Prices are sometimes insane because people don’t know what their stuff is worth OR they are counting on someone else being even dumber than they are.
I am a lurker on an antiques/vintage collectibles site (and you thought CC was my only hobby!) The saddest posts are the people trying to sell grandma’s “complete set of rare sterling silver, service for 16” who discover via one of the experts on the site that it’s plate, was made from 1948-1956 and you MIGHT get lucky and find someone on ebay willing to pay $175 to save themselves the trouble of buying it piece by piece for 50 cents for a fork…
And these are truly experts. You can post a photo of a hallmark and someone will weigh in quickly the name, year, silver content. But the non-experts out there are always convinced they own a rare antique when it’s usually something that was mass produced and has zero meltdown value.
And the china sets- don’t get me started. @Thumper is the CC expert on how many complete service for 12’s are out there selling for $50 at a thrift store-- bone china, which someone’s parents probably built plate by plate in the 1950’s.
So yes- some people may be asking crazy prices because they need the money. And sometimes they ask crazy prices because they have no idea what something is actually worth.
A tangential note- a friends kid got married this year. The registry consisted of two items- “Our dream honeymoon to Thailand, contribute what you wish” and an overpriced pizza oven. My spouse (who knows me way too well) convinced me that the platter, Waterford bowl, sugar/creamer set from Tiffany which I would have considered a nice wedding gift would be resented by the bride (who would have returned ANYTHING, he claimed). So I contributed to the dream honeymoon and realized that this generation wants cash or cash equivalents and not the stuff which they’d end up returning, posting on Ebay, or selling on Facebook Marketplace for 10 cents on the dollar.
I see an interesting phenomenon happening wrt to selling/giving away stuff. I belong to 2 FB groups in our area. One is a “buy nothing” and there are a number of very needy people who are very active and they are consistently asking for and also giving away stuff, big and small. The other site is for selling stuff and I’m always a bit gobsmacked at the people who seem to be doing well financially (as much as you can judge by where they live) trying to sell small, cheap items…I never see those people offering items on the buy nothing site, but sometimes see them claiming freebies. So, I’m not sure if it is a sign that they are not doing as well as it appears, or if it is just evidence that wealth and generosity don’t necessarily go hand-in-hand.
My oldest is getting married and is having a time coming up with a registry (a nice problem to have lol). They’ve lived together for a couple years, and taken a lot of handmedowns, so pretty much have what they need to keep house. Instead she’s asking for upgrades versus brand new items - better luggage, nicer dishes without chips, etc. I don’t know if she will do the fund thing, that’s up to her.
My niece and her husband, who bought a house shortly before they got married, had Home Depot gift cards on their registry as the house was quite the fixer-upper. I’ve enjoyed seeing the renovations they’ve done.
We are invited to three weddings in the next 6 months. We are very happy to give cash gifts to all three couples, and are also happy to hear their plans. It’s a gift. If they choose to spend it on a honeymoon, fine. If they choose to spend it on household items, fine. If they choose to go out to eat a couple of times, fine. Their choice!
I’m just happy it is so easy to give these cash gifts through the wedding registries now. So easy peasy! And if that’s going to benefit the couple…perfect!
Adding…I think all three of these couples would label the economy as good. I’m guessing but I think it’s a good educated guess!
I’ve been selling my kids old toys, craft stuff, etc. online for the past year or so. I do it like a hobby to see what I can offer that other people want, adjust my price to see what the market is, etc. I enjoy it. I also donate $ and food to the local food bank and other groups, volunteer my time, etc. I don’t think you can blanket judge people’s motivations for buying or selling or giving away.
I do that too for exactly the same reason. I enclose the check (write the names “X or X” so either can deposit) in a fancy card with a nice note and mail it ahead of time. The only reason I would use the registry is if I’m not close to the couple or their parents.
And you all trust the postal service? I don’t. They have lost a few checks sent to us in the last year. And these couples have this option on their websites…presumably because that is what they prefer…so…I’m going along!
I do trust USPS, but never use the blue boxes or my mailbox for outgoing. I always mail inside the Post Office (have several close by). Haven’t had a problem so far. I use a non-washable pen, and my bank posts both sides of the check online.
I think porch pirates with registry deliveries is more of a risk.
In my entire life I had only one mailed check that did not reach the recipient. A few weeks later I received said check assembled from pieces with a letter of apology from the USPS… the mail sorting machine jammed and shredded the envelope with the check! I was very impressed.
Judging by the fact that one posh local venue is not booming with weddings every weekend day, either the economy is slowing down or the backlog of Covid-postponed weddings is gone.
Where you live makes a difference. I live in a major city but in one of the highest SES neighborhoods there. Restaurants/stores are packed. Small businesses have closed, but new ones quickly take their place, expensive houses sell quickly (not just my observation, I have 2 friends here who are Realtors). Lots of home remodeling projects going on.
Interestingly though there is a culture here of reusing, gifting, etc. The Buy Nothing group was so active they had to split in order to take new members. There are multiple vintage stores within walking distance.
You can do a search for food insecurity in your county. In 2020, my county food insecurity was 21%. Food insecurity often correlates with housing instability. Our public schools have the highest homeless rate for children in our state. This doesn’t always mean there is no food in the house - but the food the family can secure is not food to keep them healthy.
The trend (hopefully here to stay) of reusing/regifting/recycling items for use is interesting. Some do it because it feels right for the environment or because their community promotes/supports it. Others do it out of pure necessity. Some see it as a good deed they can do. Others just simply have no other choice.
