To all you sellers on ebay

lawnmowerman

I am currently selling off some stuff on ebay and I received a "question for seller". The auction has a reserve and the question was "What is your reserve?" " I would like to meet it." Now, my question is do I tell them? Really I think its inappropriate for someone to ask. What do you experienced sellers do in a situation such as this?
Thanks

Matt

jayhawke

I have asked sellers the same question. Even if you tell them and the reserve isn't met, you are not going to sell the card. I don't see the harm in telling a buyer.

tkd7

I don't think it is inappropriate to ask. You have the choice of answering or not. If you set the reserve for the amount of money you want to get and the bid is there, it shouldn't be a problem.

I've seen some sellers actually list their reserve amount in the description.

I've never had that come up.

tennesseebanker

Well, if the guy is legit I would go ahead and tell him, I mean you put the reserve price on the card because you didnt want it to sell lower than that price. right? And if this buyer is willing to meet your minimum price I say go ahead. I dont put reserves on my auctions so I am not to familiar with them, Would he ever know if you told him a price above the reserve?

fiveniner

I have asked only once and recieved a reply with the reserve price.I do not see a problem with this either way.

BigRedMachine

Rarely do I do an auction that has a reserve, but in the rare instances that I do, I put the reserve amount right in the description.

Tennesseebanker is right. The reserve is so your item sells for at least the price you want. I don't see why you would want it to be a secret.

Perhaps I'm missing something?????

shawn

gstarling

i would definitely tell him. you're hoping to sell the card for $X. Telling him will make sure his bid (if he really wants it) is at least $X. If you don't tell him, he may come in a few dollars low missing the win and you missing the sell.

poppie

I actually list the reserve in the description . My purpose is to keep the "buy it now" option alive well past the minimum bid.

alinchitown

If you go to a live auction, when there is an item with a reserve the auctioneer will announce the reserve prior to the opening bids. Pretty much that is standard parctice I never understood why on eBay sellers keep the reserve sercretive since the idea is really just to protect the item from being sold under what the seller wants for it. If I have a reserve on an item I also just list it in the Item Descritption.

Smittys

make sure you answer it either way through ebay, if it's a email do not click
on links in email..

Hub

I have on a few occasions asked a seller what their reserve was. Only ONCE has a seller told me. I have been told by sellers that "it would be unfair to other bidders to disclose the reserve" or "it's confidential for a reason." I've never understood that. Personally, I think reserve auctions stifle bids. But, if that's your choice, I would think you would want to disclose your reserve is someone asks. Even if someone snipes your reserve at the end of the auction, you still got your reserve (aka the minimum you would accept for that auction).

Rambler

I don't know why people put a reserve on anything, just put the minimum price that you want as the starting price and be done with it. Why keep everyone in the dark ? Personally I won't even bid on a auction that has a reserve, just tell me what you want for it and be done. If I want it I'll pay it and if I don't I won't. Pretty simple.

A761506

I always ask for reserve prices and very seldom have they not told me. It allows me to set my snipe appropriately and/or determine whether I am even interested in the item at whatever reserve price they have on it.

Reserve auctions can be good and bad, it's a mixed bag....

If the item is very rare and someone wants it but the seller has the reserve set high, the buyer is more likely to enter higher bids trying to reach the reserve level. It creates sort of a pressure feeling on the buyer, they get worried they won't get it, so they keep bidding often times until they reach the reserve. Multiple bids also generates more attention from other prospective buyers, so that to is likely to help drive up the price.

But, if the item is common, a reserve could be a curse that just scares people away before they even enter a bid, or limited bidding could occur.

Boopotts

<< <i>I don't know why people put a reserve on anything, just put the minimum price that you want as the starting price and be done with it. Why keep everyone in the dark ? Personally I won't even bid on a auction that has a reserve, just tell me what you want for it and be done. If I want it I'll pay it and if I don't I won't. Pretty simple. >>



This pretty much sums up my feelings as well. When I have run a reserve auction-e.g, I'm selling something for a friend--I list the reserve amount in the description. I don't see why you would want to keep it secret.

jmbkb4

<< <i>I am currently selling off some stuff on ebay and I received a "question for seller". The auction has a reserve and the question was "What is your reserve?" " I would like to meet it." Now, my question is do I tell them? Really I think its inappropriate for someone to ask. What do you experienced sellers do in a situation such as this?
Thanks

Matt >>


I don't see the harm in telling him. For your sake, I hope the reserve IS met (in which case, eBay will refund those horrific Reserve auction fees!). But I think it's completely appropriate to ask, and to tell.

zef204

I too see no harm in telling them. Best case scenario, the dude puts in a bid at the reserve and then it is gone. 9/10 times I pass on bidding if there is a reserve, but if this guy meets the reserve, more bidding may ensues as the reserver has been lifted.

ctsoxfan

I don't bother with reserves - it seems like it costs you bids in the long run anyway. Just open the bidding at your minimum, if you are worried about that. I have been very successful lately opening almost everything at .99, even cards worth hundreds of dollars.

bri2327

I know there is one thing that drives me crazy, and I am sure someone else has encountered this.....now, I have only set a reserve in maybe a dozen auctions over the years. but each and every time I have there has been a bidder who bids a number JUST to find out what the reserve is, then backed out with the bid retraction and " entered wrong amount " crap......ya wanna know the reserve, write me and I will tell you, but I just cant stand bidding then retracting the bid to find the reserve price.

SoFLPhillyFan

BTW - what is the reserve and what is the item?

Keith

lawnmowerman

<< <i>BTW - what is the reserve and what is the item?

Keith >>



$100.00

Matt

Hub

I don't bother with reserves - it seems like it costs you bids in the long run anyway. Just open the bidding at your minimum, if you are worried about that. I have been very successful lately opening almost everything at .99, even cards worth hundreds of dollars.

I completely agree with this statement. I start all auctions at .01, even those that will (presumably) end at over $100 or so.

Susquehanna

I guess one 'fair' way of exposing the reserve would be to respond to the email and have it posted publicly at the bottom of the listing. That way you wouldn't have to feel like one bidder had info that wasn't available to everyone. If you want to keep the reserve unknown, then respond as such to the email. Either course of action would be fine. Good luck.

Nick

MorrellMan

<< <i>"What is your reserve?" " I would like to meet it." >>


Matt, that is a curious question. If the buyer would like to meet the reserve, it would be easy enough to do without asking the question. Usually, the only time I ask the question is when the reserve hasn't been met, auction is closed, and I'd like to know how close I got. I hate to be the nattering nabob of negativity, but I think the guy is sucking up to you by saying he would like to meet the reserve. I think what he is really saying is he'll meet the reserve if he likes it.

SoFLPhillyFan

<< <i>

<< <i>BTW - what is the reserve and what is the item?

Keith >>



$100.00

Matt >>



Thanks for your quick response. Over the last 6 months this item has sold for an average of $80. If it does not sell would you consider taking $65?

Not a serious inquiry guys. Just an example of what can happen. I seldom use reserves but sometimes a high starting price can intimidate potential bidders. Guess the real question is - "How much condfidence do I have in the appeal of the item and it's value to bidders?" This of course is why we can list high dollar items with no reserve and a 99 cent opening bid. Buy It Now has become more attractive over the last few years as the sole purchasing option. This may not apply so much to vintage cards but it helps to throw a BIN in there for the guy who really wants the card.

I agree with responding to the e-mail through Ebay's system so that other bidders will know.

lawnmowerman

I wanted to say thanks to everyone for their input. Just in case anyone was curious, I disclosed my reserve price to the potential buyer. I usually never put reserves on any of my auctions but this was an item from my dad that I am thinking I should not have listed. I think the reserve price I set was a result of some in-decision on my part on whether to sell the item or not.

Thanks
Matt

jmbkb4

<< <i>I wanted to say thanks to everyone for their input. Just in case anyone was curious, I disclosed my reserve price to the potential buyer. I usually never put reserves on any of my auctions but this was an item from my dad that I am thinking I should not have listed. I think the reserve price I set was a result of some in-decision on my part on whether to sell the item or not.

Thanks
Matt >>


Unless you're seriously hard-up for $$$, I would pull the auction if it was from your father. I can guarantee you 100% you'll regret it later if you don't..............