I want to make a living as a picker!

[Redline Gary]

I'm 40 years old and still have not found a job that I really like. I worked in a factory for 17 years until they sold out and have been landscaping for a childhood friend for the last several years. I am happy to have the job and the pay is always there and he even fronts me money if needed. I just don't love it, I don't wake up on fire to go to work. I know most people probably fall into this category. When I started collecting Redlines I have been on a constant hunt going to flea markets, garage sales, toy shows, auctions and estate sales. I not only hunt for redlines I also hunt for U.S. and German knives, WW2 items, coins, vintage toys and vintage fishing lures. When I get up to go to a auction or flea market I'm as happy as a kid in a candy store. I love the people, the hunt and the entire experience. Now watching American Pickers and some of these shows I realize that I want to do that. I really never had the desire to be a wealthy man I just want to be a happy one. Last week I bought a vintage tackle box full of lures at an auction for $70. I have already profited over $300 from that item. Thanks for listening to me type.

[classicfan1]

A few things here:

1. I cannot hear you type, I'm too far away

2. I was going to be a car mechanic because I loved cars, and I still do. I decided on my second interest: business. Why? Because working on cars is a hobby, old ones especially. I didn't think I'd enjoy reprogramming a 2015 Chevy Volt or whatever car we have (maybe a hovering DMC? That I wouldn't mind!) at that time. A hobby quickly turns into simple hard work that you do in a cycle and you may begin to actually dread it. It happened to my Cousin John. He loved working on cars and worked on them day in and day out as long as he desired. Well, he got a job as a car mechanic and the fun was gone. He now dreads it. Simply changing a tire or doing the brakes is now a chore for him. He now works with computers as he tries to regain his lost passion.

3. "Picking" is a job that very few people can do as their primary means of making a living. Those who do pull it off describe it, as a fellow antique dealer once told me, "Its a whole lotta work for very little money." I'm 18, I tried to get a job like evrybody else when I got to be the minimum age to be hired, 14. Every place in town wanted kids 16 or older, some even 18. The only place that would even look at me was McDonald's and I got nothing. So, I'll spare the details and say that for the last 4 or so years I've been a "picker". Hitting yard sales, garage sales, junkyards, scrap yards, barns, estate sales, and buying and selling. I did have a short part time job with the high school that earned me $115 per football season. Not bad for a teenager, but I'm going on the job market again. I know the economy has gotten nowhere since, but I'll try. I'm not holding my breath. But I'd have to agree with the above quote. I'd make trip after trip after trip and rarely would I hit something that would be worth it. I worked hard for every last penny I've ever earned. Which is one reason why I'm cheaper than Mr. Krabs.

4. TV shows like "American Pickers" or "Storage Wars" are just that. TV shows and nothing more. They make for great entertainment, and some parts are real I'm sure, probably the Pickers more than the Storage Wars guys, but its still TV nonetheless. The big scores won't happen every Monday night, they'll happen once in a blue moon.

So, I don't want to discourage you or change your mind, but I'm just stating what I've heard, learned, and know.

[ziurtoys]

Being a picker is hard work, trust me, been there... but I remember enjoying it not as a job... just for myself.... the fun of it.

[WLFD46]

I am a career firefighter and I truely love my job. Here is what I have always said, "If you love your job, you never have to work another day in your life" Yes we work holidays, missed many of my kids activities, work weekend, 24hr. days, and much more. But after 30 plus years in the fire service I still enjoy getting up and going to work.

Greg

[allsteelv8]

Picking is the best. I do a good bit of it myself. Can't quite cover the mortgage payment but it does fund my collecting habit. My favorite items (to keep) are the ones I find myself...you can't beat the thrill of the hunt. Meeting all sorts of people, chasing down the auctions, shaking hands and making connections is what it's all about. If I could figure out how to do it full time I'd quit my day job in a heartbeat!! Spring is just about here in Vermont, that means estate sales, garage sales, flea markets, car shows, etc. will be starting here again!! Good thing I have a few bucks to spend, picking season is right around the corner...woo-hoo!!

Justin

[rumbler bob]

I've tried to be a f/t "picker" but I still have to work a full time job as well.
I've never found any thing all that great. There are a lot of people out there doing the same thing.
I think the tv shows have made "pickers" out of a lot of people thinking their going to find the holy grail and strike it rich.
I probably spend more time and money than what I make.

[Little Wink]

Follow your heart, you seem to have some good luck and a real knack for this, who knows where this will bring you and what door might open up for you.

[terry9911]

I must have been ahead of my time due to garbage picking back in the late 60s when i was a kid. With pickers, you have to have some knowledge on about anything that could be collectable. My only specialty in that profession would be toys.

I could write a book on jobs I hated but Im one of the lucky ones since I love my job being a bus driver for the County. I use to be a heavy equipment operator for 15 years and loved that too. With this job, I deal with the public and that can be not so nice at times. They sort of take the fun out of my job at least a couple times a week. And I cannot repeat some of the names I'm called on this site, but some are quite creative.

I find that if you do anything as a job, it does become ho-hum after time passes. I love watching "American Pickers", as well as "Auction Hunters" and "Pawn Stars". Now I try to haggle with people on redlines especially in this economy and sometimes it pays off.

[camarocrazy2]

I don't like my Job!! In fact I hate it. why? The public. People. I work in retail, and have for over 25 years. I would do a lot to get out but as the story goes thats what I know and that's what pay's the bills. I would love to be a picker too. If I could make money at it I would do it in a second, the retail end of it would not be a problem for me!! Maybe combine picking and auction hunters in one and open a store!! The retail part I don't like is the nags, with the coupons and the rain checks and the people that can't read and don't know the differance from a 12pk and an 18 pk of beer!!

[Redline Whiteline]

i think the best way to pick is the storage lockers, especially if you go to auctions in upper class areas. get a cheap store front and make it like a goodwill/thrift store. a few months ago on the news they said the episode of storage wars that you won't see is the one where the guy paid $1200 for a unit and it had a half million dollars worth of gold and silver in it. they were not taping the show at the time of the auction. story was the lady who had the locker died and her kids didn't know she had it