Kind of along the same lines, is it ethical for an auctioneer or seller to advertise a "complete" cattle dispersion, and then not sell every cow?  How about an "absolute" land auction where the land doesn't actually sell?  The seller is ultimately responsible to answer their conscience on the matter.  However, it would also seem if an auctioneer is involved where they knowlingly advertise a "complete dispersion," or an "absolute land auction," and these conditions don't happen, the credibility of the auctioneer is also at stake.

Both absolute and complete basically mean "all" with nothing held back.  It is a fairly easy straight-forward concept, and one which should be adhered to if it is advertised as such.