Do Counterfeiters Drive Auction Sales of Empty Wine Bottles?
The NYT’s Freakonomics blog today discusses the sale of empty wine bottles on eBay. It suggests that because the highest-priced empty bottles are the ones that fetch the highest prices when full, bidders may be motivated by the prospect of re-using them to sell counterfeit wine. Scary thought. But I guess I’m not surprised that bottles that used to hold the most sought-after wines fetch the most at auction. Other than a uniquely-shaped bottle or perhaps a uniquely-designed label, how else would one value an empty container? I’m sure counterfeit wine exists, but I kind of doubt this motive drives auction sales. Creative idea, though.
Michael Atkins
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