03/18/2009: The Burlington Times-News
Company hopes recession puts treasures up for sale.
March 18, 2009
By JAY ASHLEY
Times-News
BURLINGTON — About the strangest item Kevin Batchelor has been asked to appraise is "wood from Noah's Ark."
Mostly, Batchelor is called upon to value gold, coins and just about everything else as part of "The Great Treasure Hunt" which is currently in Burlington.
Batchelor, of Winston-Salem, along with Matt Block, Jon McNeill and Anne-Marie Thompson, are camped in the Country Suites on Wilson Road through Saturday at 6 p.m. to appraise and purchase anything of value.
"With the economy in a tailspin, what are your items worth?" is the question the crew asks in advertising as they try to generate business.
"Times are tough," Batchelor points out as he encourages people to look around their house and find those treasures they might convert to cash.
What this traveling treasure hunt brings is "a face-to-face meeting with someone who can appraise and pay cash on the spot. There's no risk of being ripped off," Batchelor says. He's been with the company for two years.
The Great Treasure Hunt has been traveling the country for more than 20 years buying gold, silver, comics, sports memorabilia, guitars, watches and some pretty unusual items.
Recently, they found a 1940s Stan Musial jersey worth more than $50,000 in Pottsville, Pa., items from the estate of Ty Cobb's physician, a Batman No. 1 comic, an X-Men No. 1 1 comic and a Les Paul Gold Top guitar valued at $10,000.
Gold, however, is one of the main items, be it scrap or rare coins.
"Gold is the easiest to buy," Batchelor admits, pointing out the metal was worth $917 per ounce at the time of the interview.
Although he's been to California with the treasure hunt, he says teams of appraisers usually do business east of the Mississippi. When they leave the county, the next stop will be Canton, Ohio, Thompson says.
The team members are mostly in their 20s and 30s.
Block, like Batchelor, has gotten his experience "on the job," traveling the circuit making deals.
Burlington is McNeill's first foray with the treasure hunt. He's learning all aspects of the business, but his area of interest is post-1970s toys. Show him a Stretch Armstrong or GI Joe and his eyes will light up.
"We're in the business to buy," Batchelor said, but people just wanting appraisals are not turned away. It generates traffic. "We will buy anything of value."
Aside from the wood from Noah's Ark, the most recent odd find was "an African soul washer" a metallic breastplate of sorts the company bought for $1,000. While Batchelor speaks, Block clicks the keyboard of his laptop and within seconds shows a photo of the purchase.
The treasure hunt relies on a network of experts in every field. They can fire up their laptops and instantly be in touch with people in the know.
"We called on an expert in African antiquities to value that piece," Batchelor explains.
The treasure hunt will be at Country Suites daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Saturday. No appointments are necessary and no admission is charged. You can read more about the company at www.webuytreasure.com
Oh, by the way, the treasure hunt did not buy the piece of Noah's Ark. Something to do with provenance and authenticity.
