Why American Pickers' Mike Wolfe Has Gone Back To Sellers To Give Them More Money
History's programming lineup has included some truly memorable — for better or worse — titles, from "Pawn Stars" to "Ancient Aliens." When looking at the channel's offerings as a whole, "American Pickers" is undeniably among the very best. Week after week since 2010, the show's hosts have ventured across much of the continental United States with antiques of all shapes, sizes, ages, and uses on their minds. After all, what better way to understand humanity's history than through the inventions of yesteryear that played a role in bringing us to the modern day?
Of course, one can't talk about the function of "American Pickers" and end on just the educational aspect. It's also very much about making deals since the folks behind the show have a store to run named Antique Archaeology. They're always looking for new pieces to add to their inventory, and they're willing to dig through personal collections, cluttered garages, and more to pull them out. To make it worth their while, the "Pickers" team tosses their clients a pretty penny for their wares, but as it turns out, sometimes that initial payment isn't where the transaction ends.
Longtime "American Pickers" host Mike Wolfe hasn't shied away from giving his previous clients more money for their trinkets. Here's why.
Fluctuating sale prices prompt Wolfe to give sellers additional money for their items
Back in 2011, Mike Wolfe sat down with Southeastern Antiquing and Collecting Magazine to discuss his incredibly unique line of work — including his business practices. When it comes to buying and selling, Wolfe has learned that an item is only worth as much as one is willing to pay for it. With that in mind, he's not opposed to tossing some extra cash to sellers for specific items depending on what they sold for relative to what Wolfe bought them for. "My business before the show was based on leads and referrals. Going back and giving the seller more money, that's good for your mojo," Wolfe said.
Considering how long he's been in the antiquing game, Wolfe certainly knows his stuff. More often than not, he has a good idea of what an object is worth, and he negotiates based on that knowledge. He also knows what he wants and what audiences want to see, even though he attests that the buys themselves aren't what have made "American Pickers" so memorable. Rather, it's the customers themselves. "People don't ever remember the items we buy. They remember the people. It's so character-driven. That's why it's such a great format," Wolfe told Script Magazine in a 2013 interiew.
Mike Wolfe battles regret every day on "American Pickers," but he tries not to let himself sit and regret not paying sellers enough for their goodies. Instead, he acts, giving folks more money whenever he can.