take2
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posted on February 4, 2004 09:30:26 AM new
what is the reserve on this item? I am selling on ebay with a reserve do I respond to emails asking what is the reserve? If so any suggestions on if I tell them or not.
Thanks
TSTS
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ltray
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posted on February 4, 2004 09:31:14 AM new
Tell them to bid to find out 
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myoldtoy
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posted on February 4, 2004 09:44:25 AM new
telling kinda defeats the purpose, plus it would make me wonder why i spent the money for the reserve auction...i usually, and rather tersely type: i dont divulge my reserve -thanks.
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or you could explain why they should bid what they are willing to pay...that is all they ever responsible for in the auction.
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then you could tell them, and hold your breath..but not too long, okay?
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good luck, myoldtoy
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max40
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posted on February 4, 2004 09:46:10 AM new
You don't want to come across as a smart a$$. I've run into this before, and will give the reserve to the person. Usually never here from them again.
Life is not a dress rehearsal
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take2
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posted on February 4, 2004 09:47:46 AM new
This is my first time on the board and I can't believe how wonderful you people are. You responed so fast. And with great information. I can now go on with my day with a smile on my face. Thanks to all.
TSTS
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Damariscotta
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posted on February 4, 2004 10:22:22 AM new
My standard reply to this is "I'm sorry, but that wouldn't be fair to the other bidders."
The last time this happened, the reserve got hit very early (and not by the emailer). I haven't noticed a bid from them yet, and doubt I will see one.
I agree with above, the questions that come in before auction endings about reserves, or anything else, for that matter, rarely turn out to be from winning bidder (or any bidder for matter).
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Libra63
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posted on February 4, 2004 11:18:14 AM new
If any bidder writes and ask I tell them. Why hide the reserve. The reason you put on the reserve is so you can get what you want. Why not reveal it so you can get it. The sooner the reserve is made the more bids you will get. Sometimes I put it in my description. Why let that auction end without meeting it and then you have to relist it again.
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stopwhining
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posted on February 4, 2004 11:21:48 AM new
i agree with libra,your aim is to sell the item,not play hide and seek.
some bidders want to gauge if it is worth their time placing bid.if what they have in mind is less than the reserve,they figure it is a waste of time for them to even place a bid.
-sig file -------the lobster in the boiling pot of water who tries to prevent the others from climbing out.
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sanmar
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posted on February 4, 2004 11:27:26 AM new
I agree with Libra & whining. Many times I put on a reserve & BIN. I feel this is a fair market value for this widget. Believe it or not, but I had a widget that went over the BIN!! The BIN was $30.00 & it went to $34.00!!
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ltray
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posted on February 5, 2004 04:37:17 AM new
Hi Sanmar,
I have a new widget that I set the BIN $10 above the opening bid and give free shipping with BIN. It regularly goes for up to $10 above the BIN price because on 2 out of 3 auctions someone tries to get it for the opening bid and other bidders jump in and run the auction up.
I keep running the auctions this way because it is just too fun to watch. They can buy it for $40 w/ free shipping OR bid on it for $30 with 3.23 shipping. When they win with a bid over $40, I ship it for free anyway so they won't feel too dumb when they see it relisted again.
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replaymedia
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posted on February 5, 2004 05:06:15 AM new
I don't have this problem. I always put the reserve right in the text of the ad. "This item has a reserve amount of $200.00"
What is th ebenefit of keeping it a secret? I DO NOT AND NEVER WILL bid on an auction with an unknown reserve. There have been just too many insane reserve amounts and even worse, million dollar reserves on items where people are just looking for a cheap "appraisal" to see what the highest bid will be.
No, if you can't be honest up front, I won't bid.
"Secret Reserve" Why the secret?
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Replay Media
Games of all kinds!
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ltray
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posted on February 5, 2004 05:20:15 AM new
Replay, what an interesting idea. I had never thought to run a reserve auction to get a $2.00 appraisal for my items. A million $$ reserve would cost how much?? Way more than I would be willing to pay for an appraisal!
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replaymedia
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posted on February 5, 2004 05:50:21 AM new
It USED to be cheap enough, before they raised the reserve fees a few months back.
But still, if you use a one-shot ID and someone else's credit card number, it's a free appraisal. I didn't say it was legal, I said it happens.
How many of those "businesses for sale" for 2 million dollars actually SELL on eBay?
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Replay Media
Games of all kinds!
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BIGPEEPA
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posted on February 5, 2004 06:19:58 AM new
How about this one. Yesterday I was selling a sterling silver bowl for $24.99 without reserve. The bowl weighed 6 ounces so my selling price was about its scrap silver value. With 7 hours left in the auction I get an email for a buyer that says "If your sterling bowl doesn't sell would you sell it to me of less" That got my old Irish temper fired up so I ended the auction early and emailed this person back saying "I am sorry you didn't know a good buy when you saw one. Good Luck with your collection or sales." This morning I get another email from someone else saying "I missed your auction would you sell the bowl for its starting price." My point is a lot of Ebay buyers have to get a lot smarter about what they are buying reserve or not.
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myoldtoy
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posted on February 5, 2004 06:23:28 AM new
replay: you said:
before they raised the reserve fees...
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one of reasons ebay posted banner earnings again in thirdqtr was fees[esp. reserves]...what this increase did to my visa is obscene...but then my little business enjoyed a better year than b4...i still find myself having more minimum bid auctions than before... reserves' cost just mount up so fast...
..my question is: do you let the amount you want from an auction govern how you list the item... for instance, reserve on a $600 set of chairs is incrementally higher than the reserve on a $30 piece of glass...what do you do? very interested in your practise...thanks, myoldtoy
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myoldtoy
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posted on February 5, 2004 06:40:27 AM new
Bigpeeepa: read your thread, thought it was an echo from here!!! i know how you feel...i also,get 'em...i dont, however, have the yingyang to cancel an auction...
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..i just go with the flow...annnnnd, i consider "the flow" having changed -and changed so negatively toward we sellers...
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..nowadays, bidders are not as willing to bid-expose what they are willing to pay - which is core to an auction process...therefore the new breed has turned ebay from a auction platform to a negotiating forum -- PORTRAYED BY EACH OF YOUR EMAILS...i would guess ebay's second chance//second chance to a bidder under reserve, point to this go with the flow...
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EVERYTHING STATED IS MY OPINION...NOTHING BASED IN FACT...
myoldtoy
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Roadsmith
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posted on February 5, 2004 09:58:44 AM new
I'm solidly with those who would divulge it, either in answer to an e-mail question or in the auction description itself.
___________________________________
"I have resolved to allow my friends their peculiarities." -- Samuel Johnson
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replaymedia
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posted on February 5, 2004 10:08:57 AM new
"my question is: do you let the amount you want from an auction govern how you list the item... for instance, reserve on a $600 set of chairs is incrementally higher than the reserve on a $30 piece of glass...what do you do? very interested in your practise...thanks, myoldtoy"
I rarely use reserves. For my day to day business I used fixed price listings on eBay. The item either sells at my price or it doesn't.
But once in a while I sell something big. Right now I have a dozen large video store display shelves. I would LIKE to get $600 for them, but will take $300 if I can get it. Since I really just want to get them out of my storage locker, I start the bidding at $295 and put a BIN of $595 on it. Still no reserve, because I'm more interested in getting them out of storage than making a big sale. If they sell for the minimum, I'll live with it.
A few months back I sold a laptop. I wanted at least $800 for it. I put a starting bid of $100 and a reserve of $800. It actually did sell for over $1000. And yes, I told about the $800 reserve in the auction description. For expensive items where a high starting bid can hold people back, a reserve is a good idea. But I think they should be the exception rather than the rule.
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Replay Media
Games of all kinds!
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BIGPEEPA
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posted on February 5, 2004 11:33:53 AM new
myoldtoy, you are right, I have to remember that Ebay has never sold one item and Ebay is not really a auction. I break my neck to serve my customers and give them the very best I can give but WILL NOT cater to BOTTOM FEEDERS. I just have a hard time respecting people like that. After all I can't help it if I have an Irish temper I was born that way. HA HA
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myoldtoy
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posted on February 5, 2004 12:03:36 PM new
replay:
..you are saying the laptop sale was an exception if i read correctly...that was a great hit, we deserve one every now and then..."every now and then" ...it went 125% of your estimate-fantastic!!
..now, you spent aprox $12 for insertion fees...what would you have done if it got close to reserve...relist or negotiate?? and why would you chose "that" avenue...what would make you go the other "avenue." i ask this because you said you wanted at least 800bucks outta it.
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..i got to say that i play the game more like bigpeepa...i detest the new breed's arrogance at changing the way the ebay game is played...i know that the changes, while not necessarily for the best benefit of sellers, are nonetheless changes...and its s--- or get offadapot time!!!i have a rather successful little endeavor - so do you "youall." so i ask all the questions i can, hoping for answers that i havent already thought of... tanx, myoldtoy
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replaymedia
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posted on February 5, 2004 12:31:27 PM new
If it had not hit the $800 reserve, and someone offered me $750 I would say NO. If I had an $800 reserve and NO BIDS and later someone offered me $800 I'd take it.
But generally I don't negotiate. I set my prices take it or leave it. If my prices are too high, then eventually I'll catch on and lower them. That's one reason I like the fixed price auctions so much and detest sites like ioffer.com so much.
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Replay Media
Games of all kinds!
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myoldtoy
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posted on February 5, 2004 05:35:22 PM new
okay to those touting the "tell the reserve" number...i taking your advice and gonna try one[to be honest replay, i like the way it looks]...would you folks mind looking at auction i just posted???? any any any input b appreciated....
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http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=20092&item=3702625217
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myoldtoy
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bigpeepa
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posted on February 6, 2004 05:57:43 AM new
myoldtoy, I just looked at your chair auction. You set up a great looking auction, your description is right on the money, your photos are great and plenty. Anyone looking at this auction will certainly know what they are buying. I buy and sell a lot of that era furniture, in the last 10 years I have sent somewhere around 50 large trailer loads if it to Florida at wholesale prices. I have often wondered if there was a market on Ebay for 1930s bedroom and dinning room sets or just odd lamp tables, desks, etc. Maybe soon I will like you try a few pieces and see what happens. Good Luck and I hope you knock them dead with your auction.
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replaymedia
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posted on February 6, 2004 08:52:37 AM new
Looks good to me too.
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Replay Media
Games of all kinds!
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