... however, can't write to the bidders in this case.

On the other hand, $500 for 1000 chips (even if fantasy chips) is not an unreasonable price. ----- jim o\-S

It's not an unreasonable price provided you know what you are getting. Perhaps this buyer does, perhaps he doesn't. Since its a private auction we can't make sure that he does.

Of course if someone had an extra Ebay account they could thwart this private auction but placing a very high (say $10,000) last minute bid so it can't be cancelled. Then the Seller couldn't even offer it to the second high bidder since he won't know who it is.

Not that I'd endorse that kind of thing.