Who are the maniacs wrecking prices?

[Ruleryak]

I'm noticing more and more that I've got almost no chance of getting anything out of the ordinary on US eBay. People are willing to pay what I consider to be insane prices lately. For example, what maniac is willing to pay more than $75 US for one polish 24hr ration? ONE! And at the time of writing this there are still four days left in that auction. Here are three recent examples of one seller having no trouble unloading cases of FSRs for $260 EACH:

Ex 1 - Ex 2 - Ex 3

And auctions like this one are everywhere! $60 for ONE FSR?!?

Then there are the folks willingly paying $150 a case for regular MREs, constantly driving up the price. Also I've seen serveral mid 90's cases (easy to spot because of things like "Menus 9-16" being printed on the case even if they don't show DOP) being sold as fresh and edible and going for over $100 each. These aren't all items just being bought by the new wave of "preppers" - lots of these are collector style items so are there lots of new collectors out there willing to pay whatever they have to pay for anything more than slightly rare, or what?

[Bobby]

Yes prices are a bit ridiculous.I dont collect rations I just like to eat one now and then..I probably will only buy an mre now and then..Hard for me to pay that kind of money for a ration pack when I can go get a steak or Italian dinner for the same price, for two people..Besides they are loaded with salt and fat LOL, neither is good for you..Take Care and good luck

[rationtin440]

I'm wondering if the crazy prices have anything to do with possible legal issues in the works in some of these countries. I know over the years there were scary rumors about MREs and even any surplus being outlawed for purchase here in the U.S. and there was even talk on some radio talk shows about raids on surplus stores being planned by the gov't.

[TurtleNomad]

Two mutually compatible factors (IMO):

• the economy is improving, and people who have been scrimping for a while are releasing some pent up consumerism, in near crazy spurts
• clinical paranoia, induced by irresponsible media scaremongering

Put the two together, and you get stupid scared lazy people with spare cash, who are unwilling to do some basic research.

Obligatory Heinlein quote:

Anyone who cannot cope with mathematics is not fully human. At best he is a tolerable subhuman who has learned to wear shoes, bathe, and not make messes in the house.

Stupidity trumps most conspiracies, in my experience.


The one bright note is that after the 2012 winter solstice, there should be some great deals, similar to January 2000.

It had not occurred to me that the Y2K panic preppers would sell their preps, but I've read several online claims from sensible people, stating that they found all manner of great bargains.
This time, I plan to keep my eyes peeled.

[ak70g2]

The one bright note is that after the 2012 winter solstice, there should be some great deals, similar to January 2000.

This time, I plan to keep my eyes peeled.

Just two words: Harold Camping.

On 2012 winter solstice, I'll get boozed very hard, I'll go outside, look to the sky and yell "You, Maya idiot, stick that cocaine filled hemp rope you chewed in your a*s and take with you all the morons who believed, now believe and will believe in the end of the world!"

[Treesuit]

TurtleNomad,

I'm with you on that. Lots of lazy, un-informed people out there. Add in the fact of the un-informed media and you have people thinking that if they buy a case or two of MRE's they're prepared. If people just use their heads and compare and shop; your right, you can find some great deals out there. Unfortunately for people buying on ebay, it's far too easy and it's the "one stop shopping experience". Until otherwise I think this will be trend.

[Treesuit]

Hey, whomever that seller is selling those FSR's on ebay, if you go to his auction site he has a general photo on it and if you double click it for a larger size, it will come up with a tag of "www.mreinfo.com" in the upper left hand corner. What nerve!

[cavguy]

I just noticed those FSR's. Crazy price! First I was thinking well maybe they are the new 9 menu FSR's. Then I realized well those 9 menu versions are just NOW apparently being produced in FY12.

[BravoActual]

In reference to the above "maniac" that paid that much for the Polish Ration - that was me. If you notice, I only bid once and while I probably should have went with a lower max bid, I am a collector and really wanted one of these. I am not lazy - I posted a thread on here a couple of months ago and basically got a couple of "good luck" replies. Also, it really ticked me off that the other ration listed at the same time went for much less, so basically I feel like I was the victim of some clown that just wanted to drive up the price. So, are there other sources that I should be aware of? Please share!

Tim