The price is no joke
Apr 01, 2022
HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA – The global collectibles market was valued at $372 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow to more than half a trillion dollars by 2028. Most people think of sports memorabilia, comic books, coins, stamps, and classic cars when they think memorabilia, and they’re right. However, there is a niche market for marketing and promotional collectibles – like a vintage Coca-Cola sign or McDonald’s character juice glasses – and rice is making a showing.
A Ricky Rice hat, sold at the 2019 USA Rice Outlook Conference for $10 (two for $20), was just spotted on eBay for more than $9,000.
“This hat was a promotional item at the last Outlook Conference before the pandemic hit, and the 2020 conference was canceled,” said the seller who was contacted via email and goes by the handle “colsmut.” “That makes this hat special, but I’m willing to part with it for the right price.”
It’s unclear if the Ricky Rice hat will fetch the $9,079.99 asking price (domestic shipping is an additional $5.50). As of press time, there were no bids on the hat, but given what people are willing to spend on things that remind them of a simpler time, colsmut is optimistic.
“There’s a 1993 Sears Catalog listed for $9.99 and a Case self-propelled combine service manual from 1959 for sale for thirty-eight bucks. You never know,” he said.
We do know that collectibles are big business and people could have all kinds of treasures in their attics and basements. Another thing that’s clear is that though the listings for the Sears catalog and Case manual are real, the hat is not. It’s actually a listing for a 1992 Ken Griffey Jr error baseball card. April Fools!