Exactly Matt!
I could care less how much shill bidding goes on in any auction I'm bidding in. I know what I will pay. I bid that amount. Not a dollar more, not a dollar less.
If I get it at less than my maximum bid ... great I get what I think is a bargain (obviously though, everyone else thinks I'm an idiot who paid too much - or else they would have bid more themselves!).
If I get it at my maximum bid ... great ... I get the item.
If it goes over my maximum (which frankly almost every auction does - especailly those for PSA 10 1974 Art Shell's!) ... good luck to the new owner (if there is one).
As a result of this philosophy ... I've thrown away every price guide ... and ignore all "market research" ... as they are essentially meaningless opinions from others and I trust my own opinion as much as theirs. (And if I'm bidding on something based on what someone else has told me it's worth ... then I'm in BIG TROUBLE. If I don't know what it's worth, I shouldn't be bidding in the first place!)
Cheers,
Patrick
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