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Posted By: mr. moses

have been tempered and clarified by some expressions made here and a little more thought. I must say at this point that in my mind the practice of book bids whether disclosed or not is actually just dishonest in it's intent and it's implementation. It suggests more interest contemporaneously and infers a future value not established by 2 or more party bidding. Dishonest. It is compounded by allowing the house to make the bids in secret - that is to say that one never knows on what particular items such a practice is being exercised. Dishonest. I don't care if it's in the front of some catalog that the auction employs the use of book bids. Subsequent to the auction they'll be a prices realized. Which prices will that reflect? The higher the value that they can convince a consignor and a buyer that something sold for - the greater the chance they can realize an even higher price the next time on that or a similar items. Obfiscate and confuse. Dishonest. I think someone mentioned ponzi scheme earlier in the thread. Bit of that as well. Agreed that one can chose to bid or not bid in an auction. Doesn't mean I can't speak out against the policy as it may preclude me from getting something I want. All I'm looking for is an even playing field without the smoke and mirrors. Business can be profitable and moral.