It really annoys me when sellers point out possible abuses by bidders, such as when bidders might withdraw their bid at the end of an auction so that a friend gets the item at a lower bid. Shill bidding, I gather, is a relatively common occurance. As far as I see, however, this form of bidder abuse is more academic than actual. If it does occur, it is quite rare. To equate the two abuses, one real one academic, is ludicrous.

As for the other bidder abuse of agreeing to not bid on an item, I'll cite an example. Recently there was an auction for 5 Chesterfield Club chips (I think you are well aware). Well, as you know, during the week of that auction, everyone in his uncle was plotting to steal those chips at a cut rate price. Bottom line, they went for top dollar. It was a regular Alphonse and Gaston routine by us devious bidders. Actually I thought it was hilarious.

I don't know if there was shill bidding in the case in point. When all the evidence points to shill bidding, I do think it should at least be brought to the attention of this board. If it turns out there was no shill bidding, I don't think there is any damage to the sellers reputation. I actually think people think MORE highly of that person after rather than before.