Reserve

[LincolnVT]

Would love to hear people’s thoughts on placing a reserve with an AH for a card that is up for auction. I totally understand why people want to protect themselves in an auction format (especially with a high dollar item) but does placing a reserve impact the bidding process in your opinion? If so, for better or worse…

[sb1]

It kills most bid activity, as bidders don't want to waste their time and don't feel like the item is really for sale, just a seller looking for the one off bidder and testing the water.

[bobbyw8469]

Originally Posted by sb1

It kills most bid activity, as bidders don't want to waste their time and don't feel like the item is really for sale, just a seller looking for the one off bidder and testing the water.

Agreed....usually the reserve is not realistic. Just someone looking to set a record high.

[raulus]

Coincidentally, Ryan posted almost exactly the same question over on the main page, which is likely to get a lot more eyeballs and responses, so you might want to check over there as well.

[JollyElm]

There's another relatively minor (but at the same time major) aspect that scares potential bidders away from auction reserves, and that's every collector's goal of getting below-market-price steals on cards.

(I won't speak of the people in the hunt for 1952 Mantles and the like, as that's a whole different thing entirely.)

For 'regular' collectors like me (who aren't on the hunt to land the specific card), when you see an auction starting at, say, 99 cents - BOOM!!! - you add it to your watch list, because there's always a hope/chance you'll end up winning it at a great price. Having a reserve (whether or not, as everyone has said, it's crazily high) tells potential bidders right from the get-go that you ain't ever going to get that card at a bargain, so the listing just gets passed by.

[LincolnVT]

Originally Posted by raulus

Coincidentally, Ryan posted almost exactly the same question over on the main page, which is likely to get a lot more eyeballs and responses, so you might want to check over there as well.

Yeah. Saw that he posted a similar thread this morning. Looks like some drama over there. Hoping this one stays on coarse. Interesting topic.