Can you set a reserve on ebay

There could be a lack of competing non-reserve auctions for similar items, for example, or superior seller feedback that justifies the inconvenience and helps soothe some of the uncertainty. The drawbacks for prospective bidders on reserve price auctions are precisely what make reserve price auctions less desirable for sellers, as well.

The consequences of reserve use for sellers are not to be taken lightly. Because of the uncertainty and hassle involved in reserve bidding, reserve auctions draw fewer and thus lower bids than similar non-reserve items. The act of trying to "protect" your investment by setting a reserve price may reduce its sales value, even if the reserve is ultimately met. It's common sense, but it bears repeating: the purpose of a reserve price is to cancel the sale of an item for which bids did, in fact, exist.

This means fewer sales overall and lower average prices. Keep in mind, just because your item didn't sell, that doesn't mean eBay will let you off the hook for fees. Setting a reserve price incurs a special fee, and if the item doesn't sell, that fee is coming out of your pocket instead of the sale price.

Reserve auctions can surprise buyers, resulting in a higher non-paying rate. Bidders may place a bid, see that they didn't meet your reserve, and move onto someone else's auctions. Days later, when the listing ends and they've turned out to be the winning bidder in a reserve-met auction, they may inform you that they bought elsewhere and try to back out of the transaction.

By not setting a reserve price, you'll avoid this non-paying bidder problem. In many cases, a seller can achieve a better outcome by checking the current market value for your item. Search "completed listings" to see what similar items recently sold for, then set a higher starting bid, or use a Buy It Now price.

Q: An auction just ended and the reserve was met. What now? A: Both parties complete the transaction as they normally would with any other auction. After a reserve auction ends with a high bid that surpasses the reserve, sellers will wait for payment, then ship the item.

Q: An auction just ended and the reserve wasn't met. A: If you're the highest bidder on an auction that has ended and the listing shows that the reserve price was never met, you're likely out of luck.

The seller is not obligated to sell you the item in question at any price, much less the closing price of the auction. You are free to contact the seller and request that they send you a Second Chance Offer to complete the sale any other method of competing for the sale would violate eBay rules.

Sellers who don't use a Second Chance Offer have two other options—they can start over by relisting the item , or they can decide not to sell the item. Q: I bid on an item, and the auction's still going, but my bid didn't meet the reserve. A: Now you wait. Never offer to complete the transaction outside of eBay, or agree to it if a seller suggests it. This is an eBay violation and your account can be shut down.

Your other option, of course, is to return to eBay and search for other, similar items that are being sold without a reserve price. This can often be the most desirable option if the item in question is the sort of item for which multiples are likely to be available on eBay since it allows everyone to avoid the hassle and extra risk of dealing with reserve auctions.

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Use TAB key to navigate results. Are you a seller looking to add a reserve price to your listing? Read our article on adding a reserve price to listings.