There was a time about a year ago, within our online alumnae chapter where we were constantly trying to rescue badges (no matter the age). I think the "auction word" got out, and the minimum bids started going up from 4.99 to 75.00, and the badges would sell for over 150.00 at times. There was a lot of conversation on our online chapter about if we were driving up the prices, and possibly there was someone out there just driving up the prices to spite us. I think that person eventually got tired of bidding on DZ badges, and the frenzy has slowly died down, but you can still find 2-3 DZ badges on ebay any day of the week.

We, as a group, have "rescued" some pretty significantly old badges, and even a badge that we later found out was stolen after we found the real owners (our names and/or initials, date and chapter are on the backs). There were some sisters who made it their mission in life to make the seller's day REALLY bad with "how dare you" emails about selling private property, etc., which only led to the sisters getting reported to ebay.

We have essentially become putty in the seller's hands these days because there are sisters out there who would shell out hundreds to save and return badges (and as we found out, end up in a box in a vault at HQ). Although it's an exception to find a Founders' Badge on ebay (and congrats for getting it back!!), I no longer rescue badges now that the tables have turned on us, the buyers.

It's sad that we are being forced to buy back items because of mistakes of sisters (not tellling someone to return it to HQ or be buried with it), carelessness, accidental loss, or theft. I equate it to like losing a wallet. If you found it, wouldn't YOU return it to the owner if you found it on the street? Our badge is as resourceful a piece of identification as if it were your driver's license. All they have to do is call our HQ, and we would know right away who they were. I guess sometimes to the sellers it's all about the benjamines.
Tracy