... difference" between live and online auctions? "Fundamentally", they are exactly the same -- an offer to sell an item to whoever is the highest bidder.

> and it's unfair to bring the rules from one auction venue over into another.

Why exactly is it "unfair" to compare the two, particularly in the context of a discussion of how problems might be handled in concluding an auction?

The eBay rules say a bid establishes a "contract". Placing an auction on eBay is offering to enter into a contract; once a bid is placed, a contract has been established. If the eBay rules permit cancellation of all bids for the reason that the seller has received a better offer from someone outside eBay, then the folks at eBay aren't as smart as they think they are.

How do you feel about buyers cancelling their bids because they discover they have bid too much for an item?

> To answer your inappropriate hypothetical question ...

Exactly why do you think it is inappropriate to ask a question designed to obtain information about a subject the questioner is unfamiliar with?

Your response ...

> what would happen if a flaming cheese meteor landed on the chip?

... was far more inappropriate than the question.

I suspect that the real "fundamental difference" here is that Katie (and Peter) are buyers and you are a seller. ----- jim o\-S