SKIP,
I AM NOT A FREQUENT POSTER ON THE BB ALTHOUGH I READ IT DAILY AND HAVE LEARNED A LOT OF VALUABLE INFORMATION. AND NOW I FEEL LIKE THE TIME HAS COME THAT I PASS ON SOME INFORMATION TO YOU. THERE IS NO WAY TO GET "RIPPED" OFF IN AN AUCTION. IF SOMEONE WAS FORCING YOU TO BID HIGH, THEN I SUGGEST THAT IS THE PERSON YOU NEED TO COMPLAIN ABOUT. BEFORE YOU BID ON SOMETHING, MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS WORTH. IF THERE IS DOUBT AS TO IT'S WORTH TO YOU, DON'T PLACE A BID. CHUCK SMORSE DIDN'T RIP YOU OFF. IF YOU GOT RIPPED OFF YOU DID IT TO YOURSELF. EDUCATION IS THE KEY. I WOULD HAVE SUGGESTED IF YOU HAD A QUESTION ON SOMETHING HE HAD UP FOR AUCTION, THEN YOU SHOULD HAVE CONTACTED HIM AND ASKED HIM ABOUT IT. THIS IS A COMMON PRACTICE ON EBAY AUCTIONS. IT IS NOT THE SELLER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO STOP THE BIDDER AT ANY CERTAIN PRICE. THE WHOLE POINT OF AN AUCTION IS SIMPLY, "THE HIGHEST BIDDER WINS". I HAVE RECEIVED HELP FROM SEVERAL CHIP DEALERS. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS ASK, OR MAKE A POST ON THE BB AND THE EXPERTS CAN ANSWERER ALMOST ANY QUESTION YOU PUT TO THEM. PERSONALLY CHUCK SMORSE HAS GONE OUT OF HIS WAY TO HELP ME. IT IS NOT FAIR TO CHUCK TO "BASH" HIM FOR SOMETHING THAT YOU DID TO YOURSELF.