Reality-based television shows devoted to the antiques and collectibles trade are nothing new. The trend started in the late 1990s when PBS decided to bring “Antiques Roadshow” to American audiences. “Antiques Roadshow” originally started airing in the United Kingdom in the 1970s. By the early 2000s, shows based on the antiques and collectibles trade slowly started trending with the premier of “Collector Inspector” that was presented on HGTV and starred collectibles expert Harry Rinker. By the time the 2008-09 financial crisis hit, television producers ready to capitalize on the state of the overall economy saw the antiques and collectibles trade as the next big thing. “Pawn Stars,” “American Pickers,” and “Storage Wars,” would premier by 2010 and prove to be a massive ratings success for their networks. Most of these shows are still in production today, but with their success would come other shows that would last only a few seasons. “Toy Hunter” and “Market Warriors” are two of my favorites and worth checking out. Sadly, both of these shows are no longer in production today.
By 2017, it seemed as though the reality television boom starring the antiques and collectibles trade was starting to grow stale. Know that I am a diehard lover of antiques and collectibles, so if you were to argue it happened long before that, I would be in agreement with you. I just happen to still be watching these shows today, so my perception may be skewed.
Around the time streaming platforms became the norm, it became clear that documentaries and series based on antiques and collectibles would not fall by the proverbial wayside. Netflix aired several documentaries on niche markets in the trade. “Sneakerheads” was a drama-comedy series that was released in 2020 about the obsession and lives of hardcore sneaker collectors. This would pave the way for the incredible documentary “The PEZ Outlaw” that would premier in 2022. Even Beanie Baby mania was not immune, as HBO Max would release a documentary about the massive speculation bubble that took place in the 1990s for these cheaply made stuffed toys.
Most of these television shows and documentaries were and are hit or miss or only appeal to a subset of hardcore niche collectors. Recently, Netflix decided to release a six-episode series titled the “King of Collectibles” featuring Goldin Auctions and its eccentric founder, Ken Goldin. The show is eerily similar to another lesser-known series devoted to the collectibles trade. That show was “Million Dollar Auctions” and featured Morphy Auctions, headquartered out of Adamstown, Pa. “Million Dollar Auctions” actually debuted overseas in 2013 but is now free to watch on most online streaming platforms and can be found relatively easily if you are curious enough to watch. Unfortunately, “Million Dollar Auctions” is not as exciting as watching an episode of “American Pickers” or even “Pawn Stars.” Still, if you are a diehard devotee to the antiques and collectibles trade, it may be worth the time, just don’t expect the same types of characters you would find in an episode of “American Pickers.” My problem with this particular show and with “King of Collectibles” is that these shows serve as glamorized advertisements for the auction houses and their founders. As a result, and in my humble opinion, they have little worth other than to provide hype-driven content, where the value and investment of certain antiques and collectibles is front and center. As I continue to state in almost every article, certain antiques and collectibles can make fantastic alternative investments over the short or long term. However, the average naive viewer coming into the trade armed with little knowledge is at an extreme disadvantage, and most of these shows do nothing but add false misconceptions to how collectible markets actually work. It should also be noted that most auction houses have a vested interest in getting collectors to frequently buy and sell. Just look at both the buyer’s premium and seller commissions these firms charge and compare it to the management fee of a simple low-cost stock index fund. The so-called investor in the antiques and collectibles trade is already at a significant disadvantage just due to the fees. The chances of any newbie simply watching these kinds of shows and making a valid investment in the antiques and collectibles trade thereafter is slim to none. As such, after watching all six episodes of “King of Collectibles,” I was left disappointed. It was almost like I watched a long infomercial as to why I should be investing in sports memorabilia, vintage Apple computers, and “Pokemon” cards, as all three of these collecting categories premiered front and center in this series.
I fully understand that it is not the responsibility of these reality-based television shows to provide an accurate and ethical picture of the trade as it is, just like it is not the responsibility of the producers of the show “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” to replicate the lifestyle of the average housewife. However, I do think the antiques and collectibles trade finds itself in a bad place at present time with hype-driven content not only premiering on streaming platforms, but also on social media sites like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. The risks of investing in these markets are quite real, and novice collectors and speculators coming into these markets need to understand that investing in antiques and collectibles is actually quite boring over the long term. Case in point: my beloved rare coin collection resides in a bank safe deposit box. The only time I get to view it is when I am adding a new piece to the collection. Incidentally, this lack of excitement is never portrayed on any of these shows. Instead, they show you Wall Street-like trading that any true stock investor knows is nothing like what occurs in their boring mutual fund investment account. Investing in anything, whether it be an index fund, a collectible, a bond, or a commodity is done over the long term and should not be compared to frequent trading.
In conclusion, I cannot recommend shows like the “King of Collectibles” for most viewers. However, if you want to see some cool collectibles and some eccentric personalities, then it might be fun for you. However, if you are thinking of attempting to invest in collectibles as a result of this show or any other reality-based television show for that matter, please do your research. And if you are thinking of consigning any collectibles to any auction house simply because they were featured in a television show, please either seek out the advice of a neutral independent collectibles expert first, or at least understand your options. Much like the title of the show in question, I can assure you, you are not the King of Collectibles, but someone is, and they make a lot of money in consignment fees off of people who think they are. Don’t believe me? Just visit online collecting forums and read the many posts of people who have lost thousands of dollars speculating in collectibles. Until next time.

Shawn Surmick has been an avid collector since the age of 12. He currently resides in his hometown of Boyertown, Pa., and is a passionate collector of antiques and collectibles. His articles focus on various topics affecting the marketplace.