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Posted By: Daniel Bretta

I agree with you Leon, but I think in an auction setting there is the perception that you are going to get a "deal" on something. If consigners are allowed to bid on their own items then that may make some people shy away from the auction house. There really is no real way for the auction houses to police this though as like you said they'll just have someone else bid on their item for them.

I went to an old Tin Toy auction this past summer where the owner of the toys was there and was even introduced by the auctioneers. He sat next to a guy who obviously had no knowledge of old toys and was telling him how much to bid. Needless to say there were no deals to be had that day. The auction house can't be held liable for this type of activity if they don't even know it's happening.