The defining question or perhaps acid test is , will there be real follow through from the high bidder paying up and feedback proof of both parties from doing the exchange deal? Everyone sees high ads but most do not see what the results are after 30 days...Most of these absurd auctions often have no follow through. Well we remember to check in for feedback on this sale to see? Plus we'll have the bubba effect of them seeing that and deciding their knock off most be worth that much? More so because they drank the reality show about junk in the attic and/or flea markets is hidden high dollar treasure kool aid.
The case may also have been there was a friend/second account driving up the price against the ignorant/mistaken honest bidder. Ether one person or help of a friend, 2+ different accounts, connecting by proxies, using work, mobile, and/or home ip addresses would make it hard to catch right away. Especially with the free wifi from two businesses side by side swapping trick. Using the old trick of "the first guy welched, and then comes the would "you" the second highest place bidder like it for that higher closing price? Amazing number of marks fall for this scam. Being more than they bid and which the price was raise falsely by a dishonest and nefarious bidder/seller. At lest it isn't the 1,000 words wall of text about said product with somewhere hidden in the middle "it is only a digital image of said item" as legal sales ad.
I wonder when firearm places will start blocking paypal for helping the 2nd amendment suppourt line? I've always found it odd that people who are obviously breaking the rules and their word(they agreed to Paypal's TOS and even promote dishonest behavior of mark the payment as gift or friend....). Yet expect you to send them money, and that you'll get things on their word. The sheer numbers of participants is saddening. Says a lot about honor and character in today's age. When it comes time to stand up for the 2nd, we're screwed if people won't even boycott an online payment service.
To bring us back on subject for the forum, how long does a knock off copy have to exist before it becomes itself a collector's item? Eventually fakes even gain value as collectables.
I fear retro A1 and A2s are becoming the new M1s for price climb. No longer are we the ones getting the discount bin for a lot of spare parts.