Reserve auctions- waste of time! No more by me

brodie

Why don't sellers state their lowest price and let it go as a basic auction? I was high bidder today but 'figure didn't meet seller'sreserve amount'. I think people are too busy for these 'mind games'.I like "Gunbroker's" layout and stuff alot but "XXXXXXXXXXXXX"puts it right out there; clean and easy to understand. Many of us like the basic auction approach but "reserve'? Not me,no more!!![This message has been edited by nunn (edited 03-10-2002).]

Sykotik

I agree, the Reserve auctions are not of much use. Especially the ones that list auctions at set amounts and have a reserve for a much greater amount. Like no bidders have bid, the auction start would be $200, and the reserve is set for around 650 or so, why not just start the auction at 650? im sure more people would bid if the item was worth it. Just last week I saw this one "NIB Jennings model 'Nine' 9mm, Nickel Plated $125" and it had a reserve!!! I mean come on people, anyone who knows guns knows any model jennings can be aquired wholesale for under $100 dollars. I'm figuring the person had a reserve of $140, plus the $25 shipping fee to get the item, the $2.00 NCIS check, plus any applicable transfer fees, normally $15 through a dealer or pawn shop with FFL ... add it up.. 140+25+15+2 = $182 for an Aluminum and Plastic gunt hat is not guaranteed past the 2,000 round mark, has no collector value, the safety is the most dangerous part of the gun, and has a tendency to backfire when put to that semi-automatic speed test.. yeah you know, when you get the urge to shoot bullets as fast as your finger twitches from the adrenalin rush of knowing you are playing Polish Rhoulette "where everyone wins, guaranteed" .... so yeh to get back on point, either start the auction at $0 with a reserve for the minimum youd sell the item for, start it at the minimum with no reserve and let nature take its course (this option is best!) or just advertise it in a classified and put your top dollar price and "negotiable" or "call for price".... : i'd throw my derringer before i'd shoot a jennings! :

offeror

The thing is, sellers have to understand this is an auction site, not a supermarket. There's nothing less interesting than any item that has an opening price (or a reserve price) where the auction should close. What good is a one bid auction? Sellers, take a little more risk. Don't try to sell stuff at gun store prices plus shipping premiums. Buyers, don't expect to steal good vintage stuff. The trick is, price it right.

will270win

Then there's the seller I get. He purposely sets his reserve to high then contacts me after the auction to sell me the item at a good price so he can buck the GB fees. I don't know what to think of that yet.

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There is no apology for self defense. will270win@aol.com ~Secret Select Society Of Suave Stylish Smoking Jackets~

Sykotik

As for bucking the GB fees, i dont agree with that, GB provides a service, that is quality, and reliable on thier part. Just like Auto-Trader, and all that stuff. If everyone bucks the fees, the site's will go under, and again playtime is over.. i dont want to see that happen, I enjoy seeing whats out there for sale, and sometimes the ridiculous prices, even though its fun and entertaining for those in the buying business, and those doing this for personal enjoyment too. Who puts value on a product? the consumer! sure a price is set, nothing is free, but when a consumber wont buy a sellers merchandise, the seller reduces price until it sells, sometimes for a few dollars over the actual purchase or manufacturing cost.... nobody likes to lose! When a consumer does buy merchandise, the value holds, or raises, in comes "supply and demand"... supply shortage + high demand = high price, supply surplus + low demand = low price, and sometimes it all even out in the middle... so how much is that Colt with silver inlaying actually worth? dont look to the blue book, its worth how ever much you will pay for it, and however much the seller will sell it for. Combine all the sales of a particular item, how much they were sold for, get yourself a stout little average going on, and there is your blue book value. I totally forgot what the point of this was, so take my advice, pet my goint, weed my harning, whatever i originally had intended you to do, and smile ;] : i'd throw my derringer before i'd shoot a jennings :

will270win

I ain't condoning the fee bucking;FYI. (just in case someone might think I do)

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There is no apology for self defense. will270win@aol.com ~Secret Select Society Of Suave Stylish Smoking Jackets~

Iconoclast

Well, I have a little better situation than many because I concentrate on a niche market. Within my special interest, it doesn't take long to identify the 'holes who routinely list an item for 10 to 50% of their reserves, which are typically sky + some percentage prices. Those people, I just ignore . . . and judging by all the bids they get (not!) I'm not alone in that assessment. Then there are three groups - ppl who don't have a clue, those that set their reserves only a few $ above the open (for whatever reason) and those who use a reserve for a small percentage of their listings. I wouldn't swear off the reserves, but I wouldn't waste my time once you ID a seller as an idiot or rip-off. Speaking of which, if any of you would like some **RARE!!** ammo, there's a fellow under 'Collectible Ammo' who's been listing some extremely "rare" .45 ACP ammo (WW1, WW2 & Korean War vintage ball rounds for 'only' $5 a round) for about two years now. If you are tempted to buy, please let me know, as I have an elevated iron structure in Brooklyn you can have for a bargain . . . . Hey, you gotta laugh!

Submariner .

JUST BID WHAT YOU THINK ITS WORTH AND IF IT DONT MEET THE RESERVE THEN WHATS THE WORRY?YOU DONT BUY IT.I GOT AN HK USP 9MM ON THE AUCTION FOR 450 IT WAS A RESERVE AUCTION,SO IT CAN BE DONE.JUST BE DISCRIMINATING

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Truck Driver,Submarine Veteran,Rusty Wallace fan,and piss poor typist

Sykotik

yeh, i was just on a site tonight - no name given - and found a flub, the add reads "cheap 9mm" so out of curiosity i checked it out, the add ended up being for a SIG P229, no reserve, opening price in the neighborhood of a hundred bucks, the auction ends tuesday, and to my surprise nobody had bid on the item, either the seller placed the wrong add with the right title, or just doesnt know what they have. its beautiful, comes with a case, 3 mags (yes 3), silver color (i guess thats the Nitron finish, i havent been fortunate enough to own a SIG.. YET), and its only seen 2 full clips in its lifetime... hell, for just over 100 bucks and a SIG in my hands, i dont care if its been shot a thousand times, ill take it! so yes I placed my bid on the item, and put it on my watch list, and if nobody else catches it, and the seller is for real, well, it will be mine. happy happy joy joy happy happy joy joy

25-06

Some collectors and others use the reserve to see what they think an item is worth. They purposely put a very high reserve on the item and then see what the highest bid is. They have no intention of selling, unless they get a big price out of the item. I normally do not bid on reserve items either.