Sheldon: I like your comments about policing eBay but if I read it correctly, you are musing that just possibly it is the chip police who are committing the questionable and probably unethical acts. Just isn't so. We self-appointed police are trying to ferret out fraudulent or mistaken claims as to identity and value and to assist sellers with correct information when known to us.

Again, as I read the original post, Jim's concern was with people who contact a listed bidder and offer the same chip for a price less than the current bid. There isn't anyway for those of us not a part of the buying/selling process to learn of this unless the seller [or an honest buyer who the undercutting seller approaches] contacts us. A far better remedy is for the seller to have eBay police its own house. eBay can cancel the person's license to use their services.