On the rare occasion that I watch television, my daughter Nicole and I enjoy the history and treasures on Antiques Roadshow, a PBS program, in which expert antique appraisers uncover the stories and reveal the true value of objects. Sometimes people are pleasantly surprised that their items of nostalgia have great value.
Recently we received a press release from a group with a similar name that is coming to Lake County, called Treasure Hunters Roadshow.
The announcement evoked excitement for many people and apprehension from others.
This is not the same organization as Antiques Roadshow. It is not affiliated in any way.
There is no television program associated with this organization for starters.
A woman called me and said she looked up the organization and was disappointed in what she read online.
In fact, allegations and accusations of bounced checks followed the road show in 2008.
Matt Enright, vice president of media relations for the Treasure Hunters Roadshow, based in Illinois, says these issues were resolved. The money was returned and the company gave each of the many recipients of the bounced checks $25.
Enright also said that the organization plans on airing a television program and there are four episodes filmed so far.
He said the producer of the sitcom “Friends” is one of the collectors the group purchases for.
“Treasure Hunters Roadshow is 100-percent different than Antiques Roadshow,” according to Enright. He said the organization evaluates items at the market value and purchases items. He said Treasure Hunters Roadshow does about 1,200 shows per year in the U.S., Canada and the U.K.
Enright said collectors pay a finder”s fee, based on a percentage. He would not tell me what the percentage was.
The event takes place in Lakeport.
The Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians and Konocti Vista Casino responded to information relating to the Treasure Hunters Roadshow with the following statement:
“In the interest of preserving and enhancing our relationship with the Lake County community, and in order to maintain our integrity as an organization in this community, Konocti Vista Casino wishes to state that we are in no way affiliated with Treasure Hunters Roadshow and that they have contracted to rent a banquet room at our facility. We neither support nor oppose the Treasure Hunters Roadshow.”
A freelance columnist, Jaime O”Neill, who often writes columns for MediaNews Group papers wrote on April 3: “The Treasure Hunters Roadshow has raised more than a few suspicious eyebrows as they”ve made their way from town to town around the country, buying up gold and collectibles, and leaving in their wake some stories about bounced checks and questionable practices ?”
O”Neill points out that a connection surely will have lulled some potential customers into a false sense of security about just who they”re dealing with when they take items in to get them appraised. I agree with O”Neill.
The following response to his column was posted on Topix, “?Motivated by the many concerned Antiques Roadshow fans who”ve contacted us because of confusion about Treasure Hunters Roadshow, WGBH Boston, producer of PBS”s Antiques Roadshow, has filed suit against the owners and operators of Treasure Hunters Roadshow (THR). Among other things, the suit charges THR with false advertising, specifically using false and misleading statements in their advertising and by creating a false association with Antiques Roadshow. Unlike THR, Roadshow does not buy or sell anything; we”re committed to empowering viewers with information, not taking their money.
In the past, when alerting news media to these issues, we”ve been met mostly with indifference. Jaime has done a true service by exposing the dangerously slippery slope of news at the service of advertising. We and the 11 million weekly viewers of the real Antiques Roadshow thank you.
Judy Matthews
Senior Publicist
Antiques Roadshow”
I don”t care too much for organizations riding on the shirt-tails of established names. It smacks of deceit. Though Enright emphatically stated the two had nothing in common, it”s still confusing.
Make your own good name in business. The event may be just fine. I admit I can be a bit of a skeptic at times. Make informed decisions based on the integrity and reputation of the company you”re dealing with.
Caveat emptor. Enough said.
Mandy Feder is the Record-Bee news editor. She can be reached at mandyfeder@yahoo.com or 263-5636 Ext. 32.
