"Do you have any idea what it's worth?"

[gsdx]

Why do the appraisers on Antiques Roadshow always ask that question? If the people knew what it was worth, they wouldn't be there getting it appraised.

 

[Telstra]

because they want the viewers to get involve in the guessing game.

 

[alley]

It's for the dramatic pause...

 

[JonHCA]

It always adds an extra layer of shock if they guess something significantly lower than what it's worth. I'd love to see someone say an extravagant amount only to be disappointed.

 

[gsdx]

^ I've seen that. They get an appraisal for several thousand dollars and say, "Is that all?"

 

[JonHCA]

^ I've seen that. They get an appraisal for several thousand dollars and say, "Is that all?"

Several thousand? Hell, I'd be pretty content with selling a piece of crap that's probably just an eyesore in my house. Go take a decent vacation or something. Christ.

 

[gsdx]

There was a woman in England who was convinced she had an item (can't remember what it was) that was worth many thousands of dollars. The appraiser told her it was fake and only worth a few hundred bucks. She got in line with another appraiser and got the same 'fake' story. The AR staff stopped her from getting in a third queue.

She wasn't a happy camper, that lady.

 

[fetaby]

So how much is my Fenton ruby red hobnail toothpick holder worth? I tried looking it up today and couldn't even find one on ebay.

Or what about my limited edition Hello Kitty zodiac sign collector's mini-plate?

 

[Yooper]

So how much is my Fenton ruby red hobnail toothpick holder worth? I tried looking it up today and couldn't even find one on ebay.

Or what about my limited edition Hello Kitty zodiac sign collector's mini-plate?

What's scary is I know what BOTH of those things are.

Toothpick Holder: $20-40

Hello Kitty Anything: Priceless (as in zero )

 

[NedNickerson]

 

[fetaby]

I am always amazed at the state of the fingernails of the person who is providing the appraisal. As they are handling the item, the camera usually shows a close-up of their hands ... and they are filthy. I can understand someone's fingers getting covered in dust or dirt from handling antiques, but their fingernails are completely black sometimes, and those are the ones who appraise jewelry.

There's a lot of fake gold out there...

 

[fetaby]

How does it stay on the air????

something like this...

 

[frankfrank]

I guess they ask the question, because they want to engage the owner. The owner thought it was very possibly worth something, or wouldn't have bothered to take the object to the show. I think most people try to "guess" what their object is worth...

And that's nothing near as bad as the reporter who is talking to somebody who just got home from work to find out that his parents and his two siblings were killed when their car got hit by a train, and the reporter asks a question something like "How do you feel about this tragedy?"

 

[gsdx]

Who actually watches this program??
How does it stay on the air????

Yeah, I know. I mean, the programme is so. . . educational! That's just wrong in so many ways!!

It's certainly not up to the entertainment calibre of Two and a Half Men.

 

[frankfrank]

I do have a FQ in my life, and this program helps to fulfill it.

[FQ = Frivolity Quota]