I know. I suppose in some part it is due to the perceived prospect of instant gratification, in another to what might be called "the thrill of the chase," and finally to little or no research. But, as P. T. Barnum might have said, "There's a sucker born every minute."
(In the interest of full disclosure, I should admit that one night a year or so ago, while enjoying a very old vintage, I allowed myself to become caught up in the closing frenzy of an eBay auction. The next morning, to my chagrin, I found that I had actually won the thing. Of course, I blamed the very old vintage.
)
In any event, it's too bad that the person bidding on that R9 magazine didn't just give Maria a call at the factory. The mag could have been in the mail the same day.
