I agree with you the a hidden price should be visible, it can only help the seller and also the buyer. What bothers me most is that in a number of auctions I have encountered, there have been strange bids by people who had never bought or sold anything and who put in high prices, as if they were tryign to boost the price of the auction, this bothers me more than the visible reserve issue
Using a hidden reserve price in auctions.
I've been both a buyer and a seller in Audiogon auctions and have not only made excellent deals with terriffic people, but had a lot of fun doing it (thanks, Audiogon!).
I've always wondered, however, why some people bother to use a hidden reserve price in auctions. I suppose some potential buyers may enjoy the mystery of a hidden reserve price, but it tends to just put me off. If a seller has a reserve price, why not just have an auction with a minimum price and no reserve? Perhaps some sellers don't realize that you can do this.
How do you feel about this?
I've always wondered, however, why some people bother to use a hidden reserve price in auctions. I suppose some potential buyers may enjoy the mystery of a hidden reserve price, but it tends to just put me off. If a seller has a reserve price, why not just have an auction with a minimum price and no reserve? Perhaps some sellers don't realize that you can do this.
How do you feel about this?