This message board is frequented by a number of collectors that are willing to provide assistance to those who ask for help or advice. Take for example, Terry's idea of being a mentor. Most of us really want to help each other out and try to assist each other whenever possible.

One way that you could have approached this problem would be to have asked the users of this board for advice on the transaction itself.

For example, you could have said, "Hey I just won this auction and the seller said this was a 'nice' chip but once I got it, I didn't think so. What do you guys think?".

The court of public opinion would have taken care of itself and the specifics about your problem could have come out in a positive manner. When you immediately attack a fellow club member, then that abrasive approach can get off to the wrong foot and go downhill from there.