Dave Hester from Storage Wars slapped a lawsuit against A&E that spawned a controversy. Dave claimed producers of the show “salt” the units with unique items to enhance the entertainment value of the show.
Layman terms – Dave claims the show is fake.
If Storage Wars’ lockers were and are salted by producers, then the spinoffs: Storage Wars: New York and Storage Wars: Texas may also be fabricated reality entertainment.
One of the most controversial reality series pertaining to storage units auctions is Auction Hunters: Pawn Shop Edition. At the start of each episode you read this intro:
“Each year Allen Haff and Ton Jones dig through hundreds of unclaimed storage units hunting for discarded treasures. These are the stories of their most rare and valued discoveries.”
The series suggest each episode is a reenactment of actual true life events. How does the pawn shop come into play?
On both their IMdb credit, neither Allen nor Ton were mentioned as “partners” in their bios.
The series however insinuates the Haff-Ton team have been partners for a long time when in all probability they first met on Auction Hunters in 2010.
Employees at the pawn shop are also actors:
- Big Sis – True identity unknown
- Lalo Fuentes Elle – actress Laura Soares and yes, she’s Brazilian
- Flula Borg – that’s his real name, he’s German and he is a musician
Check out Laura Soares’s IMdb page.
Check out Flula Borg’s Facebook page.
Reality TV defined as supposedly populated by real people, but even Allen Haff and Ton Jones are actors.
Who owns the pawn shop? Does it even exist for consumers to pawn and or to sell items? Begs the questions, “Is Auction Hunters: Pawn Shop Edition fake or is it reality TV scripted and staged for entertainment?”
It is yet unresolved if the producers of Storage Wars salt the units. However, it’s very probable (though there’s no proof either way) that neither Allen Haff or Ton Jones own a pawn shop. So how can something that isn’t real be reenacted as a real life story?
History Channel’s Pawn Stars contains historical facts. Storage Wars bubbles with tension among the bidders. Is it fair to speculate that Spike TV capitalized on the success of the two series by creating Auction Hunters: Pawn Shop Edition?
Is Amazing Race staged? No. They win Emmy Awards. Is Top Chef staged? No, they won an Emmy as well. Is any part of Auction Hunters real or is it a fake, staged and scripted reality TV entertainment show?
So, what do you think of Auction Hunters: Pawn Shop Edition?
Leave you interesting and creative responses below.
I saw the supposed “Auction Hunter” Ton Jones on an episode of Pit Bulls and Parolees as a snake wrangler, so what does guy really do for a living?
Tyanne – On Ton’s IMdb his first “acting” job was as a security guard on “CSI: NY” back in 2006. He was an animal wrangle on “I was Bitten” and a snake wrangler on “Venom in Vegas.” Currently he is a host on “Auction Hunters” which basically means he is playing himself. So he is both an actor and host. That’s what he does for a living. He gets paid to be on TV.
I think they are fake idiots
Deena – The show is a fake reality series at best. But it’s a bit harsh to call the actors “idiots” when they in turn are just doing their job. Just saying…
I’ve looked around they web and so many call auction hunters fake. What brought me to search in the first place it’s because I had my doubts whether it’s real. The first thing that bothers me is when they turn up at an auction there maybe only 3 units up for grabs there could be 30 attendees, but you only see a handful of bidders, what are the rest doing? I feel they are just props. Then there’s the part where they always seem to get most of the units. So when diving through they have great finds.I can understand that the show has a disclaimer at the beginning stating they go through 100’s of units and only show the best finds but does the show following them all through the year filming all those bad ones and only edit the good ones? Can’t see that myself. Then it’s the part where there is always a gun of some kind. Then when they find an expert that expert buys the item every time. I watch Dickinson real deal and the dealers don’t always want the items or they won’t pay the price and refuse the item all for the show
Jbl – Once they opened the pawn shop, then all illusions of reality burst. It oozed of “fake reality.” Too bad, for a moment they had me believing it was real. But like you said, they found way, way, waaaay too many antique guns. Just be entertained knowing it’s not real. Thanks for dropping by!
why on earth when ton and allen go to an expert to find out what an item is worth, dont he just tell them the item is only worth about a quater of its true value.. they always then ask for a stupid high price for it. then get close to what they want… to right its fake, if you really knew thay didnt have an idea of the value you would’nt tell em. knowing you might buy it for next to nothing. so so fake!!!
jontee0: I believe a true auction hunter would always get the correct value of any antique and then try to resale that item for as close to the appraisal amount as possible, not a quick flip as you see on the show.
I really couldn’t care less if it is real or not, if Elle ( Laura Soares) is on, I am watching. She oozes sexiness…. Drop dead gorgeous.
Off course “Auction Hunters” is fake!
It is obvious, that the comments that Alan and Ton give during the show, are rehearsed.
And how credible is it, that when they visit a potential buyer, to test a gun or vehicle or whatever, this buyer has the right amount of money -often thousands of dollars!- already in his pocket!
The episode were they ‘find’ a Bobcat mini digger and go to a the junk yard to sell it did it for me. The yard owners would only buy if it was shown to work an lo and behold theres a white car right behind them to use.After a few minutes smashing it up they do the dealing …..and the cars back as it was again!!
There are too many ‘real life as it happens’ shows were the cameras (sometimes multiple)are already there as they drive up or enter homes /storage units and barns etc. On the spot confrontations also and no one notices a camera crew !!!
If it isn’t a fix, it’s certainly strange how they always find something that blows up nicely on a slow motion camera.
After the scandals of other such “reality” shows it would make sense to stick with just 2 main likeable characters.
This would make the show easier to control, plus there’s no character who gets portrayed as a complete dick, since the networks are learning this tends to end badly for all parties.
It is a real shame what has happened to our factual tv channels over the 10 years.
Season 4, Episode 8: “Flying Ton, Creeping Allen.” All the “Asian gangsters” that Allen confronts are written down under this show as “Asian gangsters” #1-6 and are all actors.
I don’t care. Fake or not it’s doing what it’s supposed to do. Entertain. It does Entertain me. So I think it’s a good series
Didn’t big sis die?