Line #101 Series/AuctionKings


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_auctionkingstitlecard_3865.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:From left to right: [[NewMeat Jon]], [[BenevolentBoss Paul]], [[MrFixIt Delfino]], [[SassySecretary Cindy]].]]
3	''Auction Kings'' is a reality TV show from the Creator/DiscoveryChannel which began airing in 2010. It follows the auction house Gallery 63 and several of its employees through a week of collecting strange pieces and then selling them at the end of the episode. Think of ''Series/PawnStars'', [[JustForFun/RecycledInSpace but in an auction house]]. The cast includes:
4
5	Main Cast:
6	* Paul Brown - [[BenevolentBoss Owner]]
7	* Cindy Shook - [[SassySecretary Manager]]
8	* Jon Hammond - Picker (tries to separate GrailInTheGarbage from WorthlessYellowRocks)
9	* Delfino Ramos - [[MrFixit Handyman]]
10	* Jason Brooks & Guerry Wise - [[MotorMouth Auctioneers]]
11
12	Extras:
13	* Bob Brown - Paul's father. Owns his own auction house, which specializes in antique furniture. Often brings pieces to Gallery 63 to sell that are too strange for his shop.
14	* Elijah Brown - Paul's son (and thus Bob's grandson). Occasionally seen helping out during the auctions. Has a ADayInTheLimelight episode, where he learns about the auction business.
15	* [[ThoseTwoGuys Steve and Ernie Garrett]] - Independent pickers from Michigan. They often pick up pieces that Paul has noticed a demand for and then bring them to Gallery 63 to sell.
16
17	Experts:
18	* Charles - Expert on foreign antiques.
19	* [[NotThatKindOfDoctor Dr. Lori]] – Expert brought in typically for historical pieces (except documents) and for pieces where the other experts wouldn't help.
20	* [[QuintessentialBritishGentleman Jamie Breese]] - Expert in British artifacts. Has appraised everything from a revolutionary war cannon to a [[CoolCar Rolls Royce]].
21	* [[BookWorm Kenneth]] - Expert on historical documents and books.
22	* Steven - Season 1's firearms expert.
23	* Sue - Paul's sister. Expert in antique furniture.
24	----
25	!!This series provides examples of:
26
27	* AllegedCar: While every car Paul sells does run, he once sold a Rolls Royce that went very cheap, because of its poor condition.
28	* {{Auction}}: The actual auction happens at the end of each episode. The rest of the episode is spent gathering and appraising pieces.
29	* ArtisticLicenseEconomics:
30	** The Garrett brothers in particular seem to have no problem buying a couple hundred dollars worth of stuff in Michigan and then driving it all the way to Atlanta, Georgia to sell it. Even when they make a profit, the transit costs and auction fees would eat up much of the profit.
31	*** ShownTheirWork: A poster on the now-defunct Creator/DiscoveryChannel forums did the math. Presumably, they either sell many more pieces than the show tells us about, or Discovery pays them.
32	** Sellers almost never take the auction house's cut into account when talking about how much money they want. The opening credits of season 1 suggest Paul takes 15-20% of the sale price.
33	* ArtisticLicenseLaw: AvertedTrope. Paul has pointed out that selling human body parts is illegal when a woman brought in a ShrunkenHead. Paul also pointed out that the shrunken head was fake. Needless to say, he didn't accept the piece.
34	* AsYouKnow: Like ''Series/PawnStars'', the experts will often tell Paul/Jon/Cindy things they would know for the benefit of likely less educated home viewers.
35	* ATankardOfMooseUrine: Jon's first attempt at brewing beer, having [[ReadTheFreakingManual not read the instructions]]. Cindy helps him to try again and their efforts are much more fruitful.
36	* ATeamFiring: Cindy managed to hit the device which carries the target at the shooting range. Paul is a much better shot.
37	* AwesomeButImpractical: Gasoline-powered blender? Gasoline-powered pogo-stick? Motorized ([[RuleOfThree and gasoline-powered)]] barstool? Paul has sold all three.
38	* BadAssInANiceSuit: Jamie always wears the strangest suits. He also beat Paul in a rematch of the UsefulNotes/AmericanRevolution... IE - an arm-wrestling match.
39	* BazaarOfTheBizarre: Paul is proud that his auction house sells many strange items. Bob will sometimes bring pieces to Paul that would do poorly at his own antique furniture auction house.
40	* BerserkButton: Cindy hates when people win an item at auction and then don't pay for it. Cindy makes Paul a MedalOfDishonor when he does it. Everyone else goes on the Wall Of Shame.
41	* BettingMiniGame:
42	** Once, on a roulette wheel. Outcome: standard commission.
43	** Jon and Cindy bet on the sale price of a pack of Billy Beer. After the expert values it as "worthless", Jon bets Cindy it'll sell for at least $100. Jon ends up winning.
44	* BlingBlingBang:
45	** One of the pieces auctioned was a gambler's chain, with a concealed pistol on the end. The expert determined it had been fired at some point.
46	** The muff pistols were fancy, single-shot pistols intended for a Victorian women to conceal on her person. They were made with genuine ivory.
47	* BoringButPractical: Speed rugs. Sell as many rugs as fast as you can! Takes Jon all episode to prepare for it, though.
48	* BreakOutCharacter: The auctioneers, who were PromotedToOpeningCredits in season 4.
49	* BrutalHonesty: The experts tend to do this. [[JustifiedTrope It's their job]]. One expert in particular valued a case of Billy Beer at... nothing. He suggested Paul recycle the aluminum cans.
50	* BurgerFool: Jon used to work in telemarketing. He mentions how awful it was several times in season one.
51	* ButtMonkey: Jon and Cindy. Jon typically gets teased for being the new guy, while Cindy hurts herself using toys and a [[{{Squick}} vibrator]].
52	* CasanovaWannabe: Jamie loves to make passes at Cindy. She is generally unimpressed.
53	* {{Catchphrase}}: Guerry is known for saying "You bought it" after each item he auctions. Jon and Cindy name a home-made beer after the phrase in one episode.
54	* CharacterDevelopment: Jon goes from being the "new picker" in season 1 to one of Paul's trusted employees in later seasons. Elijah also becomes more involved in the auction house after his pencil-selling episode.
55	* ContinuityNod: As one auction provides enough material for several episodes, items from earlier episodes can sometimes be seen in the background.
56	* CoolAndUnusualPunishment: Using a toe-pulling device on Jon's fingers to find out if he left a case unlocked? Don't mess with Cindy.
57	* CoolCar: Several. The recreation of the Delorean from ''Franchise/BackToTheFuture'' impressed the crew from the actual movie enough that one of them came to the auction to promote it.
58	* CoolSword: An authentic {{katana\|sAreJustBetter}} from UsefulNotes/WorldWarII? A SwordCane? Gallery 63 has sold both.
59	* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: The team was trying to sell a vibrator from the 1920s. The item itself had originally been marketed as a medical device (cultural standards of the 1920s and all). As a result, both the expert and auctioneer poked fun at its "applications".
60	-->'''Guerry:''' It cures what ails you. Ladies?
61	* DownerEnding: Anytime an item sells for far less than its estimated value. Even worse if there's a reserve, as Paul doesn't get any money, the seller is stuck with the item, and the buyer doesn't get anything either.
62	* DramaticPause: Anytime an expert looks at a signature, expect a pause before they announce if its authentic.
63	* DreadfulMusician:
64	** A [[DownplayedTrope downplayed example]] comes in the form of Cindy. When a drum set comes in, Cindy reveals she has a drumset at home and knows how to play. It turns out she knows how to play exactly one beat, which she does continually.
65	** Paul himself had an expensive guitar he wanted to take lessons to play. After never getting around to it, Cindy convinces him to auction it, as valuable guitars were in high demand at that time.
66	** The broken Calliope sounded awful when it was first turned on. After Delfino got some help fixing it, they were able to auction it.
67	** The player-piano also sounded awful pre-repairs. Again, after some love from Delfino, it was ready for auction.
68	** {{Averted\|Trope}} by Jon, who was able to learn to passably play the Stumpf Fiddle in time for the auction.
69	* EpicFail:
70	** The Billy Beer was appraised as worthless. [[AvertedTrope Didn't stop it from selling for over $100 though]].
71	** A seller brings in a stamp they claim is worth a million dollars. Cindy calls in an expert and is floored when she hears the stamp is really worth it... if it were real. Naturally, the stamp is a cheaper reproduction and the seller pulls it.
72	** A seller wants to sell a cart which he runs a business out of. It breaks being unloaded from the trailer, and no one can find a replacement wheel. The most expensive item of the auction is in the front yard, broken.
73	* FollowTheLeader: Itself followed {{Series/Pawnstars}}.
74	* GamblingBrawl: The fact that this trope ''can'' be TruthInTelevision is implied when Paul sells an antique gambler's chain that has a hidden pistol on the end. While the viewer never sees it, the expert is able to determine that it had been fired.
75	* GenerationXerox: Bob runs an auction house. Paul runs an auction house. Elijah is considering joining the auction world as well.
76	* GrailInTheGarbage: When doing a pick, they never just take what they came for. Paul and Jon often find very valuable things in basements. Oftentimes, the owner didn't even know they had it.
77	* GunsAkimbo: The muff pistols were designed to be used in this manner. Given that each only held a single shot, it's fairly justified.
78	* HypocriticalHumor: Paul ends up owing his own auction house money after he buys some art and doesn't pay. Cindy spends the whole episode harassing him about it.
79	* INeedAFreakingDrink: Might as well, seeing as you need to test that [[AwesomeButImpractical gasoline-powered blender]] anyway.
80	* ImprobableAimingSkills: Paul is a good shot, given he doesn't normally fire guns.
81	* IronMaiden: The Garrett brothers bring in an iron maiden to sell in their debut episode. Paul is quick to point out that they did not actually exist in the Middle Ages.
82	* ItWillNeverCatchOn: The gasoline-powered pogo stick was briefly somewhat popular. [[MyLittlePanzer Until a bunch of kids hurt themselves and it was banned]].
83	* KatanasAreJustBetter: Especially if they come with a rifle and are from UsefulNotes/WorldWarII.
84	* {{Kayfabe}}: An online article from a seller who went to Gallery 63 reveals that Creator/DiscoveryChannel will reach out to online sellers and try to convince them to auction their piece instead. The show does not reveal when this has occurred.
85	* LaserGuidedKarma: Jon tries to trick Cindy into thinking a Ouija board is haunted. Cindy notices the fishing line Jon used to scare her (by pulling a chair out). She plays along and suggests telling Paul. Jon eventually ends up having to bring in a psychic to cleanse the board. Later, Cindy reveals that she knew he tricked her.
86	* LikeFatherLikeSon: Auctions are in the blood.
87	* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane:
88	** The Ouija board, which predicts it's own sell price. It was appraised at between $100 and $200, and itself predicted the price would have a '5' in it. It ends up going for $150... the exact middle of the appraisal and a value with a '5' in it. Cindy is not amused when she realizes Jon bought it.
89	** The haunted art cabinet. The medium brought in claims it has positive energy. Another artist buys it to store art supplies. Hopefully, the ghost is satisfied.
90	* MockGuffin:
91	** Everything from fake swords to a very beat up piano. Even worse is when the item would be worth more if it were real or in good shape.
92	** One seller brought in a stamp which they claimed was worth a million dollars. When the expert confirmed that the stamp would indeed be worth a million if it were real, Cindy looked ready to pass out. [[DownerEnding Sadly, the stamp was a cheaper reproduction]].
93	** This repeated again with a Music/TheBeatles album cover. And again, it was the cheaper reproduction.
94	* MoreDakka: Paul has sold a couple cannons, along with the usual antique guns.
95	* MrExposition: The experts will usually give a detailed history of the piece they're looking at. If there's no history to be found, they'll explain why that is.
96	* MrFixIt: Delfino can fix just about anything. Only once has he been forced to get outside help (The Calliope).
97	* NationalStereotypes: {{Invoked\|Trope}} by Jamie, who strives to be as British as possible.
98	* NegatedMomentOfAwesome: One of Jon's first picks was a beautiful Venetian mirror. Its appraised for several thousand dollars. It goes up to auction and sells for only a couple hundred.
99	* NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished: Paul almost always fails to meet reserves. He does occasionally take them, but is very hesitant.
100	* NostalgiaFilter: Paul loves the 1980s. Jon loves old toys. Neither of them are knowledgeable enough to bypass calling an expert when items of the appropriate era show up though.
101	* OffScreenVillainDarkMatter: One of the recurring bidders mentions that she won the lottery. She uses this money to buy antiques. Certainly the other bidders must think of her as this trope.
102	* OnceDoneNeverForgotten:
103	** Jon bringing in the banged up piano.
104	** Cindy hurting herself on the gasoline-powered pogo-stick or shocking herself on the 1920s vibrator.
105	** Paul forgetting to pay for a piece of art and ending up on the Wall of Shame.
106	** The fake signed first-edition first-printing of ''Literature/GoneWithTheWind''. {{Lampshade\|Hanging}}d when another signed first-edition first-printing of ''Literature/GoneWithTheWind'' shows up and the same expert appraises it.
107	* PromotionToOpeningTitles: The Auctioneers in season 5.
108	* PutOnABus: Several of the old experts haven't been seen in a while. Sometimes items of their expertise don't come in. Other times, they just vanish.
109	* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Paul is very level-headed and tends to take Jon's screw-ups in stride. Cindy tends to be more hot-headed.
110	* RecurringExtra:
111	** All the experts, who are only on if there's a piece for them to appraise. Paul's dad and son also show up from time-to-time.
112	** A few of the buyers and sellers are also repeat customers. Paul will occasionally mention items they've bought or sold in the past.
113	* RefugeInAudacity: One lady brings in a seemingly normal piece of furniture and insists it's worth $80,000. When Paul finds out it's worth at most a couple hundred, she sells it anyway.
114	* RuleOfCool / RuleOfFun: {{Invoked\|Trope}}. Paul will often sell things that have very little value, as he's found entertained bidders will bid higher on expensive pieces.
115	* ShaggyDogStory:
116	** When a piece comes in that is expected to sell for much more than it goes for. Paul is quick to point out that the buyer is certainly happy though.
117	** Unless a reserve is not met, in which case the seller is stuck with the piece, Paul gets no money and the buyer doesn't get the piece.
118	* SchmuckBait:
119	** That baby-grand piano that Jon was sent to get. It turned out to be a piece of junk. Luckily, Jon came back with several other valuable pieces.
120	** In general, when a piece looks like it could be valuable, but the condition hurts the price.
121	** Paul himself admits that pianos sell terribly at Gallery 63, so he tends to avoid them unless they are unique.
122	* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: Paul asks his sports memorabilia expert to appraise a pallet of baseball cards. The expert flat out refuses.
123	* SeinfeldianConversation: When a piece comes in that no one has any idea what it is, the team will sometimes discuss what it could be while they wait for the expert. Sometimes, even the seller is clueless. At least once, even the expert was stumped.
124	* SerialEscalation: Occasionally [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]], when a piece comes in that is a more extreme version of something they previously sold.
125	* SharpDressedMan: Jamie wears some very strange but stylish suits.
126	* StockYuck: The Garrett brothers often complain they'll have to eat bologna sandwiches if they lose money on a piece.
127	* SwordCane: Although not of the greatest quality, Paul sold one for quite a bit of money due to the novelty factor.
128	* TakeAThirdOption: Joel owns a pawn shop down the road from Gallery 63. When he buys something he'll have trouble reselling (hoping the original seller will come back for it), he'll often bring the piece to Paul to auction instead.
129	* TheStinger: Most episodes end with some kind of finagling with an incident earlier in the show, such as an item purchased or some altercation, making this double as a BrickJoke.
130	* TheStoic: Delfino gets frustrated fixing broken pieces, but always keeps his cool.
131	* ThisLooksLikeAJobForAquaman: Some of the experts have very narrow specialties, but Paul is always glad to know them when that one piece comes in that is in that specialty.
132	* TimTaylorTechnology: The gasoline-powered blender is fully functional, but also has no reason to be that powerful. Doesn't stop Paul and Delfino from testing it by making margaritas with it though.
133	* ThoseWackyNazis: And their valuable ideology handbook, which Paul auctions. Bob buys it to donate to a museum.
134	* TooAwesomeToUse: One seller brought in a motorcycle with only a couple miles on the odometer. This was the only time in the entire series that Paul was unable to test-ride a vehicle he sold.
135	* TookALevelInBadass: Jon goes from being "The new picker" in season one, to being "My [Paul's] picker" in later seasons.
136	* TrademarkFavoriteFood: The Garrett brothers love cheeseburgers.
137	* UnsatisfiableCustomer: Some people bring in a piece, and then keep it in the auction when it appraises for far less than what they want. When the item sells for less than they wanted, they get pissed.
138	* WellDoneSonGuy: Elijah learns the auction business at his dad's request. Jon also tends towards this, but not towards his dad, but rather Paul.
139	* WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes: Paul hates flying, Cindy hates heights in general. Paul had to ride with on a test flight of a plane he was to sell. Cindy got brought along to ride in a hot-air balloon. They both ended up enjoying the experiences in the end.
140	* WorthlessYellowRocks:
141	** Art tends to sell for a fraction of its value. Some people bring in gold or silver pieces and are annoyed when they go for little more than scrap value.
142	** Specifically, Paul tells sellers to expect to get only 20% of the appraisal value.
143	----
144	''[[TheStinger You bought it!]]'' [[invoked]]

Context Series / AuctionKings