##### and whine to myself when I see that an acquaintance is bidding on a chip I cherish.

If the unit contains more than one chip, I will contact the person who outbids me and tell the person I would like to buy or trade if she/he gets it.

Stay off auctions where close friends have bid ahead of me.

When a big costly batch comes up that I know others will be interested in, I round up a group to bid and share.

I know that some of these things violate eBay rules and that if eBay learned about it, I could be suspended. But what the heck, life goes on without eBay.