Hidden reserves disguised as phantom bidding

[sports-rings]

As I prepare for the Hunt auction this weekend, I had a long talk with someone on their staff today since I want to participate in the internet and phone auction.

I learned today, that if I am a phone bidder, and I am bidding on an item with a hidden reserve, the auction house will "bid against me" until the reserve is met.

I now must wonder, that in past years, as I won and lost various auction items at Hunt, if I truly was in a bidding battle with other collectors, or if I wound up in a bidding frenzy against an imaginary foe.

I am a disiplined bidder and will usually not go over a predetermined amount, however, I now feel like I have to be more careful than ever when bidding.

Why can't Hunt just come out and tell the hidden reserve price, or start the auction at this amount?