Old Bakelite (phenolic) beads are often very high- priced, as if the seller thinks they are almost in the price range of natural amber. But I've found quite a few for modest or low prices, too. It's hard to know what people think they are selling when they use the terms "copal amber", "African amber", etc. The honest merchants say they don't know what the material is.

Natural antique amber is of course sky-high right now.

And, as we saw from the recent example, some of the hand-made polystyrene beads can sell very high. It's really a total mis-mash with regards to realized prices on eBay.