~~~ or any auction for that matter... is between the bidder and the lister -- nobody else; especially not pulling anything to hinder the lister in obtaining their highest-possible price realized.

Ebay Auctions' advice is to bid as high as possible in order to be the winning high-bidder.

A lister of any item on eBay is not an enemy of anyone and should not be treated as such. In fact, an eBay Auction lister should be thanked, often, for affording bidders the opportunity to bid on their item.