Yes, Mike, I agree. I have not bid on some auctions because a good friend has been on ahead of me. I have some misgivings about others not contacting your backup bidders. I understand your position, Mike. Particularly if you have duplciates and want to relist the item. But I see nothing wrong with others contacting your losing bidders and offering the same item for whatever price. However, private auctions would give your protection from that source.

One question. Suppose you offer dupicates of chips for one price. If I don't win the chips, I would like to contact the winner to see if he/she would sell or trade one to me. Or you might offer a unique chip--say an ivory--and if I don't win the chip, I would like to contact the ivory buyer to see if he would trade or sell ivories. If you go private, and a non winner (even a non-bidder) posts you and asks for the winner's address or in the alternative asks you to forward his address would you do that?

Just so people understand this message; I have had a long good relationship with Mike and hope to buy many more chips from him.