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Technology Stocks : eBay - Superb Internet Business Model -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: JP Jouver who wrote (4963)	8/20/1999 6:22:00 AM
From: Cap_Loss_Cfwd	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 7772

>>I've noticed that a popular practice nowadays is to set a ridiculously high reserve, see how high people bid, then offer the highest bidder the item via e-mail after the auction closes (thereby preventing Ebay from getting their percentage). I've been offered a couple of items this way myself.<< Agree, this happens to me all the time. I do not understand how the requirement for starting bids being at least 25% of the reserve price helps them, however.

To: JP Jouver who wrote (4963)	8/20/1999 9:54:00 AM
From: Peter Smith	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 7772

Where did you see that? <<Ebay just changed their Reserve Price Auction rules. Now, starting bids for reserve auctions have to be set at 25% or higher of the reserve price. Also, just using the reserve option will incur an extra charge of $1.00 for the seller.>> It's not shown on their "fees" page. pages.ebay.com

To: JP Jouver who wrote (4963)	8/20/1999 5:13:00 PM
From: Doug Fowler	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 7772

Yes, I think this is a very good move on eBay's part. I HATE reserve auctions, and yet the way the system works, you are almost forced to use them on eBay. I have always thought they should charge these people MORE for running reserve auctions. I also think eBay should make the sellers reveal what their reserve is. I guess we'll have a rough idea, and at least know that the reserve is 4x or less the starting price. And yes, there are an awful lot of sellers who set ridiculously high reserves, and then try to sell to the high bidder after the auction closes, avoiding the commission altogether. At least eBay will get more money out of these people in the future. I would have liked to see eBay eliminate reserve auctions altogether, but this is a step in the right direction.