cross-posted from: https://sh.itjust.works/post/15669474
This could be something that you bought for a higher price than what most people would guess based on the item, or it could be something you bought for a normal price that has gained significant value as time has gone on.
What made me think of this question is a LEGO minifigure I got with my “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” disc. It is Bilbo Baggins in a blue coat that was apparently only sold in that movie box only at Target stores. Even considering the exclusivity, I would have guessed maybe $10-20 for such a tiny piece of plastic, but there are sold listings on eBay from $80 to $225. I could possibly even get towards the higher end of that number since I still have everything in the original box in good condition. It’s not worth a ton compared to some other items people may own, but I think most people would not expect nearly that amount.
I recently got my 35 year old car appraised and despite me buying it for $3500 13 years ago and putting nearly no work into it in that time, it’s now worth $12000. Unfortunately I love the car and am unlikely to sell it. But about 1/3rd of the times I drive it, some random person will come up to me in a parking lot asking if I would ever consider selling it, so if I do it’ll probably be pretty easy to sell. The car is a mark 3 Toyota supra in white, with a modest tasteful bodykit that seems to have proven to be ahead of it’s time appearance-wise.
I know with what the entire used car market is like now, that’s not as unexpected as most of these other posts, but it was certainly unexpected to me. Someone just told me out of the blue to get it appraised, so it got me curious enough to go through with it.