Vivian's Blog

Just for fun, let's talk about another television show, the Picker Sisters.  Has anyone seen this one?  It is on Lifetime, but the schedule seems to be sporadic.  They just seem to pop up now and then.

This features two young women, Tracy Hutson and Tanya McQueen, who travel the country looking for "goodies" that they purchase, then take back to their shop in southern California.  They both are designers who have a talent for converting their finds into some very interesting items.

They are very personable, attractive, and sometimes funny.  While I hate to make any kind of remark that might be considered sexist, their attitudes and manner of dress (short shorts) definitely make the most of their feminine charms.  In almost every encounter with men in old farms, shops, boat yards, etc, they often become coy and flirtatious, taking advantage of their obvious charms.  And does that work to their advantage?  Of course it does. 

It is interesting to see what all they buy.  Sometimes it can really stretch the imagination to see anything of value in their "finds".  Then, at the end of the show, you see the fabulous imagination of their vision as expressed through their contractor, Alan Luxmore.  Most of their projects are really quite interesting.  Some are fabulous.

I actually enjoy the show, but the flirtatious attitudes tend to get a little old.  It is interesting to see what they find and how creative they are.  And they are definitely creative.  That is the best part of the show.

While they do occasionally get some bargains, they also often pay way too much for things.  Now and then they get things for practically nothing.  Just like real life.  However, they really do not bargain very well.  Their flirting and light teasing sometimes works to their advantage, but overall, they are only fair negotiators.

That said, the items that they create and the value the creations bring, more than make up for their deficiencies in bargaining. 

One complaint that is commonly "heard" on the internet is that many women viewers are disappointed because of the the things they "pick".  When they heard about the show, many women thought women pickers would be picking "womanly" things.  Instead they are crawling through old sheds, barns, etc and picking old iron, wood, tin, etc.  While some women love it, apparently many women don't find it appealing. 

So overall, I find the show interesting.  Unfortunately for me, I find it a bit boring.  As mentioned, the flirting and teasing get a little old and there really is very little excitement with what they are doing.  They aren't finding treasures, but rather worn out seemly junk that they turn into really attractive things.  While mildly interesting, it just isn't that appealing.  I watch, but I don't go out of my way to see it.  Still it is much better to me in many ways than The Pickers (which I will write about soon).

Check it out though.  You may enjoy it.

Well, I watched another episode of Cash & Cari on HGTV.  I'm afraid that my opinion took another hit.  Let me add to my previous review of the show.

For the show's principal, Cari Cucksey, this was a high end sale.  She kept talking about the great antiques and how nice a sale it was.  Looking at the estate, I thought it was nice as well.  In this area, it was probably close to a $30,000 sale on a good day; $25,000 on a not so good day.

There were a few differences that I noticed in this episode from the others I have seen.  HGTV has added a few detail inserts into the show.  All at once there is a bit of information about a particular antique or maker.  While the information was good, it was a little intrusive and I couldn't help but wonder if it wasn't an attempt to add to the shows "authority" after so much negative publicity on the Internet.

What was really interesting about this episode was how she set up the sale (the same way she has in the previous episodes but those sales were not as "high end").  For example, she had some rather nice sets of china and there was a lot of conversation about them.  They talked about the makers and gave a little history.  She expressed some concern on being able to get a good price for them.  So how does she display them?  She sets them on a card table....  Yes, that is right, a card table.  No table cloth, fancy covers or plate stands or anything else, just on a bare top of a card table.  As is evident in many ways, she really doesn't follow some of the basics for getting the best results from her sales.  Did she actually think that was a proper display for such a beautiful set of china?  Did she think putting nice china on a card table helped people see their beauty or enhanced their value?  I am absolutely amazed.  Does she not understand the very basics of displaying merchandise so they will not only look great to a perspective buyer but enhance their apparent value?  Again this is Estate Sales 101.

Professional estate sale specialists understand the value of merchandising and setting up displays.  When you properly display the merchandise, people see the merchandise as being more valuable and they raise their expectations about the value.  That means they are likely to expect to pay more for the item.  That is why department stores do it.  That is why the little corner mom and pop shops do it.  That is why anyone who has a clue about holding estate sales does it.  When you display items like you would in a garage sale - in other words, just toss them on a card table, you are not likely to get good value. 

This very nice estate sale was set up like a garage sale and guess what?  It got garage sale prices.  She seemed thrilled that the sale brought $17,000. 

I really think that Cari means well and tries hard, but the show does not give a good indication that she knows more than the basics of the business.  On the HGTV website, it says that she has 10 years of experience.  In ten years some people add to their knowledge each year and others add ten years of doing the same thing they did the first year.  I see very little that looks like someone who has ten years of experience in handling estate sales.

I love HGTV and have for many years.  I am usually impressed with the quality of their shows.  In most ways, they provide quality programming.  To me this show does not live up that quality.  I will say again that Cari is probably a very nice person and is likely working hard to do a good job.  Unfortunately she just seems to have missed many of the things that make sales a bigger success.  Has she not been to estate sales that are being held by professionals?  I certainly don't blame her for taking the opportunity that was offered to her by HGTV.  She chose the spotlight and now is attracting the criticism from the people in her industry who are experienced and see the things she is yet to learn.  The blame for all this is on HGTV who made this choice and promoted her as if she were an expert who is respected in her field rather than find someone who really does an outstanding job.  Looks like HGTV took cute and personable over experienced and respected.

Perhaps in her area, this is the way estate sales are conducted.  Maybe she is absolutely the best in that part of the country.  I believe she works hard for her clients and she definitely seems to take a personal interest in the proceedings.  But overall, I believe she needs to spend more time checking on how professional estate sale managers operate.  She could greatly improve the quality of her sales and in doing so generate a much better return for her clients.

Comments on her page on the HGTV website and changes in the program would lead me to believe that she and HGTV are listening somewhat to some of the criticism of the show.  That is a good thing.  If you search the Internet, you will find plenty of criticism.  Some of it valid and helpful; some of it vile and nothing short of ignorant.  Criticism can make you better.  You don't learn much in a vacuum. 

I may talk about some of the criticisms in another post later, especially the ones that are unfair.  They should be addressed and she really may not have the platform to do so.  Those posts negatively affect the industry as well and should be be ignored completely. 

With all this would I recommend Cari's services to anyone in her area who happened to read this review of her show?  Absolutely.  My impression from her show is that she works hard, has her client's interest at heart, and is honest.  Those are three primary qualities that are sometimes hard to find.  I always suggest checking out others who offers the same services in the area, but I would not hesitate in suggesting that she be the first one you call.  Her following has probably greatly increased due to her show on HGTV and that is a very good thing.  She also appears to be very sharp and I am sure she is dedicated to improving her business to provide the very best service possible.

I don't have time to watch much TV, but Michael records things for me and let's me know when there is something I need to see.

Recently he finally got me to watch two reality tv shows, "Cash & Cari, Treasure Hunter" and "Big Brian: The Fortune Seller".  Both of the shows are entertaining to an extent but overall, I am not sure they make a positive statement about estate sale professionals.  In fact one might go away with a bad impression and, sometimes see some actions that help perpetuate some negative stereotypical impressions that the average person has about people who handle estate sales.

This is a review of those two shows.

I find "Cash & Cari, Treasure Hunter" particularly distressing in that regard. 

The principal of that show has some charm and can be somewhat entertaining.  From her actions in the show, she really does not seem to be knowledgeable about antiques and collectibles to me; fairly knowledgeable at best, but "fairly" is as high an adjective as I can give her.  Most of the time she really doesn't seem to know much about the items that pop up on her show.  Of course, you don't have to be an expert in everything.  No one can be.  On the show she does some research on the Internet, but I haven't seen much evidence that would make me think she is good at it.  From what we see on the show, I believe that many times she does the client an injustice with her pricing which could be due to either lack of knowledge or not enough research. 

In my opinion she is not much of a negotiator.  It is almost funny at times to see how some of her customers "work her over".  Of course, being a poor negotiator is not what I am talking about as far as giving a negative impression.  Most customers at sales don't want to deal with a good negotiator (like Big Brian).

In some of the episodes, she makes note of the fact that not everything is priced.  That is Estate Sales 101.  I firmly believe and have seen time and time again that if you do not price the contents of the sale, you do not make as much money.  Many people will not ask for a price.  Those who will ask, will rarely ask for many prices.  In other words, they might ask for a few prices but they start feeling like they are bothering you if they keep asking.  To say nothing of the fact that if the sale is busy, there is no way to help each customer with prices on unmarked items.  I believe it is a major injustice to the client not to take the time to provide the best estate sale possible and that certainly includes pricing everything. 

In several episodes, she and, sometimes members of her sales team, buy items before the sale.  She also sets her own price for those items and since she usually has a client who is in desire of her services, they take whatever price she has named. Is that taking advantage of the clients?  Are those prices fair? Would the items bring more money for the client if they were sold at regular estate sale prices during the sale?  Those are certainly things that should be considered. 

The really important thing is the message that it sends to the viewers - that estate sale professionals buy the "good stuff" before the sale.  It doesn't matter that the things she and her workers buy are not the best things in the sale.  It is the impression it gives and the stereotypical belief by the public that it reinforces.

In my opinion, buying things before the sale is open to the public is inappropriate.  It may not be fair to the client.  It is certainly unfair to your customer base.  I, personally, do not ever want to go to a sale that has been picked over.  I know the practice is common among some people who hold estate sales. That still does not make it right. 

And then there is how she sets up a sale.  Goodness....  I don't know where to begin.  Maybe more about that later. 

I watched several episodes but I really don't care to see any others.  When people see something on televsion, many of them will think the person they are watching must be an expert or they wouldn't have the show. It would be a shame for them to get that impression in this case.  While mildly entertaining, in my opinion she serves more often as an example of what not to do when holding estate sales. 

Big Brian is very entertaining.  He is certainly in the right environment for his personality.  I do not think he would be successful in this environment.  I don't think his attitude and behavior would work well with Texans.  I will talk more about him in a later blog.  The bad part is that I believe his show to be mostly fake in so many ways. 

I have a different list of complaints about Big Brian.  No one can really be successful with estate sales and act as he does.   No one in their right mind would use his services as seen on his TV show.  Perhaps more on that later.

Michael watches every episode of both shows.