So then for sale but they haven't necessarily sold any.

We see the same at chip shows. I will see a chip for sale with a very high price and then see the same chip (in the same or very close to the same condition) for sale at the next table down for a much lower number. Its not any different. The first dealer's cost is either too high or they have an unreasonable expectation for margin or a case where the chip has come out and they don't know/don't care (such as the Jessie Beck's).