532: Thanks for putting in all that effort, and sharing it with the thread.
I had contacted the auction house earlier today when initially I got Sharon's voicemail (and thought it was incorrect on account of it being an individual, not a business). At any rate, the auction house was fairly quick to get back to me, and very quick to take action on my request for information about/from the shipping company. They very quickly gave me an additional email address for Sharon, and confirmed that my choice of shipping company would be ok with her.
I'm yet to hear back from Sharon, but certainly the auction house/company was very responsive and professional. I got the sense that auctioning lots was what they do, and the only thing they do. They also have a website which is just about as far from "related" to laser gear as is imaginable (probably a good thing).
For me at least, at this stage, my only concern relates to the quality/description of actual items. I'm no longer concerned about proxibid, the auctioneer, or the shipping company. Having said that, the remaining concern is still a significant one, especially if as TJ said, this is "bottom of the barrel" stock.
I'm basically approaching this the way I would approach a
"3,000mW green laser burns good happy live long life for you" laser pointer from China. I won't spend any more money on it than I'd be comfortable writing off if the worst possible end of the quality scale turns out to be reality.