How Does the Ebay "Reserve" Really Work?

bigindie

Say for instance I place a $15 Max Bid on Ebay but my current bid is only $4.25 and it says "Reserve Not Yet Met." Does that mean the reserve is more than my $15 max or more than my $4.25 current bid? If my $15 bid does beat the reserve do I have to wait for another bid to increase my minimum?

VonZipper

I think it means the $15 did not meet the reserve, and if your high bid was over the reserve the bid jumps to the reserve instantly.

1956Quarter

Your $15 did not meet or exceed the sellers reserve. Another bidder can come along and place a $10 bid and if the increment for the auction is $1 then your Proxy will take it to $11. If another bidder came along and bid $30, and the reserve is $29.99, E-Bay will take the bid amount to $29.99. If the Reserve is $35 and another person bids $30, the bidding will go to $16 as they too did not meet the reserve, but you had a Proxy bid of $15 so E-bay system will go back and forth in $1 increment between your bid and his until either or both of you run out of money in your Proxy. If the Reserve is $25 and you bid $30, E-Bay will automatically pop the bid amount to the reserve of $25 and you'll have $5 in proxy.