" I had an auction all lined up a couple of years back and the guy canceled all bids and sold the lot privately for a lot less than I was going to pay and I was royally peeved. "

A guy on eBay did the same thing to me for some really rare items that I couldn't believe were on eBay.
I had a feeling he was going to end the auctions early, so I told him, let me make you an offer.
I will top any offer, so he ends the auction early without even giving me a chance, he told me he sold the items to a museum. Totally pissed me off, I told him why even put it on eBay, why not an auction house ?