This just proves what bums Rick Harrison and his crew are. They constantly low ball people and in the interview segments, brag about how much they'll get for the items. Glad she got the 12 grand.

I saw this transaction on "Pawn Stars" and it was an example of why I don't watch it anymore. Ms. Hutton was offered the 500 dollars and the reasons they gave her for only 500 were all designed to low ball her. I understand they need to make a profit at the Pawn Shop, but, in the little interview about the script, Rick Harrison talked about how much they were going to make off of it, and it was pretty detestable. They shouldn't low ball customers and talk up how hard it's going to be to sell and how costly for them to hold it, and then turn around and brag about the "big money" they're going to make. "Pawn Stars" is really a pretty poor representation of business ethics, in my view. I'm glad she walked away from the Harrisons.

Why hasn't a Cheers: Las Vegas been put into one of the resorts?

It's good she "snubbed" the Pawn Stars. They regularly hose people and it's time more stand up and pass on the offers. How many times do you watch them low ball someone, yet in the subsequent interview, brag about how much they're going to make? All the time. Rick, the Old Man and Corey show less integrity each episode.

Hard to believe this is the same man who built a hotel at the Golden Nugget, when they didn't have one, and devised the crowd pleasing Mirage and Treasure Island. When Steve built Bellagio, it was built with the intention of creating ultimate luxury, but accessible luxury. Luxury for the common man. I have never felt out of place at Bellagio, and that's because Steve was in touch with people and knew what they wanted and how to take care of them. When Le Reve (now Wynn) was announced, I was so excited cos I thought the Bellagio experience would be repeated. How wrong I was. I never go into Wynn anymore, cos I am not wealthy and I feel I am somehow in enemy territory, and I am the enemy. Wynn is so geared to the high roller, that the personal touch for all is non existent. And the tips sharing scheme showed that Steve no longer cared about the welfare of the employees of his company, the engine of the whole machine. He just needed another way to money grub. Now Steve has Monaco citizenship. Gone is the visionary who saved Vegas. In his place is just another rich jerk. I felt sorry for Steve when he was forced out at Mirage. If he's leveraged his new company to Wall Street, it will be hilarious to see him take another fall.

I thought they had done this years ago. It doesn't matter much. What opportunities is Loveman talking about, that they don't have now. I'd like to see them look towards opening a new property geared toward the moderate end customer. Everything in Vegas has been hurt since the rush to accomodate the "high rollers". Best example, the implosion of the Stardust, a great moderate market property. Their rush to exploit the high rollers blew up in their face, and I'm sure Boyd would love to have that property back.

I last visited the Riv 3 years ago, and vowed not to go back. We had stayed there 10 years ago and it was pretty nice at the time. What I saw three years ago just grossed me out. It was not that the property was old, that's fine. They were not leveraging the history of it. They had no logo merchandise. The restrooms were filthy. They have one of the remaining "classic" Vegas properties and need to play on that. Investing in the aesthetics and reinvigoration of their identity will go a long way toward profitability. Also, they should focus on the low to mid market customer. There are enough high end properties, and they aren't going to be nice enough, any time soon, to compete with those, so why try? Offer great values in a clean property. And use the heritage of the hotel as well. Embrace the past!

So the bar is SO low that looking "reasonably credible" is enough? As a Dem, Reid has not been a great leader and yes, he's been in the Senate a long time, but consider Angle, as the alternative. She thinks we'll get out of economic difficulties, "with God's help." I would think that if "God" were in a helpful mood on economics, we'd never have gotten in trouble in the first place. Angle is against unemployment insurance. Anyone unemployed in NV should think about that when voting. She'll end your benefits. Angle is a moralist. That's all fine and good, except the main economic driver in NV is vice. Also, she's ignorant on the issues. Hopefully there are enough sane people in Vegas and Reno to knock her out.

I stayed there a few years ago, and really enjoyed it. Last year my wife and I went to the Riv, and what I found to be disappointing about the hotel was that there was no logo apparell available. Nothing at all with the name Riviera on it. I found that pathetic quite actually. This could be a good property again, if they had ownership with some resources. Unfortunately, in todays economic climate, I don't think anyone will be buying the Riv soon. Gotta give them kudos for hanging in so long.

mickeba