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@sugar249 wrote:

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@springyzone wrote:

 

I think the difficulty with auctions is that in many real life ones, there is a reserve. If the price doesn't reach that, then the item is passed in.

 

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If done properly Ebay auctions do have a reserve price, and they are passed in at that price,  it's simple really,  if my reserve price for an item is say $23.95,   I start the auction at $23.95,  if no one bids it is passed in,  if someone bids than it sells.  

 

Yes, I agree with you but I think ebay has (at least in the past and possibly still now) encouraged people to start at unrealistically low prices to get interest. 99c is not a realistic price. I do think some new sellers believe their items are going to go up beyond that, for sure, and then get a shock when they don't.

The lesson those sellers need to learn is exactly what you said, that they should start at the minimum they are willing to accept as a sales price and just cross their fingers that they may get even more than that if a few people bid. But to sell at a price they are prepared to honour.

I'm usually prepared to cut new sellers (and buyers) a little bit of slack if they make mistakes or don't properly know the ropes but no one should make the same mistake over & over.