This is provably false so I am unsure what possessed you to make it up.

Here is the most recent completed listing for this card:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sapphire-ATI-Radeon-HD-6950-1GB-GDDR5-Video-Card-UNLOCKED-TO-6970-/130836682710?pt=PCC_Video_TV_Cards&hash=item1e767957d6

The second most recent (which isn't even a "real" 6970):
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MSI-AMD-ATI-Radeon-HD-6950-2-GB-UNLOCKED-TO-6970-TWIN-FROZR-III-PE-OC-GDDR5-/150974731113?pt=PCC_Video_TV_Cards&hash=item2326cb9369

Next most recent:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MSI-AMD-ATI-Radeon-HD-6950-2-GB-UNLOCKED-TO-6970-TWIN-FROZR-III-PE-OC-GDDR5-/150974731113?pt=PCC_Video_TV_Cards&hash=item2326cb9369

And the next most recent:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Diamond-ATI-Radeon-HD-6970-2GB-GDDR5-Video-Card-2-/281040981740?pt=PCC_Video_TV_Cards&hash=item416f590eec

In fact, I could only find one completed listing that was for over $200 and it still wasn't this mythical $274 figure. Practically all listings are easily under $200.

Also, eBay prices are inflated because eBay gets 3% on the sale and PayPal (aka eBay) takes another 3% on the payment. If I'm going to pay inflated prices I'll at least get the obscene buyer protection PayPal affords me on eBay.