posted on November 16, 2002 07:26:55 PM
In the antiques/collectibles field, I would think that reserves are often necessary--better to lose the listing fee than several hundred dollars.
how would you lose several hundred dollars if you didnt have a reserve??-make the starting bid the lowest you'll take for the item
[ edited by classicrock000 on Nov 16, 2002 07:28 PM ]
posted on November 17, 2002 11:53:35 AM
Just to clarify my earlier posting. I don't snipe on a reserve auction.
Your widget starts at $9.95, you have a reserve price of $100-I feel it is worth $95.00 to me,but that doesn't meet your reserve-so I give up. I might be willing to go that extra $5.00 if I know it is that close to my price.
posted on November 17, 2002 06:26:38 PM
Just to clarify my earlier posting. I don't snipe on a reserve auction.
Your widget starts at $9.95, you have a reserve price of $100-I feel it is worth $95.00 to me,but that doesn't meet your reserve-so I give up. I might be willing to go that extra $5.00 if I know it is that close to my price.
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And if the reserve price was $60...then another bidder who places the same $95 value as you, but who doesn't share your paranoia about reserves...and so does go ahead and snipe bid $95....could very well will win the auction at $60. Again, why not just bid what you feel it's worth? What do you have to lose?
posted on November 17, 2002 08:36:40 PM
I'm with pointy, in fact, I'd like to use your replies in the future.
If eBay meant for it to be known, why do they hide the reserve price?
posted on November 17, 2002 10:04:35 PM
pointy-- Your right...it takes longer to write an email asking for the reserve than it takes to place a bid. I look at reserve diffrently I guess.
I fully understand that there are items you need a min. price for, and I understand a low starting bide draws attention. You have done what no one else could do..I am finally convinced that reserve autions are a waste of my time and will bypass them in the future.
I am a buyer that is looking for a bargin..on things I like..I am not a staff member of the Antiques Road Show so I don't always know what something is worth.
Your widget has a reserve, I place a $50.00 bid, not enough, I place another bid, still not enough-I give up believing it is well over my head, when in fact the reserve price might have been just a few dollars more and fit into my budget.
Not worth the bother, I've never seen anything wrong with having my bid start at the reserve or higher, but I may have not even looked at the auction if the start bid was high.
posted on November 18, 2002 07:07:48 AM
drkosmos...feel free to use....i didn't copyright them. You should see my reply to Indonesians asking if I'll accept a credit card on a $5000 item.
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.Buffalowoman...you could still place just one bid, the highest amount that you're willing to pay..a proxy bid. You can still get a bargain this way. I have. I've bid and hit many reserves which were much lower than the highest that I was willing to pay...and I've won the auction at or near this low(to me) reserve price. Best ever was around this time last year. Bid $450. Met the reserve at $150. Wound up winning at $160. Sold day after I received it for $600. I didn't mean to chase you away, but if your mind is made up, good luck to you and we'll miss you in reserveville.
posted on November 19, 2002 11:46:08 AM
BUYERS ASK THE RESERVE PRICE SO THAT THEY CAN BE THE HIGH BIDDER WITHOUT ACTUALLY HITTING YOUR RESERVE, THEN THEY EMAIL YOU AND SAY SINCE IT DID NOT HIT THE RESERVE CAN I SELL IT TO THEM "THE HIGHEST BIDDER' FOR 20% BELOW MY RESERVE WITH SHIPPMENT PAID FOR??
I USUALLY TELL THEM THE RESERVE IS $10-$20 MORE THAN I REALLY HAVE IT SET AT..YOU'LL BE SURPRISED HOW MANY SALES I DO MAKE WITH THIS OF I TELL THEM IT'S $100.00 AND REALLY HAVE IT AT $99.00.
SOME TRY TO BACK OUT OF THE SALE SAYING THEY DID NOT WANT TO GO THAT HIGH...
I SAY "NO DON'T TELL" BUT MAKEW AN OFFER AND SEE IF IT'S CLOSE. LET THEM MAKE THE OFFER.
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