posted on November 16, 2001 03:53:27 AM new
I'm trying to decide if I should start my bids for my collectibles at a low bid with a reserve (I personally don't like reserve auctions but have heard that not everyone feels that way) or just put them in with a higher minimum bid.
I know I'm going to get differing views, but can you tell me what you do and why? Also, is it cheaper to do a reserve? I need to look that up.
My auctions should end anywhere between 50-100.00 so they're fairly low. ..
posted on November 16, 2001 04:51:54 AM new
For items likely to go for $50-$100, I don't normally use a reserve because they do tend to annoy some bidders and confuse newbies. To use a reserve these days, my criteria is that a) the item must be valuable (minimum $100+) and b) it's likely to be the only one offered on ebay so bidders don't have the choice to jump to the competition (do a search on closed auctions - if it hasn't appeared in the last 30 days, you're likely to have something fairly unusual).
The question should be, in your case, whether to start it at a "sell-through" price where you'd be happy with one bid, or start it at a lowball bid to get bidder interest. Again, do a search on completed auctions of the same item. If those items attract lots of pageviews and lots of bids and end up at a price you'll be happy with, then lowball the starting bid and let the market determine the value. If it's the type of item that gets few bids, then start it at a price that you can live with.
"Also, is it cheaper to do a reserve?"
They are generally more expensive. Your listing fee is determined by your reserve price just as if it were started at that level. Start an auction at $9.99 with a $35.00 reserve and you'll pay 55 cents for the listing fee instead of 30 cents. On top of that you have to deal with the $1 reserve fee, which is refunded if the bidding meets the reserve. Of course if it doesn't, you're out a buck.
posted on November 16, 2001 05:20:30 AM new
OK, that helps a lot!
Speaking of searching. . .I hate what eBay has done to their search engine. Used to be able to search for active items, then one click away to see closed ones so I got an idea of what price to expect. Now it's a much longer process!
