Which Pawn Star Would You Cut A Deal With?
- by Lucas Wesley
- – on
- in Movies and TV
Despite their rampant popularity, many television critics castigate reality shows for their lowest common denominator level of entertainment. Not much happens on them, and it’s almost impossible to learn something while watching one. Unless, of course, the expansion of knowledge is the entire point of the show, which is more or less the case with the History network’s highest rated show, Pawn Stars.
On the surface, Pawn Stars is about the life and business of Rick Harrison, his father, his son, and his son’s idiot friend. That terminology isn’t meant as a slight on Chumlee, but rather a commentary on how he’s presented on the series in a way that almost makes it feel like a sitcom when they stop talking about work. However, the business of Gold & Silver Pawn Shop truly is the heart of the show, and it turns part of the pawning industry is knowing a whole lot about real, actual history.
Of course, whether the audience is watching to learn random facts about world events or simply because they think the Harrisons are a funny bunch of guys is entirely up to them. For this quiz, though, we’re not talking about TV. Let’s pretend you wanted to pawn or something, and feel like they were the guys to do business with. Keep reading to take our quiz and find our which broker from Pawn Stars would give you the best deal.
What are you trying to get rid of?
One of Rick Harrison’s catchphrases about his business is “you never know what’s going to come in.” Just about everything has appeared on Pawn Stars through the years, and the Harrison’s were willing to buy about half of it. No matter what you have, there’s a chance they want it.
Are you looking to pawn or sell?
Contrary to what the name suggests, at least half of the customers appearing on pawn stars aren’t looking for a quick loan with simple collateral. In fact, most of them are trying to permanently get rid of their old junk, hopefully at profit. What about you?
What's your best offer?
Whether or not you can do business at Gold & Silver Pawn comes down to a matter of numbers. Whatever preconceived notions sellers have when they walk in the door often shatter instantly, so whatever price you have in mind might not come to fruition, but how much do you want?
The guys need some help pricing your item. Who should they call?
For all Rick Harrison has learned over the years, neither he nor his father and son come anywhere near knowing absolutely everything. When something comes into the store they can’t price, experts from various fields get called in and share their industry secrets. Who is your favorite?
Is there any room for negotiation?
Most of the world has moved on to dollars and cents, but the barter system is alive and well in the pawn industry. It’s virtually unthinkable for Rick to accept a customer’s acting price, and anyone willing to pay his full price tags probably doesn’t get the point. Do you?
Do you enjoy weird trivia?
Truth be told, although Pawn Stars is significantly smarter than the average reality show, it’s not like the cast exclusively covers important world issues. More frequently, something weird or silly winds up in the store, like an ancient Etruscan proto-toilet once used by Julius Caesar. Would that interest you?
What was your favorite subject in school?
Chumlee notwithstanding, it takes some pretty strong brainpower to get involved with the pawning business. A broker needs to have at least a little bit of knowledge in every subject, and hopefully a completely mastery of at least one. Where do your academic interests begin?
Who’s your favorite minor Gold & Silver employee?
For the most part, the Harrison family and their silly friend Chumlee are the only Gold & Silver employees profiled on Pawn Stars, but the four of them alone can’t run such a gigantic store. Plenty of minor helper characters have been introduced over time. Who was your favorite?
What type of movies do you like?
In part because it can be found smack dab in the middle of downtown Las Vegas, some of the most popular and interesting items in Gold & Silver Pawn relate to mainstream pop culture. Movie memorabilia in particular can fetch a high price, so what kind would catch your interest?
What’s your favorite type of car?
Of all the things sold at Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, one of the few things everyone on the cast seems to agree on is that cars are pretty awesome. If you could get behind the wheels of any type of vehicle on the road, what would it be?
Have you ever done any hard drugs?
Not to make any assumptions about the sort of folk who would walk into the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, but it is located in the heart of Las Vegas, after all. And let’s face it, the pawn industry would be nothing without drug addicts. Is that why you need cash?
What type of music do you like?
One of the most prevalent items seen profiled on Pawn Stars may well be guitars. Even if a famous person never played them, certain classic instruments can sell for extremely high prices on brand value alone. What sounds do you want them to make after they do?
Are you a hard worker?
No matter how hard Rick, Corey, or Chumlee work, it’s never anywhere near enough for the Old Man. Of course, with these complaints being lobbied from the seat he always occupies behind his desk, it’s hard to take them seriously. Regardless, would he be nagging at you, as well?
What interests you about the pawn business?
With how entertaining the Harrison family can be during their down time, it’s entirely possible to watch Pawn Stars without developing any interest whatsoever about the pawn industry. However, most fans of the show will inevitably realize there’s something cool about buying and selling random stuff. What’s your favorite part?
Which US President was your favorite?
Unrelated to whatever their approval ratings implied when they were in charge, almost any piece of memorabilia related to past United States Presidents can fetch a pretty penny with collectors. Rick and family know this, but they still have their favorites who they might pay extra for. Which leader do you like?
Do you like to read?
Rumor has it that Rick Harrison’s interest in world history began when he was a child suffering from epilepsy. Spending long hours in hospitals, where he was unable to watch TV, Rick found great interest in books and learning to help pass the time. Backstory notwithstanding, are you the same way?
Do you like playing video games?
With the ability to create childlike wonder in people of all ages truly timeless, video games will probably never go out of style. Even though Rick and the Old Man might not know the first thing about them, they’ll happily buy gaming memorabilia that has potential to bring in big bucks.
Do you have any tattoos?
Upon first glance, the first thing people might tend to notice about Corey or Chumlee are the many tattoos that decorate their respective arms. While hardly unusual in the modern era, a person wearing ink all over their body always stands out as memorable. Do you have any?
How often do you exercise?
Even if for some reason you’re taking this quiz despite not liking the show, you still have to admit the 192 pound weight loss Corey Harrison underwent throughout the course of the show was mighty impressive. His friend Chumlee also shed a few pounds. Could you join them in the gym?
Which of the following items is the weirdest to own?
Once again, it’s worth pointing out Rick Harrison’s oft stated motto that not even he could expect some of the craziest things that come into his store. Someone or other really tried selling all of the following items at Gold & Silver Pawn Shop—which do you think is strangest?
What’s your favorite thing to collect?
By and large, the people pawning or selling items to Gold & Silver are doing so because they aren’t interested in them anymore. However, some of the shop’s customers are lifelong collectors looking to improve their hobbies by getting rid of the lower price items for better ones. What do you collect?
Do you get along with your parents?
As a show documenting a family business, Pawn Stars doubles as a series about the pawn industry and one about three generations of Harrisons working together under one roof. Corey and Rick don’t always get alone, nor do Rick and the Old Man. Is it the same with you and your folks?
Do you consider yourself funny?
Arguably the most important element of Pawn Stars unique charm is the fact all four cast members are pretty funny people in one way or another. Based on clichés, hardened businessmen in the pawn industry might not have time for humor, but the Harrison’s and Chum most definitely do. Are you the same?
What’s your best quality?
Thanks to the success of Pawn Stars, business at Gold & Silver increased dramatically, forcing the Harrisons to hire additional staff to handle the extra traffic. The hiring process became part of the show, during which the Old Man made it clear personal ethics were more important than experience.
What type of diet do you keep?
Corey didn’t manage to lose nearly two bills simply by exercising, as eating the right food can play just as integral a role in that sort of bodily transformation. Quite a few episodes implied the opposite, though, as all of the guys clearly love spending time with a grill.
Where would you rather go on vacation?
Living in Las Vegas means that going on an exotic vacation can be as simply as spending a weekend at the right hotel. That said, the Harrisons have the money to go almost anywhere on earth should they decided to take a real trip to someplace special. Where would you go?
Do you like animals?
In addition to helping his father and grandfather run a bustling pawn business, Corey Harrison also happens to own two dogs, Skiba and Mr. Furley. We’re not sure if the other cast members own any pets, but we bet they like playing with Corey’s pups whenever they get a chance. Would you?
Have you served in the military?
Given that historically significant, military memorabilia is always a hot ticket item at pawn shops, The Old Man has a particularly great interest in the subject, having himself proudly served in the Navy many years before starting his family business. Have you served, as well?
Could you ever leave a family business behind?
There are many pros and cons to working with one’s family, something the Harrisons have all learned firsthand twice over as business owners and TV stars. At one point, it was almost too much for Corey, as he considered leaving Gold & Silver to work elsewhere. Could you ever do something like that?
Have you ever been arrested?
Easily the most controversial fact about Pawn Stars relates to the surprise arrest of Chumlee at the height of the show’s popularity. Despite the charges levied against Chum, his status on the show has never quite been affected. It probably didn’t go the same way for you if you answer this question affirmatively.
What’s your worst quality?
No one is perfect, and that definitely applies to the guys on Pawn Stars. Not only have they all ate their shirt on a bad investment or two, but they’ve also made plenty of mistakes in regular life, as well. Chances are, you have to, so what negative quality caused it?
Do you get along with authority figures?
Perhaps the biggest source of regular drama on Pawn Stars is the fact all of Rick’s underlings inevitably do something wrong and get yelled at. Corey and Chumlee in particular can’t take punishment of any kind, leading to problems when they deserve it. Can you deal with your bosses more amicably?
What’s the coolest thing about Las Vegas?
Compared to the other shows on the History network, the events of Pawn Stars might seem pretty cool. That said, one step outside Gold & Silver Pawn Shop is something even more extravagant in one of the biggest cities in the world, Las Vegas. What’s the best part about Sin City?
What other reality show is your favorite?
Okay, so this quiz may have harped on the fact Pawn Stars is a better quality of reality show than most, but that doesn’t mean all other unscripted programs on the small screen are necessarily terrible. Sure, they aren’t all for everyone, but are any of these shows for you?
Which celebrity guest was your favorite?
Because the show takes place in Las Vegas and celebrities love antiquing just as much as anyone else, quite a few famous faces have popped up at Gold & Silver Pawn Shop over the years. Some were looking to buy, some had things to sell, and others just wanted to sign an autograph.
