Some very good points and insights. It is hard to win an auction unless you are are there at the end. I used to use a site called auction sniper before the days of fast Internet, but now if there is something that I must bid on at the end I have my phone if I'm out.
The auction Shape has used is very good in showing why sellers don't let "high end" stuff go to auction, although it is an Action Master, so, yeah, but that is what the market thinks that item is worth.