Originally Posted by
cpsqlrwn
I make extensive use of reserve because I am always nervous that I am going to lose my ass on something of value due to low bidding. And I bet a reserve turns off some bidders.
Does me, I simply don't bid on reserve auctions under any circumstance.
Originally Posted by
soonerbills
It's my opinion that when you set your reserve as your starting price on an auction you scare away prospective bidders who would have warmed up to the price if it had been unknown and gradually worked up to. I am sure that many auctions lose bidders due to sticker shock so to speak.
If you want a certain amount of money for an item then list it for that. Period. Buyers will either agree with your assessment of the value and bid (and perhaps bid above) or they'll disagree with your assessment of value and not bid. This way nobody wastes time, nobody dinks around with feeler bids and bid reatractions. eBay is now a marketplace, not an auction house.
I always list for the minimum I'd like to have then a BIN for an amount I'd really like to get. If people bid it up fine. If they use the BIN because they want the item faster fine. They're happy I'm happy...and they agreed with my assessment of the item's value.