Money laundering?

I checked the link. What is even crazier is that 5 people have it in their cart.

Asking price can be anything, it doesn’t mean it will sell for that amount.

I did a search of Completed Auctions for that style of Corning. Many ended, not sold, for $100.00 and less.

Maybe it has $14,944 dollars inside.

Kidding aside, I think people do this when they do not actually have the item for sale, but wish to keep the listing up. Perhaps to track level of interest or be ready when they come across it again? I bet 1929 knows.

Recently I spent about a week helping my dad and stepmom get rid of things in their house. Everything from collectibles and holiday decor and tools to everyday stuff to a box of random cables. Some went on Craigslist, some on FB Marketplace, some on eBay and some was just donated. My stepmom had sold on ebay before (15+ years ago when she sold off some childhood Steiff animals and a Christmas village) so I thought she would understand the process, the idea of pricing appropriately, etc.

Enter the Hummels.

Indeed most of hers are early (TMK2 if you're a Hummel/Goebel person), and a few valuable in the way Hummels can be valuable (over $100). I had researched one and the base indicated it was likely a very early version of the design, but still a TMK2 (1950s) and not a TMK 1 (the earliest). Research of sold items indicated it could go for $150 or more. She agreed to list it at $200 "buy it now" and to take offers. It (like all but two of the Hummels) got no offers.

Once I'd been back home about a week I checked on her listings. She had INCREASED the buy it now price on it to $999.00. Apparently she had read some article about the sleeper value of Hummels.

(sigh)

All that to say that there is no telling how someone arrives at a value when selling an item. As for those with it in their cart (the equivalent would be "watching" on eBay), they probably have one in their own collection and want to see if there is someone crazy enough to pay that asking price, at which time they'll promptly list their own.

My reseller groups in FB always talk about it being money laundering, but I don’t know. The only way to gage actual ”value” is by doing a search in solds, not listings. I think more likely these listings are fraudsters, typos or dummies who watched too many tv shows about that one person who got rich off grandma’s attic.

ETA: if I have a bunch of watchers, sometimes I increase the price slightly and amazingly it will occasionally move a sale, even on items where I've dropped the price previously. Buying minds are not always logical.

I would think it's a typo. If not, it's nuts.

Allison...here's one for only $10K Click to see It IS NUTS!

That first one? Shipping is free. That explains it. All that bubble wrap.

Ah, the Hummels. Reminds me of an episode of Better Call Saul ... ;-)

For that price, it better come with a hunky French chef and wine expert cooking me dinner every night for the rest of my life.

Are they hunky? The images I get when I think of 'French Chef' are either Julia Child or the Ratatouille rat.

Jacques Pepin. He’s kinda cute.

In my mind, there is a hunky French chef (and world renowned wine expert) who looks like Keanu Reeves and enjoys cooking with vintage Corning casserole dishes.

He’s suave and sophisticated, but also down to earth.

Oooohhhhhh......Keanu looks pretty good there!

What on earth??? LOL, at those prices I’ve got a small fortune in my Spice of Life Corning Ware pieces!

ETA - Ahhh, Keanu and Corning Ware!

A reason exists but i'm clueless what it means. During covid lock-down i was on e-bay for two things i wanted for friends and co-workers. New-in-box, yada....going rate was 40-75$ free shipping. One or two were 200$-900$ + shipping. Made no sense but not surprised.

So much vintage pyrex, fiesta, ceramics, etc, is loaded with lead i would not touch it. Pre-90's.

My mother has boxes full of it in their shed and asks every year when do i want my 'inheritance', lol. No thank you.

Once/twice a year holiday baking or table service would not be much of a concern but not daily/weekly.

I've read up on Corningware. The paint on the outside has lead...the actual corningware does not.

Quote" Its lead content is mainly due to leading cookware brands during that era predominantly using paint with lead content. "

Here's another one. In Fiji a kava bowl is about $100. Click to see I found one at the same thrift store for $15. ??????

I dunno why, but I'll sell mine that's exactly the same for 1/2 that price, AND free shipping!

Who wants it?

It must be a typo, otherwise I am going be on the lookout for flying pigs when i take the dogs for their next walk.

This is a wonderfully funny thread. Y'all are so clever! My initial thought was more or less what Mtnrdredux said. I know people do that. I doubt money laundering. It's too outlandish a price not to garner looksees by the authorities, and not nearly enough to really ”launder” any meaningful amount. And if it were just to move more than $10K across borders, wouldn't it also call attention to it? One of a kind things, even Granny's art class paintings, bid up at auction by two ”eager” bidders would be far more effective than a dish that others can't sell at $100.

Sounds more like Mom told her kid to make listings for a bunch of stuff she's not ready to price, so ”start them way high so no one bids” and kid has fun with numbers. Or a semi-pro garage-saler knows she finds several of these every spring and just wants to maintain the listing and keep the watchers. Or puts up an outrageous number to allert her followers that she's on the prowl for this, and will be putting up a realistic target price when she has it ready to ship. Number as communication tool. Oh!

Or if it is nefarious, maybe it's code. ;)

The kava bowl thing looks like runaway designer markup. I've seen that too. Designers and design oriented stores sometimes put outrageous markups on things, like 600%, so they can give all the expected discounts and negotiations and still make a tidy profit.

What's the saying it's only worth what another will pay for it; so I TOTALLY get asking. What is incomprehensible; anyone willing to pay more than the $6 you did for it!!!

this thread had me check on a part i need for my discontinued cuisinart. (i have two NIB backups so not in a big hurry).

Not the part i need but saw this. Same thing. It is a 5-15$ item. Many listed....

The seller has many listings for 3,000 for items worth 10-15$

That curiosity took me to the ebay forums. A few mentions of money laundering. But no real explaination how.

It isn't rare because it is black, lol. Other black ones are listed at 6-10$.

It's the szme principal as doctors and dentists pricing....to raise the "usual and customary" price and the buyer's perception of "value"...

So I have 2 or these choice casseroles, I list one for $1200 free shipping and I list the other for $97, some percieves that huge bargain and I laugh all the way to the bank.

@sleevendog (5a NY 6aNYC NL CA)....You found another little plastic part worth $3k! 😂

@linda campbell....I can't imagine paying $97.....why is anyone even paying THAT?! The latest ones by Rachael Ray are less money....and prettier....right! 😂 Oh...the world we live in....

"It" is only worth what someone is willing to pay.

I have seen sites that when they no longer have the item, they will put a prohibitive price on it. For what they are asking, I am sure they can find it again and still pull a hefty profit.

Jinx ... wonder how many he had to kill for that recipe...

Yesterday, I was in a really nice upscale, consignment furniture store. They had a "spice of life" casserole dish sitting on a china display shelf. For that kind of money.... it belongs with the good china! 😂 (but seriously...they were only asking $25) I find this type of marketing....humorous...

ok, bargain for you, i will sell you mine for $9,999 ... free shipping

I think some people honestly have no idea what to price stuff. But I also think some absurd listings are shells. Either as a place holder to keep their account open, or as a means to transfer money.