American Pickers 2: Buying Travails

 

{photo cribbed from History Channel, as always} 

I chortled inwardly when M+F started off the show kvetching about picking in Kansas. My mind instantly raced to Beth, Karla, Mary, and Debbie, who seem to be doing fine. But sometimes it really IS all about WHAT you're buying. If M+F were looking for lace, ephemera, vintage jewelry, and awesome chippy furniture, they would've SCORED in Kansas. Then again, we'd be watching Pickers on Lifetime, and the aforementioned grrrl junkers would clean their clocks, no doubt. There'd be fingernails a-flying, and I do believe someone would whip out a MacGyveresque hairspray flamethrower. I'd pay cable prices for THAT.

Anyway, a lot of tonight's episode was about their M.O. of freestyling and trying to pick from collectors. It got me thinking about how hard it is sometimes for people (viz. sellers) to part with their items. We've all been to yard sales (and even the occasional family-run estate sale) when people just won't part with certain items, even if they've got a pricetag on them and are in full view. Frank was psyched to learn that Johnny Walker (true name!) acquired nearly all of his beloved junk because he's in the demo biz. Demo biz = no emotional attachment. He still drove a hard bargain, though. 

When they hit Junior's place (aka oil-can heaven), Frank opined that "we understand devoted collectors; these are the guys we sell to." We all know that buying from collectors is IMPOSSIBLE. Watching the show every week, we see that these sellers LUV their junk and are often reluctant to part with anything. We also see, however, that they have overly ambitious prices in mind. 

This, my dears, is why I prefer to buy at estate sales (no emotion), and/or far-flung flea markets and antique stores in less-affluent areas. For many of us, it's all about the hunt (and to me it doesn't really matter WHERE I'm hunting), but it really pays off, in my opinion, to fully understand your personal M.O. For me, time is a premium, so I LIKE some of my junk pre-selected. I often buy what I can make MORE money on. The seller gets their price, and I get mine. It's all about location.

Highlights for me tonight were Morris (super-cool dude), who, when asked why he started collecting, stated: "If I can't steal it, I might try to buy it." Music to my ears! I've got my eye on some yard junk in my 'hood on empty homes for sale. I've left notes on the front door, asking to buy, so haven't resorted to stealing. YET. 

Also, I was thrilled to hear Mike explain the derivation of "I'll pop on that", as my sister says it CONSTANTLY now. He described it as when "you're soooo excited about an item that you want to EXPLODE." Been there, my friend. Buying ain't always easy—it's sometimes a fine line that you have to walk. On FB tonight, Wanda echoed Mike's sentiment that buying from dealers isn't fun because it's already been picked; my feeling is I'll buy from ANYONE if the price is right. It might not be as much fun, but I'll do it. Where do you prefer to shop, and why? Do you have an M.O.?

Comments

[Beth]

So my fav part of the night was when Mike revealed he "must have taken a class in subliminal messages!" Freakin hilarious.
I knew that one guy put a nail in his coffin as soon as he told the boys they were going thru "leftovers!" NOt so for me! You see, leftovers are a great M.O! I LOVE to go thru leftovers and always joke that I want what nobody else does~ but alot of times it's true! You could see the stuff they were passing on and I am yelling "I'd but that bench, that wire basket that, that and that!!! It would be awesome to go pickin with the boys but I think....no scratch that...I KNOW I would fill the van up faster than them.
Wonder what they'd have to say about that? My guess is plenty!!

[Sue]

FROM SUE: I totally agree with Beth! Amidst all the crusty gearhead stuff, theres GOLD for us non-gearheads. Maybe we could be the sweepers, coming in after them???? I have to keep in mind that they specialize in different items, but DANG. I'd love their sloppy seconds!

[debbie york]

My mo...simple...if the price is right...buy it when I see it. I don't care if it's in a shop, thrift store or on somebody's lawn. For me...it's not the thrill of the hunt...it's the thrill of the cah-jing!
Debbie

[deb]

Estate auctions are my favorite EXCEPT when for some strange reason some families decide to partipate in the sale and buy the stuff themselves. I figure maybe it is because it is easier to decide which cousin gets grandma's beautiful tablecloth. Once I figure out I am bidding against emotion and sentimental value...I go get a hot dog at the concession stand. You never win against that and as M-F says "doesn't leave enough meat on the bone" for me to make money.
deb
linens lace and lattes

[Zita - Mlle Magpie]

I just got Season 1 and was hooked after the first episode, Sue. We've already seen several episodes(yeah, even husband and the three kids are into it) and love it. Can't wait to get Season 2. p.s. thanks for the link to amazon!

[Wanda @ Just Vintage]

I'm really starting to notice the things they pass up. I've worried the show might hurt our picking, but maybe not. Noobies will be looking for the things M&F are buying and overlooking the things we like. The guy last week, the one doing the "liquidation". There's a couple of scenes where Mike is standing right next to some kind of chippy white, iron stand. It's eye level, on a shelf. I'm screaming, "I'd buy that!!" Wonder if they even gave it a second glance or a first one for that matter?

[Karla Nathan]

How did you know about my MaGuyver skills? Although, I am really careful with the flame thrower around ephemera.

[Mary]

I prefer the flea market first, yard sales next. The deals are better at yard sales, it just takes LONGER and more driving around to find anything. I am getting lazier in my old age and like to park my car once and not worry if I will find something, since I never leave the flea market empty handed!

However, I don't agree with hounding people on prices. M+F explain they need to make money on the pieces up front, so why dog the sellers? IMO this makes them look bad. I never would offer a seller half or less than what he was asking. As a seller myself, it infuriates and insults me to no end! Simply cough up the money or walk away.

[sandy]

I prefer Estate sales, then garage sales. I never buy from dealers they simply want to much money. I always haggle and 99% of the time it works.

[ann]

lol... my dd & I watched the show & mentioned how "manly" the antiques were compared to what we buy.

I find myself placing higher prices on items when I put them in my new area in the shop... I have some things that I really would like to keep but they look so good in certain vignettes that I put a higher price on them. Even though I like them, if someone wants to pay that much I'll sell!

Don't know if I came back & told you but my first month in the shop was better than I expected. And I learned some things about how I should be displaying. Unfortunately, I'm missing a couple of things. Still hoping they'll show up in someone else's area & haven't been stolen.

[Nan Thomson]

Here in Toronto, Canada where buying second hand is not considered "au courant" I find I do pretty well, even going late to garage sales. My friend and I find the stuff we love is not what other ("it has to be new, with a designer label")people want, so we luck in on a lot of esoteric stuff.

[Selena Cate]

I only just discovered this show 2 days ago and it took me only a second to get hooked. omg it was so fun to watch. I agreed with them that it's much more fun to buy when you can look through boxes of junk vs neatly displayed tables with high prices.