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Divulging your "reserve"??

If someone emails asking to divulge your reserve price on an Ebay auction, do you let them know???

Comments

  • When asked, most sellers tell. I don't ever set a reserve as I've noticed a phenomena that frequently occurs, those Reserve items rarely receive the higher bids that similar cards get.
  • IMO, all a "reserve" does is protect your investment. It's just saying I have "x" for sale, and I'd like "this much" for it.

    I'm not real sure why anyone would not disclose a reserve price.

    If I offer an item with a reserve, I always put the reserve price in my auction description.

    So to answer your question, yes, the few times I have used a reserve.

    -dal-
  • If I start an auction with a reserve price I won't automatically give my reserve. However, I generally don't have a problem letting everybody know what my reserve is. The only time I won't give my reserve is if I start an auction with a VERY high reserve in an attempt to 1)see what a rare item's true value is for insurance purposes, or 2)to see if someone really wants the item bad enough.
    Rich
  • GriffinsGriffins Posts: 6,076 ✭✭✭
    I set the reserve below a standard amount- eg. $397. instead of $400. When asked I say it's about $400.
    Close enough. Someone would just bid high and retract it- their bid would automatically stop at the reserve, so it's revealed anyway.
    Of course anyone doing that gets blocked immediately.

    Always looking for Topps Salesman Samples, pre '51 unopened packs, E90-2, E91a, N690 Kalamazoo Bats, and T204 Square Frame Ramly's

  • Revealing reserve on the auction is against ebay policy-I think-but when emailed I let them know.
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  • Revealing reserve on the auction is against ebay policy-I think

    ...if so it's something new. I asked customer service that same question last February.....via "live help". The person told me there was no such policy.

    Of course, they could have been wrong....
  • Revealing reserve on the auction is against ebay policy-I think-but when emailed I let them know

    No it is not.. On the very rare occasion that I do use a reserve I always list it in the listing. When I bid on an item with a reserve if the seller will not reveal it I use the back button.

    Why should it be a secret?? If I am buyer I want to know what it is going to take to get it. If the reserve is out of my league then I am not even going to waste my time.

    Now if you do not set the auction up as a reserve price auction, but say I will not sell this item to any bidder for less than 1500.00 that is called reserved fee avoidance and is against Ebay rules.
  • nightcrawlernightcrawler Posts: 5,110 ✭✭
    I'm with fdnyladder7 about the "phenomena" that occurs, as a buyer that is. I think the reserve just adds another unknown element to the auction and i'd feel better with just a reasonable starting bid, or a high one if the seller wants to protect his investment.
  • mikeschmidtmikeschmidt Posts: 5,756 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Revealing reserve on the auction is against ebay policy-I think-but when emailed I let them know

    No it is not.. On the very rare occasion that I do use a reserve I always list it in the listing. >>



    Then why don't you just start the item at a minimum bid of whatever your reserve is...?

    marc
    I am actively buying MIKE SCHMIDT gem mint baseball cards. Also looking for any 19th century cabinets of Philadephia Nationals. Please PM with additional details.
  • Mikes:
    I generally do start my auction with the first bid equaling the lowest amount I would accept for the item in question. However, their are instances that this isn't a good idea like my example about listing an item for the sole reason to see it's true value for insurance purposes.
    Rich
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,439 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I have asked and most have given the info - a few have said they don't do it as a policy.

    Either way is OK with me.

    I'm gonna bid what I bid anyway.

    mike
    Mike
  • Then why don't you just start the item at a minimum bid of whatever your reserve is...?

    Thats easy generally speaking an item started at a lower price generates early bids faster. Sometimes this can cause a bidding war where the item will go for much more.
  • CDsNutsCDsNuts Posts: 10,092
    So Wizard, to follow up on the other mikeschmidt's question, why would a bidding war start if you have told what your reserve is? Why would anybody bid less than that figure?

    Lee
  • So Wizard, to follow up on the other mikeschmidt's question, why would a bidding war start if you have told what your reserve is?

    It becomes a psychological thing, plus when you use a reserve you have at the end of the listing selling the item to the highest bidder in a second chance offering. I may offer one reserve listing a year out of an average of 2500 auctions a year.. I feel that using a reserve is a big turn-off for buyers, but on the rare occasions I do it I always will list the reserve price in the listing.

    Why would anybody bid less than that figure?

    The seller can always remove the reserve amount and also has the option of selling the item to the highest bidder. There is a chance that the seller may take less.

    Last Item I sold via reserve was a consignment for a beautiful spearpoint. The seller wanted 200.00 for it. Highest bid was 178.00. He told me to take it I made the second chance offer to the high bidder and he took it for 178.00.
  • Carew29Carew29 Posts: 4,025 ✭✭

    Some people i know have their reserve price set at their BYN price. So why not just list it at the BYN price?

    As for telling anyone my reserve price--No i don't--that's kind of the whole point. Maybe i'm just testing the market to see how high someone will bid on my card.
  • kingraider75kingraider75 Posts: 1,500 ✭✭
    tough call on letting people know the reserve, a lot of times I would say don't do it. If someone asks, and they collect the same sort of cards( check their feedback) you should tell them. That person is more inclined to go higher than others.
    Running an Ebay store sure takes a lot more time than a person would think!
  • Well if you will not reveal your reserve when I ask I will hit the back button. The point of the reserve is to protect the sellers investment not to hide it from buyers.
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