Remember when Bill cut Hank’s hair, and the Army sent Hank a bill for $900? Bill felt so bad about it that he tried to make the money to pay the bill for Hank by having a yard sale where he priced everything at $900. “It only takes one,” he said.

That was the first thing I thought of when I saw this listing for an old Betamax video camera. I was sure it had to be a mistake. I picked up a similar model just a few months earlier for $85, and that included shipping, so $45,000 seemed not just ludicrous but suspicious. So, I messaged the seller to ask what he was playing at, and he responded with a barrage of one-line responses. The conversation went like this:

Me: So, what’s the deal with this camera? $45,000? I’m curious why it’s priced like a new car. It’s just an old Betamax home video camera. Not even a particularly good one. Does it come with $44,950 stuffed inside?

Seller: One, and the only one unique

Me: There are three others for sale on eBay right now (see the attached photo), and I have one sitting on my coffee table. Yours is not the only one.

Seller: In good shape almost brand new

Me: It’s missing the eyepiece.

Seller: We can load the price

Me: The price is already pretty loaded.

Seller: $40,000

Seller: Not a penny less

Me: Did your buddy get a $45,000 bill from the Army for the haircut you gave him, and now you’re trying to raise money to pay it for him?

Seller: Collectible, Camera

Seller: Only few left in the world

Seller: Don’t try it you won’t even find it on Google

Seller: Maybe one or two

Seller: Buy it if you see it

Seller: Good investment

Seller: There’s only one they sell it for parts only

I still don’t know why he has it priced comparably to a semester at an Ivy League school, but questioning him had no effect. The listing is still up, and he’s still asking $45,000. 🤷‍♂️