Posted By:
Bob SHi, again, warsh,
I both agree and disagree with you on this one. 
The main benefit of dealing with a "top drawer" auction firm is he trust they bring to the buyers' mind set.
ebBay, of which I have been a member for almost 9 years, is more of a cr** shoot.
It's a tough call, but I think that the big auction houses, with their high buyers' juice are walking a tightrope, and any major fraud, scandal, etc. could topple them very quickly.
My favorite way of selling remains face to face, one on one, or even with the locals, if you know them well enough to understand what thay can move at retail. JMHO.
Bob S