That's cool that you and your Dad have this hobby in common.
I have had collectors 'fish' around with email and PM when they see a card appear that they think I might plan to bid on. If I want the card, I must admit - I'm evasive or non responsive. I have this happen with rare pool cues as well. Same deal - if it's something I want and I know they want it as well, I just practice avoidance. If it's someone who I know will spend an arm and a leg, then we start a dialogue, I wish them well, and I don't bid. I have no desire to run up the price on a friend. On the other hand, it might be a friend selling it.
If you can arrive at a bidding agreement with such a people, I don't see the problem - as Dan said, most of us avoid buying things to flip if we think someone who really collects that item is interested in it. An example is the 'scrap' (misfit) cards that show up every now and then. I know Johnny, Chris, Jantz, etc., are very interested in these things. I won't even bid on them unless it's for my personal collection - I would hate to run things up on one of them, given how much they contribute to researching T206 history/production. It's just sort of an unwritten rule.
__________________
$co++ Forre$+
|