Vintage Pattern Information

Thursday, January 9, 2020

No... Just no. - You Cannot Retire and Buy an Island on Corning Ware Sales

I was going to just let this all run it's course as I usually does; because this happens just about every year in January.  This year, however, the rumor mill seems to have whipped an absolute frenzy of insanity. I have received upwards of 400 emails from people asking about their grandmother's or mother's million dollars worth of Corning Ware...

Just STOP.

People that I know with items listed on Facebook Marketplace are being harassed (by non-collectors) about how they aren't doing proper research and need raise their prices...

Just STOP.

People, who I don't know, are listing the most common place Corning Ware pieces on eBay for thousands of dollars.

Just STOP.

NO piece of Corning Ware is worth 10,000 dollars...

Just STOP.

This all started with a news article written back in 2014, that referenced a phone interview with a glass collector and, consequently, misconstrued some of the information given by said glass collector.  The $7,000 eBay sale referred to was for Pyrex Painted Opal Glass.  An item which just happens to be manufactured by Corning Glass Works; just like Corning Ware and Corelle and Pyrex clear baking dishes and measuring pitchers.  People mix up Corelle, Corning Ware and Opal Pyrex all the time. (Even collectors can make mistakes)

Just STOP.

The article is currently making the rounds on Facebook and various other social media outlets, radio stations and even local news channels.  This has spawned a plethora of crazy people, who have done no REAL research, to list "common as old shoe" Corning Ware pieces on eBay at exorbitant prices in a desperate attempt to catch a sucker.  

Just STOP.

I have been collecting for almost 20 years and I guarantee that your grandmother's Cornflower casseroles will not make you rich.  You will not be able to retire to your very own Caribbean island...

Just STOP.

Trust me, if they were worth that much, I would have sold my entire collection and would be typing this blog post from my Chalet in the Alps.  Alas, I am just cold and wet as I trudge back and forth from home to work and back again in the soggy Pacific Northwest...  Typing on my soggy laptop on my soggy desk in the soggy bedroom of my soggy house in soggy Troutdale, which is outside soggy Portland city limits, at the mouth of the soggy Columbia River Gorge, in soggy Multnomah county in soggy Oregon; all while wearing my soggy shoes...  Did I mention everything is depressingly soggy here? 

I really wish it were worth the supposed millions promised by that news article, trust me.  I would be a full fledged billionaire. I have so much "stuff" to sell that I could purchase a chalet in every alpine country.... Switzerland, Germany, France, Italy and Austria.  Heck, I could even throw in a couple Caribbean islands in case I get bored with snow. 

Alas no chalets, no islands, no nothing cause my Corning Ware collection isn't worth 3.5 trillion dollars.

Just STOP.

If you are seriously curious about the value of  any Corning Ware pieces in your cupboard, check the SOLD listings on eBay.  This will give you true picture of what things actually sell for, not what eBay sellers "think" they can get for something.

This is a PERFECT example of how social media propagates misinformation.

Where is your Corning Ware?? 

Hopefully not listed on eBay for 20,000... Just sayin'
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