Replies

1. 
   mapleman | Nov 15, 2007 11:53pm | #1

   Matt,

   It has to do with the listing fees. You pay an amount to list the item based on the starting price (that's why some people start their items off at $.99) You would pay a higher fee to start the item off at $100 than you would to start the item off at  $.99

   Then you pay a small fee ($.25 or $.50) to have a reserve. If the reserve is not met and your item does not sell, you don't pay any final value fees (fees you pay to ebay based on the ending price of a completed auction)

   So, you pay a fee to list the item and a fee when it sells. The reserve is there to insure your $100 item doesn't go for $5.75

   Lee

   
   

   ---

   Edited 11/15/2007 3:54 pm by mapleman

2. 
   Samson | Nov 15, 2007 11:54pm | #2

   It is commonin auctions to start the bidding below a minimum price the seller would accept to actually sell the item.  The practice gets people interested in bidding (and potentially hooks them psychologically into wanting the piece) as they don't know exactly where the the minimum is.  The seller doesn't want to scare people off, but also doesn't want to let her item go too cheap.  I'm not saying this a practice I favor, but this is the reasoning, I think. 

1. 
   mudman | Nov 16, 2007 12:01am | #3

   Samson is right.
   Pardon my spelling,

   Mike

   Make sure that your next project is beyond your skill and requires tools you don't have. You won't regret it.