For those from CT-- has anyone seen those "Good Old Tom" pawnbroker ads for coins?
Longacre
Posts: 16,717 ✭✭✭
This message is probably not relevant for anyone who does not live in CT. There is a local commercial that plays quite regularly for a pawn broker in northern CT. I can't remember the name of the shop, but the owner's name is Tom. He is referred to in the commercial as "Good Old Tom".
The commercial starts a regular person and the person says, "I didn't have the money to pay my rent, but then I realized that I had a watch that I could sell for cash. That's when I went to see Tom and he gave me $100 for it! Good Old Tom!!" Then the next person says something like, "I didn't have money to make my car payment this month, so I brought some old coins and Tom gave me $500 for them! Imagine that!! Good Old Tom!!".
The last scene of the commercial shows "Good Old Tom" nodding his head, with this smug look on his face, and holding a fist full of cash. Every time I see that commercial, I think of the "deals" that Good Old Tom is getting from unsuspecting customers.
Has anyone seen that commercial?
The commercial starts a regular person and the person says, "I didn't have the money to pay my rent, but then I realized that I had a watch that I could sell for cash. That's when I went to see Tom and he gave me $100 for it! Good Old Tom!!" Then the next person says something like, "I didn't have money to make my car payment this month, so I brought some old coins and Tom gave me $500 for them! Imagine that!! Good Old Tom!!".
The last scene of the commercial shows "Good Old Tom" nodding his head, with this smug look on his face, and holding a fist full of cash. Every time I see that commercial, I think of the "deals" that Good Old Tom is getting from unsuspecting customers.
Has anyone seen that commercial?
Always took candy from strangers
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
0
Comments
I went to his shop once --- he only sells cleaned crap to retail customers. I suspect if he gets his hands on any good stuff he wholesales it to real dealers. At the time, silver was about $8 an ounce, I overheard him paying 2.5x face to someone for Mercury Dimes.
Good Old Tom? Hmmmmm. I picture people walking in with a box of coins, then walking out with their pants around their ankles. Is there a 55 gallon drum of Vaseline in the corner?
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I too love the high quality production values. I do wonder, though, about the great prices he must offer. Even on late night TV, advertising is quite expensive.
Coin Rarities Online
09/07/2006
<< <i>Good Old Tom? Hmmmmm. I picture people walking in with a box of coins, then walking out with their pants around their ankles. Is there a 55 gallon drum of Vaseline in the corner? >>
That about sums it up.
I don't think he makes a killing though -- most people with any sense know you can trust 'Ol Tom about as much as a "Buy Here Finance Here" used car dealer. And Connecticut regulations make it tough for 'Ol Tom to make money on stolen stuff.
<< <i>I've never seen then. What channel are they on? >>
I think a lot of his ads are through Cox Cable when they run the local ads. You might occasionally see one of "Tom's" ads on one of the Hartford TV stations as well -- I think some of the Gold Coast towns carry the Hartford stations.
<< <i>Good Old Tom? Hmmmmm. I picture people walking in with a box of coins, then walking out with their pants around their ankles. Is there a 55 gallon drum of Vaseline in the corner? >>
Great play-by-play! Al Michaels has nothing on you!
Good Old Tom just brings to mind an old piece of advice I heard: Never trust a guy who's first name is that of a major U.S. city.
But really, how many semi-desperate people (who need money in a crunch) would actually have good stuff to start with?
<< <i>Everyone from CT checking in... I've seen the TV ads!
But really, how many semi-desperate people (who need money in a crunch) would actually have good stuff to start with? >>
good stuff can be found in the darnest places. ya just never know.
Sean Reynolds
"Keep in mind that most of what passes as numismatic information is no more than tested opinion at best, and marketing blather at worst. However, I try to choose my words carefully, since I know that you guys are always watching." - Joe O'Connor
<< <i>I've never seen then. What channel are they on? >>
man oh man I get a kick out of this bill, I see it all the time. Im not sure how you could miss it if you turn on the tube once in awhile
the last guy in most of the commercials is the 500.00 guy...
good ole uncle tom!
that cheap cowboy hat he wears would be greatly accented if he decided to wear some hawaiin shirts with it instead of that rusty old suit
Go BIG or GO HOME. ©Bill
edited to add: actually, it sounds quite evil, can't make the car payment so you let tom rape you and then quise him up as good ol tom while soliciting for more victims, amazingly awful.
<< <i>Good Old Tom? Hmmmmm. I picture people walking in with a box of coins, then walking out with their pants around their ankles. Is there a 55 gallon drum of Vaseline in the corner? >>
Vaseline is not poltically correct, I belive they have a giant tube of warming KY.