Case Concluded: why did production ban cash from the show?

From the family trinket found in his attic to the work of art found by chance in a flea market, each sale ofDeal done ends with a slap of the seller’s hand on the table of buyers of the France 2 program. A gesture which seals the transaction. But off the air, each object must go through three additional stages as described to us by Renaud Rahard, the director of programs at Warner who produces Sophie Davant’s old show, now hosted by Julia Vignali since the start of the school year.

Deal Done : how is the selection of objects carried out?

To pretend to appear on screen in Deal done, each object must first pass the fire test. Before filming, an initial evaluation is carried out remotely by Harold Hessel, the show’s permanent auctioneer. “We ask the sellers for photos and if we have any questions, we can make a video“, reveals Renaud Rahard. Art objects are subject to very particular attention, from their signature to any chips. “We then begin a discussion with the seller to find out their expectations. If someone thinks their item is worth 10,000 euros and Harold estimates it at 400, that’s not going to create a dreamlike atmosphere.“, jokes the director of Warner programs. Transported by transporter at the expense of the production and stored in a hangar, the selected pieces are presented to the three auctioneers of the show, on the day of filming, before they are filmed .

Deal Done : why are transactions now done by transfer?

Right after registration, once the deal is concluded between the buyer and seller, the moment of transaction comes. This is carried out on a corner of the studio table, far from the cameras. “Everything is framed and framed. Sellers acknowledge the transaction with the buyer by signing a paper“, Renaud Rahard tells us. As for payment, it is made by check or by transfer, cash having disappeared from the issue since Covid. “It’s more fluid. This prevents merchants from having to come with their money and teams from having cash as a precaution“, we explain from the production side. It may indeed have happened that the latter had to advance money to buyers short of liquidity…

Deal Done : do sellers have the right to withdraw?

Then comes the moment of reflection. The seller has five working days to withdraw. “This is an important freedom that we grant them because there is still stress between expertise and sales. If upon returning home, the seller’s family believes that he has been cheated, he must be able to withdraw. Some may also have anxiety about parting with the object.“, explains Renaud Rahard who assures that this remains anecdotal. However, it is impossible for the buyer to change his mind. Once this period has expired, the object is finally delivered to its new owner who, as the final request of the production, must wait 18 months if he wishes to send it to an auction room managed by one of the show’s auctioneers, to avoid a possible conflict of interest.