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Will they cash in on treasure...

or cash out on trash?

FAQ

photo of the four pickers on set, surrounded by antiques and vintage objects What is MARKET WARRIORS?

MARKET WARRIORS, premiering Monday, July 16, 2012, at 9pm, is a new 20-part PBS series that follows four pickers (antiques professionals) as they go cross-country to buy at flea markets and antiques shows, and then sell everything at auction. In each one-hour episode Bob, John, Kevin and Miller put their reputations on the line — as they're pitted against the clock, a budget and each other — to embark on nationwide treasure hunts, scouring flea markets and antiques shows for vintage valuables. The goal: to score the biggest profit in each show's final auction segment. 

What is a picker? 

A picker is another word for someone who buys and sells antiques. In a sense, all dealers are pickers.

How much money do the pickers have to work with in each episode?

Each player is given a starting bank of about $1,000. However, the bank can vary with the buying venue. Players cannot go beyond the dollar amount in their bank, but may spend less than given.  

How is the winner chosen?

The picker who makes the highest total profit at auction in each episode is named the winner, earning bragging rights for eclipsing his peers. With affectionate humor, MARKET WARRIORS follows the combatants, gleaning the best tactics from the battlefield and arming viewers to pursue their own successful treasure hunts.

What happens to the profits? 

The profits made by the pickers go back to financing MARKET WARRIORS.

Do the sellers pay a seller's premium?

A seller's premium is the amount an auction house charges a seller for selling her or his lot. On MARKET WARRIORS, sometimes there's a seller's premium, and sometimes it's waived. We've chosen not to include those costs in the game tallies.

Do the buyers pay a buyer's premium?

A buyer's premium is the amount an auction house adds to the sale price of a sold lot. On MARKET WARRIORS, a buyer's premium is paid according to the auction houses' rates.

Do the pickers pay sales tax when purchasing?

Yes, those costs are included in total purchase price, though it's up to the seller to be responsible for sales tax. 

What is the relationship between MARKET WARRIORS and ANTIQUES ROADSHOW?

MARKET WARRIORS is a new competition series from the producers of ANTIQUES ROADSHOW. Both series are produced for PBS by WGBH in Boston. The producers wanted to turn the lens on the antiques experts themselves and the competition they face in the marketplace.

Why are they called MARKET WARRIORS?

They are not doing ordinary buying and selling of antiques; what they're doing is extraordinary. They are being presented with the challenge of getting profits under impossible situations that are layered with obstacles.  It's a challenge for even veteran antiques and collectibles experts on the show. That's where the game becomes really interesting.

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