In live auctions the same thing happens all the time. After the auction is over, sellers at the auction will see who is buying I try to make some contacts. I believe this activity is against eBay rules, even though it commonly occurs. The sentiment is that the house (eBay) is setting up the environment to bring sellers and buyers together and charges a fee for doing so. If a buyer and seller hook up through eBay and eBay does not get anything out of it, it is not fair to eBay.