Yes Jeff it's strange all right! I'd have thought it was purely off putting for most buyers.
Perhaps they do take 50% off after equiry? From what i have seen it's only Monaco's and Monza that have moved on much this year in value and Carrera etc etc seem to have mostly stood still. I'm sure its the "have a go chance your arm everything heuer is hot" method and it only costs £2 to list, so perhaps they think nothing ventured...

: as I mentioned a couple of days ago, new listing technique uses
: 2X fair market value for the opening bid, in hopes that: the
: watch will sell "off EBay", to avoid seller having
: crazy PayPal risk bidder will get confused, and think that the
: listing is in Thai Baht 2015 version of OTD Price Guide will
: support the valuation. Here are three samples from today's new
: listings:

: -- 73663 in Viceroy style, opening at $4,900

:
: http://cgi.ebay.com/Very-rare-Heuer-Autavia-Chronograph-from-60-s_W0QQitemZ160362505184QQcmdZViewItemQQptZWristwatches?hash=item255659a3e0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

: -- Cal 15 Carrera opening at $3,400

:
: http://cgi.ebay.com/1970-RARE-HEUER-CARRERA-SECONDS-at-10-00-REF-1550_W0QQitemZ290349050123QQcmdZViewItemQQptZWristwatches?hash=item439a26e90b&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

: -- $2,500 BuyItNow for "non-Pasadena" Pasadena

:
: http://cgi.ebay.com/Heuer-Chronograph-Stahl-Lederband-Automatik-Vintage_W0QQitemZ170381908832QQcmdZViewItemQQptZDE_Kleidung_Schmuck_Accessoires_Uhren_Armbanduhren?hash=item27ab8d9b60&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

: OK . . . at least it doesn't cost anything to watch these crazy
: listings, and I will be as happy as anyone if they sell (except
: the seller, of course).

: Jeff