Another option is to simply state in the auction listing that emails asking about the reserve will be kindly ignored, and then don't answer the emails at all and let the chips fall where they may. That way you're not being rude to potential bidders; they're being rude to ignore your caveat.
Stating a reserve does nothing different than setting the minimum bid at that same amount would do. I've never understood sellers who state the reserve in the item description. I guess everyone has their own tactics. To morph quotes: There's a sucker born every minute, so let the buyer beware! best, r. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Per Westerberg" <p...@telia.com> To: "Antique Phonograph List" <phono-l@oldcrank.org> Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2005 9:27 AM Subject: Re: [Phono-L] reserve on E-ba* > John, > a good point. But we?re talking about an auction here and not a negotiation! > If you have limited funds for the auction in question, then that?s just too > bad, however tough it may sound. The whole idea with an auction is to make > people bid in order to get the highest price possible. That doesn?t mean > that the winner shall be sorry because the price was high; it means that the > right person should win, and to him/her it was a fair deal. I think we > shouldn?t forget that an auction is initially a tool for the seller - > without goods to sell, no auction is possible! If the offered goods are > attractive and prices ok, then you have an auction! Please note that I have > never sold on eBay; only bought, so I am not biased here. > Curious to hear your views, fellas. > Per Westerberg > > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > "Are you still wasting your time with spam?... > There is a solution!" > > Protected by GIANT Company's Spam Inspector > The most powerful anti-spam software available. > http://mail.spaminspector.com > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "john robles" <john9...@pacbell.net> > To: "Antique Phonograph List" <phono-l@oldcrank.org> > Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2005 3:35 PM > Subject: Re: [Phono-L] reserve on E-ba* > > > > That is a very good point, but on the other hand, let's say I want to bid > > on your item, but I can only afford to bid a limited amount. I ask your > > reserve, and you reveal it to me and it is above the limit I can spend. > > Why should I bid my limited amount and wait out an auction for several > > days on an item I can't afford and won't win, when I could use it to bid > > on something else that I want and can win? In that case I see it as a > > courtesy to reveal the reserve. I have done it on a case by case basis. > > There is no law that says the reserve price is a secret. I take it on a > > case by case basis. > > just my .02! > > John > > > > > > Per Westerberg <p...@telia.com> wrote: > > Hi Ron, > > you should not give out any information whatsoever re. your reserve, > > because > > if the bidders feel it is a bit high, many of them may not bid on your > > item. > > The more bidders there are, the better. > > Per Westerberg, Toy Gramophone Collector, > > Stockholm > > Sweden > > > > > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > > "Are you still wasting your time with spam?... > > There is a solution!" > > > > Protected by GIANT Company's Spam Inspector > > The most powerful anti-spam software available. > > http://mail.spaminspector.com > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Ron L'Herault" > > To: "phon...@oldcrank. com" > > ; "phonol...@yahoogroups. > > Com" > > > > Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2005 2:54 PM > > Subject: [Phono-L] reserve on E-ba* > > > > > >> I'm helping a friend sell some high end audio gear on e-bay* which we > >> listed > >> with a reserve. Someone has e-mailed me and asked what the reserve price > >> is. I've never done a reserve auction so am not sure what I should do > >> here. Should I tell him what the reserve is? Should I tell him exactly > >> or > >> give a range/approximation? Or, should I say that I prefer not to give > >> the > >> reserve? Is there a good reason why I should or should not give out the > >> reserve? > >> > >> Ron L > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Phono-L mailing list > >> Phono-L@oldcrank.org > >> > >> Phono-L Archive > >> http://www.oldcrank.org/pipermail/phono-l/ > >> > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Phono-L mailing list > > Phono-L@oldcrank.org > > > > Phono-L Archive > > http://www.oldcrank.org/pipermail/phono-l/ > > _______________________________________________ > > Phono-L mailing list > > Phono-L@oldcrank.org > > > > Phono-L Archive > > http://www.oldcrank.org/pipermail/phono-l/ > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Phono-L mailing list > Phono-L@oldcrank.org > > Phono-L Archive > http://www.oldcrank.org/pipermail/phono-l/ >
