STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

hotcocoa · Kate Spade

how do i answer this question?

RyanJ · Coach

When people ask me I ususaly tell them. That way they don't waste their time and mine.

bex · Chanel

i actually posted a rant on this forum about a seller that wouldn't tell me her reserve. because she wouldn't tell me- i didn't bid at all. which is how everyone else responded they are too.

i would tell the person inquiring. that way, if it is in their price range of paying- they'll bid and if not, they'll know not to bother...

luckylily · Gucci

Yeah - I'd tell them. I always ask what the reserve price is on an auction that has one. I hate wasting my time on bidding only to find out that my price wasn't even above the reserve. I don't think it is unfair to the other bidders, any of them could just as easily send an email asking.

hotcocoa · Kate Spade

wow, thanks girls!

it is at a time like this when i truly love this forum. no one in my circle of family/friends could have possibly answered this question for me.

so... if the reserve is not a secret (and you've convinced me that it isn't) maybe ebay should just display the reserve price on the auction page for all to see.

Andrea Julia · Coach

quote:
Originally posted by: hotcocoa
"wow, thanks girls! it is at a time like this when i truly love this forum. no one in my circle of family/friends could have possibly answered this question for me. so... if the reserve is not a secret (and you've convinced me that it isn't) maybe ebay should just display the reserve price on the auction page for all to see."

hotcocoa, pardon my e-bay ignorance, but if e-bay displayed the reserve, shouldn't you just start the bidding at the lowest price you would accept? It is one thing to tell one or two people who take the initiative to e-mail you what it is, but I don't think it would be in your best interest for e-bay to display it.

If e-bay displayed the reserve, then a lot of people wouldn't bid. I think the point of a hidden reserve is that people will start bidding low amounts hoping to get a really crazy-good deal, but they will keep bidding up once they are involved. A displayed reserve may turn buyers off in the same way a high starting bid might.

hotcocoa · Kate Spade

quote:
Originally posted by: Andrea Julia
"
hotcocoa, pardon my e-bay ignorance, but if e-bay displayed the reserve, shouldn't you just start the bidding at the lowest price you would accept? It is one thing to tell one or two people who take the initiative to e-mail you what it is, but I don't think it would be in your best interest for e-bay to display it.
If e-bay displayed the reserve, then a lot of people wouldn't bid. I think the point of a hidden reserve is that people will start bidding low amounts hoping to get a really crazy-good deal, but they will keep bidding up once they are involved. A displayed reserve may turn buyers off in the same way a high starting bid might."

no, it's MY ebay ignorance that you should pardon! you are right, i wouldn't want the reserve shown on the auction page... it needs to be hidden which is sort of why i wasn't sure i should tell the few that e.mailed me asking. uh, i'm still learning.