... is a complicated place. As an eBay seller, I want everybody to bid on my chips. Come on... BID 'EM UP! As an eBay buyer, I'd like nothing better than for everyone else to back off when they see I want a chip. But when Trav bids first... Oh, what to do, what to do?

Oh sure, eBay's got their rules, their view of how the world should be. No fair emailing another bidder to try to get them to not bid or anything. But friends are allowed to talk to each other. And eBay is out there in public for everyone to see. It's not like you have to sign a non-disclosure agreement just to look. I know this is probably heresy or blasphemy or something like that, but certainly no worse than educating your fellow chipper on the finer techniques of harvesting. And it's not like I'm admitting any personal acts of collusion or anything here, but friends who normally talk to each other anyhow could very easily talk to each other about how much they're willing to bid, and come to some agreement up front who gets to be on top. I would certainly never email a stranger because I see them bidding on a chip I want. But I'll talk to my friends about whatever subject I choose. If it's about something I read in the paper or see on TV or on the public internet, it's still free speech. Not that I would ever use my free speech rights to get a chip I want, or nothing.