channel! Sure, there is history behind many of the relics, but the show isn't exactly a history show. It's more like a lower-class Vegas version of "The Antiques Road Show"--though the valuations of the relics seem very broad and iffy. In other words, the prices you see them give are very broad approximations in most cases as the pawn shop personnel are not expert appraisers--more jacks of all trades.

Speaking of the workers at this mega-pawn shop, this is an incredibly colorful and strange group of men. I really don't see why Chumlee is employed by them as he appears to be a complete idiot. It makes me wonder if the producers hired him simply as comic relief, as I can't see him being of much value except, perhaps, to haul things...and even that might tax his capacities just a bit. The rest are also very colorful but again I wonder how much the show portrays who they really are--and how much of it is a put-on. Who knows--but these strange personalities are entertaining--and I think the show is much better as entertainment than as history.

So why do I give the show an 8? Well, despite its limitations, I find when I tune in, I am entertained and enjoy it. The combination of probable staged personalities and history and prices works for me--on a superficial but fun level. Oddly compelling.

I enjoy the new hour long format as it gives the guys time to do other things in addition to buying antique and vintage items. For example in the recent "A Dam Good Road Trip" (S17:E26), Rick, Corey and Chumlee take a road trip about half-way through the show on Route 66 to buy a 1963 VW Karmann Ghia in Seligman, AZ (and other items along the way). Throughout this entire show, we the viewers are exposed to the word "cool" and it's derivatives "coolest" and "cooler" no fewer than 34 times! Certainly there are other synonyms that can be used to spare our ears. Thank you.

Too many produced BITS/SKITS...we've seen Chum driving in his valuable sports cars in REAL life and know he makes a lot of money. Yet they send him to financial help guys etc....equals TIME FILLER Too many of the people "customers" coming into the store are now repeat/regulars. It was bad enough when they tried to pass off the American Restoration guy as just a customer. But then that shows customers became Pawn Stars customers. Casting is lacking in Vegas.

It all tells me the show has run it's course and has nothing left in the tanks. Most things they don't even buy anymore...if they ever bought the items anyways.

I still watch the show, well record it on the DVR...But 60% of the show is now fast forwarded through.

If you want to watch this show...JUST watch the first few years of it NOT the current or new ones.