Zenith Flashmatic remote controller--$500 BIN?

[Jeffhs]

I was browsing ebay a few minutes ago and came across a listing for a Zenith Flashmatic television remote control unit. The seller put a $150 opening bid on it, with a $500 BIN! For crying out loud, the thing is only a hand-held flashlight--any ordinary flashlight with a flash button will operate Zenith Flashmatic TVs. (I wonder how many people made the Flashmatic controller pull double duty as a flashlight during power outages, etc. , or did not realize they could use a standard flashlight to operate the TV if anything went wrong with the ray-gun-shaped controller.) I realize the Flashmatic was Zenith's first attempt at wireless remote control, but good grief--$150 for a controller which is little more than a 1.5-volt light bulb, switch and battery is, IMO, far too high an opening bid; the $500 BIN is just ridiculous, IMHO. I don't think the seller knows anything about this controller or its history, just wants to get as much money as he/she can from the auction. Depending on how many Flashmatic TVs are still in use (I would guess not very many anymore), this person may have a hard time unloading this controller. I doubt very much if anyone is going to buy this just to use it as a flashlight, unless they want to be able to brag to their friends/relatives that they have the world's only Zenith flashlight.

Sheesh. Amazing as all heck, to me anyhow. What some people won't do to make a buck these days.