posted on June 11, 2001 08:25:57 AM
Unless you can come up with a plausible reason for keeping it secret, tell them what they want to know. People will either bid or balk.
posted on June 11, 2001 09:24:57 AM
The 99% who do not bid afterwards probably realize the reserve is more than they are willing to pay. Not that you aren't justified in keeping a reserve, but if I was to bid on something and noticed a reserve, and asked you what that reserve was, and you told me "$100.00" but I was only willing to bid even $99.00, why would I bother? I wouldnt get the item anyway....so I would move on to one with no reserve, or lower reserve...etc.
posted on June 11, 2001 10:27:37 AM
NOBODY as yet has even given me a rational reason for not revealing the reserve.
In a brick and mortar auction, the secret reserve can have a strategic value. But in an online computerized auction with proxy bidding, it just doesn't make sense.
Tony
posted on June 11, 2001 01:01:10 PM
I always tell 'em, BUT in less time than it takes to send an email, you can bid your Max, and find out if it meets the reserve or not. I never did see the point in the question.
posted on June 11, 2001 01:21:57 PM
I just revealed the reserve on an item to someone who claimed they would be out of town when the auction ends. They have yet to bid....
One good reason for not revealing the reserve is that some idiots will bid the item up to 1 penny below the reserve price and detract others from bidding on it.
If the price rises too quickly but does not yet meet the reserve, people can get turned off by it.
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posted on June 11, 2001 01:43:17 PM
I tell the reserve. It's not a secret, it's just a protection for my investment! I'm really put off by sellers that won't tell me, and in all my time on ebay, there've only been one or two that have refused. Way I look at it, your bidder might think his maximum bid is $100, but if he finds out that your reserve is $125, he'll talk his way into the extra $25 (at least I do!) mary
