Would love thoughts when I must have something

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by powell_am

Asked differently, should I trust that the auction site will not violate the supposed rules or am I warranted in not trusting that the secret maximum will be trusted as a secret?

No, I wouldn't trust an auction site with a case of beer let alone them refraining from shill bidding.

Originally Posted by boysblue

I would definitely not place a high max bid. I did that recently on multiple items at a local auction and got run up to my max on every single item! Very annoying....

That was my experience too on about eight lots of a Hakes or Heritage Auction some twenty years ago. I put in maximum bids a day before the auction formally opened and every single lot on which I bid opened at my maximum as opposed to their minimum starting bid! When I phoned to strongly complain, they seemed bewildered. What was particularly annoying is that they seemed more bewildered by what prompted me to complain than the glitch in their bidding software/bid entry system that caused such a thing!