Parents' Guide to

Real Deal

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

Collectible dealing is mild, but not much kid appeal.

TV History Reality TV 2007
Real Deal Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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What's the Story?

REAL DEAL features people who own a piece of history and want to sell it quickly for top dollar. Each episode features someone who wants to sell his/her collectible, including vintage cars, old slot machines, autographed footballs, and other items that have some kind of nostalgic appeal. They then sit at a negotiation table with an expert dealer like San Diego picker Troy Howerton or pawn broker Chip Plemmons to negotiate a sale. If the number of greenbacks the dealer lays on the table doesn't impress the seller, he or she can take the item to auction to see if they will get more for it. Sometimes it leads to a lot more cash, but other times sellers are left wishing they hadn't taken the risk.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

The series highlights the negotiation process between a person who wants pay as little as possible for the item and a person who wants to get as much money as possible for the same thing. But the real fun comes from the suspense created both by the wheeling and dealing, as well as the auction bidding process.

Some may find the cash negotiation process a little uncomfortable to watch, especially when folks seem more driven by greed than by the actual retail or nostalgic value the item. But viewers who like antiques and collecting will probably like (and possibly learn something from) what they see here.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what kind of education and discipline goes into buying and selling antiques and collectible items. How do experts balance the actual resale value of an item with the historic and/or nostalgic value people may place on it?

  • What is it about buying and selling people's treasures (or trash) that makes for successful reality TV? Is it the history behind the items being featured? Or is it the potential amount of cash someone can get for their stuff?

TV Details

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