David Lock

I am a bit of a new boy when it comes to selling on e-bay.

Question. If I put an item up for auction but have a Reserve Price on it what do I put down as starting price??

Thanks, David

STEVEBOXER

Starting price could be say £1 but it won't sell until the price hits the reserve you have set, say £20 for example.

Turbohot

What STEVEBOXER says.

I'm not some hardcore Ebayer, but I have sold a few things there in my life time. If it is an expensive thing with high reserve, my starting price is high as well, so that it reaches the reserve quicker. It may not be a right strategy, but that's what I have done, and sold my goods.

For example, if I want at least £1000 for a good, my reserve starts from at least £100. If I want minimum 20 quid, then a quid is cool for starting price.

I haven't sold things on Ebay for a long time. I've heard that it's quite restricted now with all sorts. I don't know whether you have to go with some criteria about the starting price or what.

David Lock

OK thanks. I'll do that but it does seem a bit odd to have a starting price under the Reserve as it just wastes people's time making a bid that is instantly rejected?

David

joshnosh

iTrader: (1)

yes its an entierly useless festure and puts most people off
if you bid abouve the reseve price it will automaticly bid the reserve

if you add a couple zeros on your bid "by mistake" then you will see the reserve price and then you can retract your bid because you entered the wrong amount

The Pink Ninja

iTrader: (23)

The bids won't get rejected they will still be the highest bidder albeit with the reserve not met, The item won't sell until the has hit the reserve amount or above,

As above the naughty way to find out a reserve price is to enter the wrong amount and then retract but as you are the seller this is irrelevant to you.

scubbay

iTrader: (61)

Just list it as a buy it now with the price you want.

Graz

As mentioned, I've always just listed it with a starting price of the absolute minimum I'd take for it.

RobsyUK

iTrader: (2)

Put it at 99p with no reserve and get a friend to bid close to your asking price... Naughty but most here do it. Except me.

Dr Hu

TBH I only buy 'Buy it Now' stuff these days - can't be arsed with the sniping, will I, won't I get it - If i want something, I want it now! Not possibly/maybe in 7 days time if I win it, or lose it at 1 sec to go by 20p

Turbohot

Bid doesn't get rejected, as Gaz2293 explained. it counts, but towards someone else's effort to put up a higher bid. Unless the reserve price is met, your advert will keep saying- "Reserve not yet met".

You can put the reserve as your starting price, if you like. But less you put as your starting price, more it attracts the bidders, I think. Then they end up reaching the reserve because they start fighting with their bids to grab your good. Even after the reserve has been met, people may continue to bid up and up if your good is so worth it for them. It's called bidding, and it's the name of the game.

Boro

iTrader: (1)

As above, stick a nice simple BUY IT NOW price on it. List it on a Thursday night at 9.30pm on a 10 day auction and it will get 2 weekends worth of viewing and end on a Sunday night at 9.30pm.

Jobs a good un'