Thread: Reserve Prices

What do you all think about auctions with reserve prices on eBay? I'm personally not a fan, I'd rather the seller just start the bidding at the minimum price they'd like to let it go. I know there are some perceived advantages but I normally just assume the seller thinks their item is worth more than it really is.

I'm saying this from a buyer perspective, not sure if I'd ever use a reserve on one of my razors. I think Buy it Now or Best Offer is a better option but to each his own.

Adam

I wouldn't use the Reserve Price option as a seller and as a buyer I wouldn't bid on such an auction.

Regarding Best Offer...as a buyer I'd always offer less than the listed price but as a seller I'd never offer that option. It just makes it look like you know you have the item overpriced.

The reserve is a huge waste of time IMO, people bid on a razor and usually the reserve is above or at full retail which isnt whar ebay is about. I mean granted people do want the most money, but ebay is about deals also. Say what you want for the buy it now if not start it as a certain price. a mystery reserve wastes a lot of time

reserve prices are a pain in the ... never mind, we're supposed to keep this clean.

From years of selling I can tell you that a seller who starts his auction at a low bid with a reserve will get more bids than a seller who asks his reserve price as an opening bid or as a buy it now. The bidder can bid a buck or ten bucks without fear of commitment if there is a reserve.

The idea is to get 'action' on the item. If an item is in a persons watch list through bidding or just watching there is hope for the seller. Out of sight ..... out of mind. The seller pays a much higher listing fee if there is a reserve. So from his point of view the item better be worth the price and one that will attract bidders. I personally shy away from reserves. I either do fixed price BIN or start at the least I will take in a regular auction.

I have bought a couple at Buy it Now and thought I was lucky I saw them 1/2 hour after they were posted because I never would have got them that cheap had they been posted a few days. I tried to bid on something to get it 20 bucks cheaper and watched the bids go way over the Buy it Now price. To me the Reserve is somebody saying I want more than it's worth and I am not saying what that is. Not always but like you say just start it out at that price and get on with it.

I stay away from reserves as a buyer.
And i don't hit buy it now buttons personally i like
the feeling of the trill of getting a good deal.

I normally would see an item, place my bid, and let it run. I then found that someone would bid about 6 times in small increments just to become to top bidder and then it starts a war and others get involved. I hate when items I'm buying get sniped but I've started sniping recently as well and think it's a better option. I spend less and it doesn't inflate the price too much.

I love Buy it Now prices, some sellers are willing to negotiate if you think it's a little high and sometimes you can get a really good deal if you catch the listing early on or if it's a higher priced item that a lot of people aren't willing to pull the trigger.

Reserve price is a good insurance that a solid item that is worth some money will not sell for cheap.
I do not see any problem with reserves, if I decided to bid $100 on something it does not matter if I did not pass the reserve or some one else bid $110.

As a buyer I dont care how its
price or method of sale. only if I want it, how bad I want it and how much I'm willing to pay. In the end it's all the same product and money.