EACH individual (whether a buyer or a seller) needs to investigate current pricing. As a buyer, we want the best product for the best price. As a seller, many seek the greatest profit for their item(s). For a new collector, I can understand spending too much for items that are touted as "rare", when in fact they're not...I certainly did this when I first expanded my chip collecting horizons. But with you already being a member of the CCGTCC and knowing of this board and probably knowing many of those who post here, I would have asked about chip values and new finds. Then if you over-spent, it was your "informed" choice to do so. To me, a chip seller is a merchant, a regular businessman...selling his product to make a profit. If he can get someone to pay more than the current value, so be it. Now if something was mis-represented by the seller to escalate the selling price, I do not believe that it is ethical to do that. But this is a small hobby and word gets around and there may be those who would not or will not buy from your seller.

Now as far as ending auctions early...I agree that it's the seller's right to end the auction early -- I just think that it's a rotten way to do business -- both as a buyer and a seller. Steve B