One of the big problems with eBay, in my mind, is that you are now given 50 listings a month FREE OF INSERTION (LISTING) FEES, generally. So it costs the seller nothing to make those outrageous high-opening-bid listings.

http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/insertion-fee.html#how

Robert
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Joe Yule (center) in "Jiggs and Maggie In Society" (1947).
http://www.antiquegamblingchips.com/StillsB_OthMaleAcs.htm