Except the guy who sells "James Bond" chips with a certificate of authenticity and ran them private because people were warning off bidders, that they were store chips.

Or maybe someone who was selling $10,000 in casino chips, which were also cheap/fake store chips.

I don't know the reason for having private auctions, unless it's to hide the bidders ID for some reason. What's to hide? I confess that I bid on all sorts of junk.

Yes, it's true, most auctions go in the last few minutes. I keep saying I wish more people would snipe my auctions, I can use the extra cash...

Two things I avoid. Private auctions and Reserve auctions. If someone has a price they would like, start the auction at that price. Hidden reserves are sometimes fishing trips and a waste of time. Sellers (proported sellers) put an impossible reserve on something and see who bids and how high it goes. They have no intention of selling the item.

Can't the people who bid on a private auction, see the final hammer, but none of us can? I'd have to bid on one to find out that information?