I guess I'm just confused at the assumption that AH personnel don't or shouldn't also look for items on eBay to flip via the AH. I've always assumed that, when bidding on eBay, I'm competing with anyone with the time to dig through the listings, AH's included. There have even been a few times when I've sold something in an eBay auction to someone from an AH, and seen it go for multiples of what I got for it when sold through the AH. It stings, but it certainly happens, and I don't begrudge them that (though it does make me re-examine my chosen selling venue when that happens
). Maybe I would feel differently if I found myself butting up against the same guys over and over.
Now if it was someone from the AH implying that they would have talked the seller out of completing the deal with you had they noticed the item, that would be different. That's not okay no matter who you are.