Do folks realize why a seller doesn't like to give out the reserve?
Because instead of bidding $1200 like they were thinking, they think, oh, $1400 that is too high. Or, well, I will wait until its about over and then they either bid and either bid too low or "forget" to bid at all! I am amazed when I see 15 folks watching an auction and the holster goes for $135....
I have sold hundreds of items on ebay and the trick is to have them ending on Friday or Saturday night between 6 Pm pacific and 9 PM (give or take an hour); have the item with a low starting point and get 15 or more people watching your item.
Still, I have had items sell for $60 that a previous week should have been worth $150 and no reserve means that I am out $90; and starting it at $150, well, that just doesn't seem to get folks bidding....
Example: If they 'watch" the item, then they keep coming back and may decide to bid. By passing it because Tuesday it seemed high to them and then Wednesday their brother pays him the $200 he owes him, well, he can afford the $150. But starting it at $25, he immediatly bids and then the next guy bids till it gets to $125; then at auction end, 3 folks are bidding.
That is an auction from the sellers perspective...
Ed