HI Jim -----

>Do you really believe because a practice is prohibited on eBay it won't take
>place? Please Jim, I hope you don't believe that.

No, of course not. I have suspected it on several occasions, but have never seen what I would call sufficient proof to make a complaint.

>If I choose to maintain my silence because I have no proof, why do you find
>that unacceptable?

Didn't mean to imply that because I might complain that it was unacceptable for you not to. I understand that not everyone has the personality for taking a confrontational position, particularly in a face-to-face setting like the club auction. We each have to make our own decisions on this issue and I respect any person's unwillingness to get involved in a big dispute.

>Want to clean up the club auction? - post the name of the consignor BEFORE the
>auction. If you discover a consignor using a confederate to place pieces in
>auction - ban the individual.

Hadn't really thought about the fact that club auction consigners are not identified prior to the auction. Is there a reason for this practice? I cannot think of any particular (good) reason to maintain the consigner's name a secret.

I'm not sure I understand your comment about using a confederate to "place" pieces in the auction. Are some members prohibited from placing lots in the auction? Or are you referring to placing pieces in excess of the number of lots otherwise permitted?

>After all we are protecting purchasers of under $50.00 items - noble, but in my
>opinion a waste of very precious time.

Once again, a matter of personal choice. However, I think neophyte collectors (most likely to fall victim to false advertising on eBay) need the protection more than experienced collectors who are buying high value chips. I guess you could consider this my "pro bono" service!

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." ----- attributed to Edmund Burke.

----- jim o\-S