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Why won't people tell you reserve price?
On ebay, when someone sets a reserve price, what is the point of keeping it a secret. I have asked many folks to privately disclose their reserve price on an item and lots refuse to divulge this precious info.
What gives?
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Randy '87 911 Targa '17 Macan GTS |
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11-11-2006, 12:19 PM
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Dog-faced pony soldier
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Would you?
Think about it.
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A car, a 911, a motorbike and a few surfboards Black Cars Matter |
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11-11-2006, 12:41 PM
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Driver
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I think the better question is why WOULD you disclose the reserve? I ask, by the way, and I'm surprised whenever the seller tells me.
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1987 Venetian Blue (looks like grey) 930 Coupe 1990 Black 964 C2 Targa |
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11-11-2006, 12:51 PM
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Still Doin Time
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Nokesville, Va.
Posts: 8,225
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Exactly. As a seller you want the best position and the highest price for an item.
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'15 Dodge - 'Dango R/T Hauls groceries and Kinda Hauls *ss '07 Jeep SRT-8 - Hauls groceries and Hauls *ss Sold '85 Guards Red Targa - Almost finished after 17 years '95 Road King w/117ci - No time to ride, see above '77 Sportster Pro-Street Drag Bike w/93ci - Sold |
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11-11-2006, 01:04 PM
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Banned
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: los angeles, CA.
Posts: 41,306
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It's really irrelevant information if you think about it. Just bid what you are willing to pay and be done w/ it.
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11-11-2006, 01:19 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Jan 2000
Posts: 6,950
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As a frequent seller on eBay, I find it downright irritating when prospective buyers contact me and ask for the reserve. Bid what you want. If its not enough, I won't sell it too you!
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11-11-2006, 02:47 PM
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Why not just set a higher opening bid rather than a reserve? That would prevent the frustration of a void auction.
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Aaron '81 911SC RoW Targa |
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11-11-2006, 03:11 PM
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Free minder
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A higher opening bid would reduce the number of prospective buyers. For the same reason, a disclosed reserve price would also reduce the pool of potential buyers. The more people bidding, the more bidding wars bringing the price up. Also, by having a non-disclosed reserve price, you can see how much people are wiling to pay for your item, without having to sell it if the reserve it not reached.
Aurel
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1978 SC Targa, DC15 cams, 9.3:1 cr, backdated heat, sport exhaust https://1978sctarga.car.blog/ 2014 Cayenne platinum edition 2008 Benz C300 (wife’s) 2010 Honda Civic LX (daughter’s) |
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11-11-2006, 04:52 PM
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Dog-faced pony soldier
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Exactly. Those are the choices you make as a seller. You can sell with a reserve, ensuring that you don't let something go for less than you think it's worth. The price you pay for that is eating the fees (and a relist fee) if it doesn't meet what you think it's worth.
If you want to move it out and don't care what it goes for, start the auction at a buck and say "no reserve". Up to you, but I bet you get a bit less that way.
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A car, a 911, a motorbike and a few surfboards Black Cars Matter |
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11-11-2006, 05:03 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Dismal Nitch, AZ
Posts: 9,042
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. Here's one: Early '80's Ford T-Bird TC emblem...$5 opening bid/no reserve...sold for $102.50. Hard to imagine, that price. The seller is on my T-Bird forum...he was surprised. . I bought the same emblem two days prior to the above auction's last day. OEM in original Ford bag for $10...but listed in a different category. Hard to know with ebay.
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Don . "Fully integrated people, in their transparency, tend to not be subject to mechanisms of defense, disguise, deceit, and fraudulence." - - Don R. 1994, an excerpt from My Ass From a Hole in the Ground - A Comparative View |
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11-11-2006, 05:34 PM
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Licensed User
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: ....down Highway 61
Posts: 6,506
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If I use one at all, I state the reserve in the listing.
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11-11-2006, 07:15 PM
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: N. Phoenix AZ USA
Posts: 28,967
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Quote:
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2021 Subaru Legacy, 2002 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins (the workhorse), 1992 Jaguar XJ S-3 V-12 VDP (one of only 100 examples made), 1969 Jaguar XJ (been in the family since new), 1985 911 Targa backdated to 1973 RS specs with a 3.6 shoehorned in the back, 1959 Austin Healey Sprite (former SCCA H-Prod), 1995 BMW R1100RSL, 1971 & '72 BMW R75/5 "Toaster," Ural Tourist w/sidecar, 1949 Aeronca Sedan / QB |
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11-11-2006, 07:23 PM
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: N. Phoenix AZ USA
Posts: 28,967
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Putting a low start on things gets people bidding on an item and then they work it up from there. Its called an auction for a reason.
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2021 Subaru Legacy, 2002 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins (the workhorse), 1992 Jaguar XJ S-3 V-12 VDP (one of only 100 examples made), 1969 Jaguar XJ (been in the family since new), 1985 911 Targa backdated to 1973 RS specs with a 3.6 shoehorned in the back, 1959 Austin Healey Sprite (former SCCA H-Prod), 1995 BMW R1100RSL, 1971 & '72 BMW R75/5 "Toaster," Ural Tourist w/sidecar, 1949 Aeronca Sedan / QB |
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11-11-2006, 07:25 PM
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Moderator
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I don't get it. Why would you disclose the reserve? The point of the reserve is to entice bidders to begin bidding on your item (low opening price), then get into "bidders excitement" and bid against others running up the price. If you are going to disclose the reserve, then just put that price up as a starting price.
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Don Plumley M235i memories: 87 911, 96 993, 13 Cayenne |
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11-11-2006, 07:28 PM
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Licensed User
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: ....down Highway 61
Posts: 6,506
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From my experience, the auctions where I've stated the reserve clearly in listing have consistently seen more action than those where I have not. Im not saying I understand it, but thats how its worked for me.
Last edited by Shuie; 11-11-2006 at 07:37 PM.. |
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11-11-2006, 07:31 PM
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Unconstitutional Patriot
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: volunteer state
Posts: 5,620
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Longtime eBay loser here. When I bid on reserve auctions, I generally lowball. I like to get the high bid and not meet reserve, because there's a chance the seller will sell to me at that price. Better for me. To me, I am I am probably wrong, a seller using reserve tells me they aren't serious about selling or aren't confident in the eBay system of setting market price.
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11-11-2006, 07:36 PM
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Banned
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: los angeles, CA.
Posts: 41,306
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Live auctions frequently have reserves that are not disclosed in advance, it's a normal part of auctioning. It always amazes me how otherwise intelligent people can not understand eBay; the threads and posts complaining about sniping illustrate this. You simply bid the maximum you are willing to pay, (and you may get it for less), and if someone wants it more and is willing to pay more, who cares?
Same w/ reserves, the whole point is to get people bidding. It cracks me up when someone states "no reserve", but starts the item at their minimum *taking* price. That IS a reserve!! And usually no one bids on those ones, whereas the mint early 911s that start @ $1.00 go for crazy prices like $40k+ with 30 bids. It ain't rocket science, but it is free market capitalism w/ everyone's interests protected, IMO. |
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11-11-2006, 10:40 PM
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Unconstitutional Patriot
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: volunteer state
Posts: 5,620
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Set the auction at $1 or a very reasonable mininum well below market price and let it go. Otherwise, you're just hawking wares that nobody wants at a price few are willing to pay. |
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11-12-2006, 05:35 AM
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Dog-faced pony soldier
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For the cars I'll be listing soon, I'll probably put something like "the reserve price for this vehicle is less than $x,xxx. Requests for information about the exact reserve price will be ignored".
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A car, a 911, a motorbike and a few surfboards Black Cars Matter |
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11-12-2006, 05:49 AM
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Licensed User
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: ....down Highway 61
Posts: 6,506
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Hold on a minute, guys. What kind of an audience are we dealing with? What are we talking about selling? A lot of us use eBay to hock different things. The bidding activities, the bidders, and the action on the auctions can really vary depending on the item. I promise you I don't take use the same methods for selling a car part that I do when selling a guitar or a watch.
Last edited by Shuie; 11-12-2006 at 05:53 AM.. |
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11-12-2006, 05:49 AM
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1987 Porsche 911 Targa 3.2 
Ducati
1987 Porsche 930 3.3T
1987 Porsche Carrera 3.2 
