I'd rather sit outside Cash Converters and watch the show (Cash in the Attic)

Member Name: norton501

Product:	Cash in the Attic
Date:	15/08/09 (24 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: background noise

Disadvantages: watching people getting ripped off to earn cash for things they dont need anyway...

I caught this programme on TV when I was off work ill. It is a daytime tv show that has been in air since 2002 and is now into its 14th series.

There have been a variety of "presenters" who are more like narrators as they talkover the things happening on TV. Ben Fogle and Gloria Hunniford are a few of the "presenters" in recent years who tell you what is going on as the show progresses.

The idea of the show is the BBC team goes to someones house and has a rummage around. It isn't just about the attic as the title could indicate. They basically go along with alleged antiques experts and point out all thie nic-nacks and things people have collected or hoarded over the years and estimate prices these items COULD (note emphasis on the word COULD) fetch at auction. The participants then take all their "junk" to a local auction and they all stand in a huddle at the back of the auction room eagerly waiting to see if their items sell.

The people who take part in the show are normally over 45 (the shows I have seen have had people aged 55-70) who wants some cash (normally £500 to £1000) for something like their 6th holiday this year to Magaluf or painting lessons or something like that. The show doesn't have people on there who need to pawn all their belonings to stop their house being repossessed or anything cutting edge and desparate.

It is more (in my opinion) quite old people who want some extra money for a hobby or something they don't actually need in the first place- therefore if their stuff doesn't sell their reaction is "Oh well, lets go for a cuppa and forget the fact I've just sold that vase I really like and bought for £200 for £1". As they cart all their stuff to a LOCAL auction, it depends on who is there buying things on the day- so if the "antiques expert" has said "Oh that COULD fetch £300" on the day, I have frequently seen things not sell at all with a starting bid of £10.

You know the sellers are just going to re fill their houses with the same clutter within the next few months so they aren't actually saving money just making space to spend more money on little nic nacks.

I saw a gorgeus Globe drinks cabinet on the show- the "experts" said it 'might' go for £20, I have seen these on sale in department stores for £400, but the one on the show sold for £1 ! The couple on the show spent £200 on the cabinet and weren't that bothered it had sold for £1.

So, in that sense I found the show infuriating. The "Experts" are often quite off in their estimations, they are gambling on people paying the top prices for things if they went to auction on a day every collector in the UK was in the auction room and the people selling their stuff aren't that bothered about the price they get. Its like estimating what something will sell for at a car boot sale- they know what people will pay at an auction - ie £1 to £100 max.

I would say it is a pointless show as if the people really needed the money, they would just sell everything on ebay and get more money that way. Its like sitting outside Cash Converters and watching people get paid £5 for a DVD player that you know the buyer will put back on sale in their shop (or probably on ebay) for about £50!. It is a good show to put on whilst you are hoovering or preoccupied with being ill.

Summary: Infuriating, but its daytime tv