Posted By:
Richard Simon"I must also say that it never ceases to amaze me how often my ceiling bid will be matched but not topped leaving me the winner but not at a bargain."
That was an earlier comment on this thread. I can state for a fact (I don't have documented evidence, so the guilty will remain unnamed) but a former employee of a second level auction house, who I was friendly with, told me that they shill like crazy. A close friend of mine was high bidder with this auction house on a game used item. The bid was around $500, which was about what the item was worth. He desperately wanted it, and did not want to be topped after he went to sleep, so he left a $1500 ceiling bid before going to bed.
GUESS WHAT - he woke up the next morning and owned the piece for $1500. WHAT A SHOCK. He asked me if I thought he was getting ripped off 
. I just shrugged.
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I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent.