... Bob. I don't particularly care one way or the other whether shill bidding is permitted in any auction. I see nothing wrong with it and do not believe it is "deceptive" in any way (I as a bidder still have TOTAL CONTROL of what I spend). Nevertheless (as I also mentioned in my answers to my own questions), I would not use shill bidding if I were selling in any auction, whether permitted or not. I would simply set an appropriate minimum bid (I would consider having to use seller protection or shill bidding just too much of a headache to bother with AND, because of others who share your opinion, would not want to lose the possible participation of a number of bidders).

As you will see when you read THE POINT, I have been driving at something entirely different (which you happened to mention in this post! <g>).

BTW, I agree with your decision (one also reached by JB) and would not participate in the club auction as a consignor because of the current structure of the rules.

----- jim o\-S