Quote:
Originally Posted by larry0071
May I ask, How long ago, what was your starting price and did you have a reserve? Did you have a Buy It Now also?
I think I may have screwed myself with a $100 start and a $175 reserve. The bidders may not have felt ownership (the emotional attachment) because of the reserve. I also had a $275 BIN price. Please tell me your method of listing.
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From long-time eBay experience (10 years, almost 200 purchases), set a reserve that is realistic (check what similar items actually sell for, and note the prices on those that don't), and start it at ONE CENT (or damn near it). From what I have seen, buyers just do not "register" starting points that are any where near what the comparable items actually sell for (unless there are very few to choose from).
If you start it low like I suggest, you get their attention, and a few will bid "just in case", and then you "play the hook" - once they are paying that much attention there will be a tendency to obsess about it, and they stay with it at least up to the average of other COMPLETED sales. The reserve will keep you from having to give away in case this does not play out. Also, try to time it to end on a weekend, when people have more time to track it as the deadline approaches, and that increases the bidding frenzy.
Do a little research checking out what sold items are selling for, and their bidding history. I bet you will see the majority (that are not snapped up at ridiculously low BIN prices) started very low.
And don't worry about "snipers" like me if your reserve is realistic, and the initial low price gets the ball rolling. We snipers will pay "reasonable" prices, but are just staying out of the frenzy game - we set our limit "internally", and bid it at the end regardless. If no (unfrenzied) snipers participate, then the bidding frenzy may give you a bonus over the "average" - just don't count on it.
That's how I have seen it played out over the years (and played it).
FWIW