Following is the latest exchange of messages with Jo King:

Her message was:

> Subject: Re: eBay lot 21841773; so-called "Nazi" poker chip
> Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 06:06:20 -0700
> From: Jo King <jo@ebay.com>
> To: runtam@pacbell.net
>
> Hello,
>
> It is not against eBay rules for users to have multiple registered
> accounts, as long as those accounts do not interact in any way - bidding or
> feedback.
>
> We are not allowed to disclose information about investigations of other
> users.
>
> I am not a lawyer, and am not going to get into a discussion of why it is
> not allowed for you to email other sellers' bidders. I am just telling you
> that one of the suspendable offenses is auction interference, which is
> defined as
> "emailing bidders at auction with intentions of causing them to retract or
> not complete the transaction for which they have contracted by bidding." We
> advise bidders to ask questions prior to placing bids.
>
> Regards,
> Jo
> eBay Customer Support
> The SafeHarbor Project

-------------------******----------------------------

I replied:

Subject: Re: eBay lot 21841773; so-called "Nazi" poker chip

Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 21:25:00 -0700

From: runtam <runtam@pacbell.net>

To: Jo King <jo@ebay.com>

CC: Casino@Listserv.syr.edu

Dear Jo -- thank you again for your message. I have once again looked
(in vain) in the eBay auction rules for the rule against so-called
"auction interference". In any event, I appreciate your clarification,
as it makes clear that my contact with either sellers or bidders does
not violate the rule. I am NOT emailing bidders with the intention of
causing them to retract or not complete the transaction on which they
have bid; I AM emailing solely for the purpose of providing information
upon which bidders may or may not choose to act, in their own volition.
I have never suggested that any bidder should retract a bid or otherwise
fail to conclude an auction.

You also state that this is a suspendable offense. Please be advised
that if eBay takes action to suspend my registration for the "offense"
of providing to bidders truthful information about false, fraudulent or
misleading auction lot descriptions, I will protect my own interests by
all legal means at my disposal, including but not limited to the filing
of appropriate complaints with the consumer fraud division of every
district attorney's office in the State of California, the California
Attorney General's office and the U.S. Attorney's office.

Sincerely, Jim Reilly