Auction protocol

shell_shocker

Is it better to set a No Reserve and a starting bid at your minimum acceptable price, or to set the reserve at the minimum acceptable price and set a lower starting bid?

6 of one and a half a dozen of the other, or is there a "best" way to set your auction?

Thanks

Spider7115

If you want real buyers, start with your minimum bid with no reserve. The VAST majority of buyers, including myself, skip hidden reserve auctions altogether. It's just a guessing game and you end up seeing the same guns listed over and over with "reserve not met". It's like going to a dealer's shop or table at a gun show and asking him the price of his gun and he says "Make me an offer and maybe I'll take it and maybe I won't". Then, he turns down your offer but he still won't tell you how much he WILL take. You wouldn't stick around long, would you?

grdad45

What Spider7115 said, exactly.

shell_shocker

Thanks for the info. My auction just ended and I think I lost a buyer because of setting a reserve. I changed it.

Better luck this time hopefully.

Thanks again,

Mark

Spider7115

quote:Originally posted by shell_shocker
Thanks for the info. My auction just ended and I think I lost a buyer because of setting a reserve. I changed it.

Better luck this time hopefully.

Thanks again,

Mark
Being a non-rated seller offering a $1,900 gun can also cause concern for buyers as there have been many phony auctions listed in the past. You may want to say a little about yourself, e.g., contact info or reference to eBay feedback, etc. Also, go to the "General Discussion" forum and title a new message "Shameless Plug" and post the link to your auction and a brief decription of your pistol. A lot of buyers lurk in that forum.

FYI, if PayPal catches you selling a firearm through them, they will freeze or cancel your account. You may want to reconsider that option.

Good luck!

shell_shocker

Great, thanks for the info! It is certainly a legitimate auction and a great gun. I will take ALL of your advice. I did not know that about Paypal (obviously)

Regards,

Mark

duckhunter

What is the item number??

bobski

if you set the price of your gun at the least youll take, youre setting up for a loss. after s&h and fees, youll lose. opening bid at real auctions is usually higher than your lowest price....if the auctioneer doesnt see an interest with his opening bid, he goes down until he sees action.

start to high, and the auction will go stale. and dont blame yourself if it does. the crowd may just be cheapskates. stick to what you want for YOUR gun!

if you start out at 1 cent, you will see a real auction take place, but beware. on websites, you dont see the crowd. the auction website may be empty and the high rolers may be out fishing and someone surfing may dive in and win at a way low price. [;)]

lotta people rag me for my long running auctions. too bad. let yours run too. im not here to make bidders happy. im here to get paid for my product. trust me...youre showing the world your gun. there IS SOMEONE out there that needs it, and they got the doe to win it too.

Spider7115

quote:Originally posted by duckhunter
What is the item number??

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=97265600

grumpygy

quote:if you start out at 1 cent, you will see a real auction take place, but beware. on websites, you dont see the crowd. the auction website may be empty and the high rolers may be out fishing and someone surfing may dive in and win at a way low price.


Yep count me in[:p]

iwannausername

THere is a reason the advanced search allows you to include only no-reserve items...

sandwarrior

I agree with bobski. Start your auction for you want for it. And if you want a lot of bidders to look at it then let it run for as long as you can. More bidders=more interest. A short auction is for someone who needs the money soon.

Of course the bottom line is, an item of interest will garner a lot more bids than an item that has no interest.