Auctions don't need to engage in shill bidding when it comes to pins...prices are just high and going higher for dmd-era games, as everyone around here acknowledges. The owner of the Johnny Mnemonic at this auction was hoping to get $1,000 for it. I told him he was crazy and it would go to at least $1300, and it ended up going for more. People make stupid bids at auction - they see something in front of them and they want to "win". Add in the retail people who can jack up the price fivefold, and you have the current climate. Nothing untoward by the Captains people.

I hear about auctions in other parts of the country where the auctioneer won't let stuff go under a few hundred dollars and will just keep passing on lots if they don't get what they want. I've gotten vids at Captains for $15, $25, $35..even a giant 2-player cockpit for $75 with the owner standing right beside me. And you can still get good deals on non-DMD solid state pins. They just want to move product - get whatever they can and move on. Sure we all hate the internet bidding but it is what it is