a bidding war on an old casino ashtray, from the Monte Carlo in downtown Las Vegas. We'd just recently bought the same ashtray, plus a few more common ones, for $500 (total for all). Then one showed up on eBay and I was watching to see what it would sell for. There were 2 bidders and in the last hour or two they kept going back and forth. It ended up selling for $3500!!!!!

Funny thing is, I was familiar with one of the bidders...and I knew that he already had that ashtray (and he has a HUUUUUGGGEEEEE ashtray collection...and I mean thousands of them!!!!). Anyway, the other bidder was a relative newcomer to the casino ashtray collecting community. I think what happened is that the old-timer was tired of the newbie pushing prices up, and decided to teach him a lesson...he pushed the price way up, then stuck the newbie with it...