# Ebay reserve auction/bidding question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 30, 2002, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-reserve-auction-bidding-question/106418 "2002-04-30T04:59:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2002, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-reserve-auction-bidding-question/106418/1 "2002-04-30T04:59:40Z")
Ok, I was bidding on something this morning, and I think the reserve price was around $30. The current price was $20, but I was willing to pay that $30, so I put in my max bid at $30. The system bidded for me, and I outbid the other guy at $21.50. And so the auction ended with my bid at $21.50. However, even though I was willing to pay $30, the actual bid was only $21.50 because I had no one to out-bid to $30. And because of this, even though I set my max bid high enough to reach the reserve, the actual bid did not reach the reserve. Is there any way to fix this problem? Can I somehow immeadiately bid X dollars, instead of bidding an X dollar max and having it autobid just enough to get past the other guy? ---
**Author:** ![abel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@abel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abel)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2002, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-reserve-auction-bidding-question/106418/2 "2002-04-30T05:08:57Z")
Well, if you still want to get the item, you can always contact the seller and see if he’ll deal with you, since the auction is already over. I did this once for a pretty sweet camera and actually got him to go lower than the reserve price, and we were both happy. Of course, it doesn’t show up as a sale on Ebay because the auction ended without a sale, but if the seller wants to sell the item for that price, I don’t see why it should be a problem. ---
**Author:** ![Mikahw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Mikahw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikahw)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2002, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-reserve-auction-bidding-question/106418/3 "2002-04-30T05:16:41Z")
If your maximum bid was above the reserve price, the system would have automatically had you bid the reserve price. If your maximum bid was not above the reserve price, it would have just tried to outbid the other guy. Ebay’s proxy bidding system is (usually) pretty smart. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2002, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-reserve-auction-bidding-question/106418/4 "2002-04-30T05:57:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mikahw \* > \*\*If your maximum bid was above the reserve price, the system would have automatically had you bid the reserve price. If your maximum bid was not above the reserve price, it would have just tried to outbid the other guy. > > Ebay’s proxy bidding system is (usually) pretty smart. \*\* Oh… so my estimated reserve price was off. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2002, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-reserve-auction-bidding-question/106418/5 "2002-04-30T05:57:35Z")
The key word here is “think”. Only the seller knows the reserve. And be VERY careful buying or selling “outside” of eBay. If there is no official eBay transaction, you have a much harder time getting satisfaction from a buyer or seller. I would say at least use a postal money order because I think that can help you invoke all kinds of federal fraud laws. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2002, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-reserve-auction-bidding-question/106418/6 "2002-04-30T15:39:14Z")
"I think the reserve price was around $30. " How did you know this? The only way to know that is to ask your seller what his reserve is. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2002, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-reserve-auction-bidding-question/106418/7 "2002-04-30T17:13:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by abel \* > \*\*Well, if you still want to get the item, you can always contact the seller and see if he’ll deal with you, since the auction is already over. \*\* [Here](http://pages.ebay.com/help/community/investigates.html) > [@](#): > > Fee Avoidance - Circumventing eBay fees. Examples: > Using member contact information obtained from eBay or using any eBay feature to offer to sell any listed item outside of eBay > Canceling a listing to sell the item to anyone who contacted the seller through eBay, or became aware of the item through eBay > Ending a listing early to sell the item at a higher price to the winning bidder > **Using member contact information obtained from eBay or using any eBay feature to offer to sell an item outside of eBay to any of your bidders in a Reserve Not Met listing.** > Using member contact information obtained from eBay or using any eBay feature to sell duplicate or additional merchandise outside of eBay to underbidders > Listing items in a manner that allows circumvention of eBay fees (click here for more information) This is a pretty specific violation of Ebay Terms of service ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2002, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-reserve-auction-bidding-question/106418/8 "2002-05-01T15:42:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by handy \* > \*\*"I think the reserve price was around $30. " > > How did you know this? The only way to know that is to ask your seller what his reserve is. \*\* He sold identical items before. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2002, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-reserve-auction-bidding-question/106418/9 "2002-05-01T15:50:19Z")
That “circumventing eBay fees” offense is a Selling offense, not a Buying offense. So the buy is perfectly able to contact the seller in this situation. ---
**Author:** ![friggae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/45deac/32.png) [@friggae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friggae)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2002, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-reserve-auction-bidding-question/106418/10 "2002-05-01T17:17:26Z")
Most sellers will tell you their reserve price for a particular auction if you ask them. Also, you can negotiate a price with the seller and he can set up a Buy-it-Now auction with you as the only pre-approved bidder so the sale is not an eBay violation ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2002, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-reserve-auction-bidding-question/106418/11 "2002-05-01T17:43:41Z")
> [@](#): > > That “circumventing eBay fees” offense is a Selling offense, not a Buying offense. So the buy is perfectly able to contact the seller in this situation. From my link above under selling infractions: > [@](#): > > Contacting a seller and offering to purchase the listed item outside of eBay. So its a selling offense too > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by friggae \* > \*\*Most sellers will tell you their reserve price for a particular auction if you ask them. Also, you can negotiate a price with the seller and he can set up a Buy-it-Now auction with you as the only pre-approved bidder so the sale is not an eBay violation \*\* AFAIK Friggae has it nailed here. As long as the transaction still goes through ebay your legal as far as ebay is concerned. ---
**Author:** ![friggae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/45deac/32.png) [@friggae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friggae)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2002, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-reserve-auction-bidding-question/106418/12 "2002-05-01T17:46:53Z")
Oh my. I don’t mean to be a snoop, but I checked out the auction, and I would be wary of the seller in general. A 7% neutral/negative feedback would freak me out. Also, you need to learn how to snipe - come to the dark side! 🙂 [http://members.cox.net/cruenti/ebay/snipe.html](http://members.cox.net/cruenti/ebay/snipe.html) ---
**Author:** ![abel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@abel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abel)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2002, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-reserve-auction-bidding-question/106418/13 "2002-05-01T17:51:24Z")
Sorry about the bad advice Senor, pay no attention to my ramblings. Wow, I didn’t realize that was a no-no. Good thing I haven’t made a habit of doing it. Just that one time. And if any of you are FBI agents, I promise to be good from now on. Scouts honor!