Ethics question regarding buying at auctions...

[rainier2004]

So Im tempted to do this and wonder others opinions on the matter.

My father and I collect little in common but when there is the occasional conflict of interest with an auction on the bay we never bid against each other. I guess there's no formula to who bids on it, but one of us just pulls out of the running...thats not the issue.

In the past year or so I have met quite a few guys that collect exactly the same thing I do. Do you consider ethical form to contact these guys in the first place, prior to auctions ending, and arrange a little priority on who might lay off on some bidding when these exact items end? My debate is if that puts these collectors in a potentially awkward position? Yes they can decline, but Id rather not do it in the first place if its generally viewed as bad form. How about towards the seller? Does it matter who is doing the auctioning? Generally these auctions see 10 bidders and I may take out 2-3 bidders, so does the number matter? And then there's my own agenda trying to get cards. Im thinking this is bad form, but I would never bid against my father so is that the line?

Thoughts and don't go at me too hard as I am asking before any action has been taken. Most of my bb card world is this computer with very little person-to-person contact.

Thanks.