Why are marbles so expensive?

2026-03-12 03:49 UTC

The used market is more interesting so I haunt estate auctions. I would like to make a paper holder for a specific space so I’m casually looking for a handful of marbles to sandwich between some pieces of hardwood to make it so. Wow. An item I would expect to bid out at $2.50 or $5 goes past $50. Why? They’re just marbles. I’m old. I had a collection as a kid, but I’m not feeling any nostalgia for little glass balls. Collecting things, knick-knacks and such, are down in price all around. People don’t have space, disposable income, or time for the Boomer hoarding nonsense, they just want the houses the stuff was stored in. And yet. Marbles are somehow an acceptable hoard and take up space item now. In fact, there seems to be a moral imperative to make it so. Why?

Replies (12)

@Aeri@lemmy.world 2026-03-13 13:37

I used to have a marble collection but I’ve lost track of its position. You could say…

Open ##632912
@RobotToaster@mander.xyz 2026-03-12 05:31

Everyone lost their marbles

Open ##1982509
@Shadow@lemmy.ca 2026-03-12 05:24

People get into the mood of bidding and lose all rationality. You can buy 100 marbles for like $10 online

Open ##1982510
@CameronDev@programming.dev 2026-03-12 04:01

You based in Australia? I'll ship you my marble collection.

Open ##1982511
@lattrommi@lemmy.ml 2026-03-12 06:33

You might be better off using steel ball bearings if they aren't going to be visible. From a casual search it looks like steel is cheaper than glass as far as balls are concerned.

Open ##1982512
@ComradeMiao@lemmy.world 2026-03-12 04:14

This is super random and interesting. I assume you’re not in Japan? People selling hand items here have serious brain damage with the prices they think people will pay.

Open ##1982513
@JohnnyCanuck@lemmy.ca 2026-03-12 08:34

I bought marbles for cheap at the dollar store last summer. They're good for camping games when you don't have a lot of space.

Open ##1982514
@blackbrook@mander.xyz 2026-03-12 05:49

If things taking up space is a concern, marbles seem like they have an advantage over most things.

Open ##1982515
@Zoldyck@lemmy.world 2026-03-12 07:19

You can't find cheap marbles?

Open ##1982519
@HubertManne@piefed.social 2026-03-13 16:55

In the us one party lost all its marbles and now thats causing the price to go through the roof.

Open ##1982520
@Korhaka@sopuli.xyz 2026-03-12 06:51

I can see sets of 100 marbles for £6 on Amazon. Though I would recommend buying elsewhere if possible, just wanted to do a quick search.

Open ##1982521
@margaret_erine@sh.itjust.works 2026-03-12 23:27

From my perspective, the Gov't are in a better position to answer that, it's so frustrating, few weeks back, I got it for $60.

Open ##1982522