Posted By:
Cobby33"There is no "right" answer here, unless it is simply that the rules need to be disclosed and understood in advance. "
This is true, however, although auction houses may "work for" consignors, it is the bidders who fund both the consignors and auction houses. No bidders, no auction house.
So, again, unless there's a movement to boycott or curtail the bidding in (a) particular auction house(s), these (albeit legal) ethically-questionable tactics will persist.