I've never liked the whole "Reserve" auction format. If you have a minimum price, that should be the starting bid. Why keep it a secret what you really want for the item?
Because people won't bid if the intial bid is too high. You ever been to a farm or other "real" auction? When the Ford 8N tractor that you are willing to pay $2500 comes up and the auctioneer trys to start the bid at $2000, noone bids, until he starts at $500, then the bids come and it bids all the way to $2750. It's all about not wanting to be the "fool" that started out bidding too high.
I understand your point, but I still don't like the reserve auction. Most things that have a reserve never reach the reserve price from what I've seen. Anymore when I see a reserve auction, I don't waste my time as the person is either baiting to see what it is worth, or it is overpriced.
Unless it is a rare item, if you can't get what you want for it locally, you won't get it on ebay.
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