Mike Wolfe, famed from "American Pickers," is seeing backlash for his Nashville store, Antique Archaeology, with customers citing high prices and a scarcity of genuine antiques.
According to the US Sun, the Nashville location of Antique Archaeology, owned by Mike Wolfe, is currently under fire for its pricing and the type of items available for sale.
Located in Nashville, Tennessee, Antique Archaeology is one of two stores owned by Wolfe, with the other in Le Claire, Iowa. The Nashville store, in particular, has drawn critique for its focus on branded merchandise over authentic antique goods. Visitors to the store have reported an overwhelming presence of items like shot glasses, t-shirts, and shop towels adorned with the shop’s name.
Furthermore, significant portions of the inventory purported to be antiques are marked as "Not For Sale," adding to consumer frustrations. Customers who travelled specifically for antiques felt misled, likening the shop more to a themed merchandise store than an antique shop. Their grievances prominently surfaced on platforms like Google reviews and social media.
Store visitors considered the $3,500 price tag on an antique coin-operated horse ride to be steep. Other costly items include a stock market machine cabinet offered at $3,000 and a cast iron water fountain priced at $1,500.
Less expensive, yet still disputed, items included a Coca-Cola diner clock for $300 and assorted artifacts with price tags of $595 and $195. The wide range of prices did not seem to align well with the expectations of the customers regarding rarity and authenticity.
The store has set a high price for a harmonica display case at $1,200 and labeled an industrial cabinet needing repairs at $995. Additionally, a Cleveland Euro Mod bike was on sale for $950, further underscoring the store's leaning towards higher-end pricing.
Discontent among store visitors is palpable, with one noting the displeasure of making a special trip only to find the store lacking in substantial antique offerings. Huge disappointment. Made a special trip to go there. Total waste of time. Very few items for sale, and what was there was overpriced. Don’t waste your time…” remarked one visitor.
Another echoed similar sentiments, "Waste of time, we love the show and were excited to get to go but it was a total waste of time! They have shot glasses, t-shirts, and can coozies and shop towels with their name on it, but not much else. Very few antiques and the ones they have are super expensive! $1,500 for a small Quaker sign,” they commented.
Additionally, the lack of genuine antiques combined with an abundance of mass-produced merchandise left another customer feeling unimpressed: “The Antique Archaeology store left me unimpressed. A lot of mass-produced souvenir items for sale with a few antiques on display,” noted a third reviewer.
"Would have been very disappointed if I came up just for this. Was expecting an antique store, not an American Pickers gift shop," stated another unsatisfied visitor, capturing the essence of the grievances related to the mismatch between expectations and what was actually available.
The timing of this feedback coincides with struggles faced by the "American Pickers" show itself, which has shown a downturn in viewership numbers during its 26th season. This dip in popularity may reflect broader challenges within the brand, potentially influencing customer expectations and satisfaction.
Antique Archaeology has yet to respond publicly to these criticisms. Meanwhile, online customer feedback advises potential visitors to adjust their expectations before planning a visit.
As customers express dissatisfaction, Antique Archaeology Nashville must determine how this feedback will influence its future business strategies or adjustments in inventory offerings.
For fans of the show and antique enthusiasts alike, the evolving nature of the store’s stock and pricing strategies will be something to watch, especially as it seeks to reconcile public expectations with its business model.
The ongoing dialogue between customer experiences and business response will likely shape the narrative surrounding Antique Archaeology soon, possibly giving rise to improvements or changes in how the store operates and markets itself to its audience.
