LaWeasel - if you're putting the prices up to offset the postage put that in the description.
I'm always more willing to buy off people the more information that's in there.
You could tell someone the reserve, they might want to make an offer, but it doesn't mean you have to accept it. In fact I'd always be wary. If they're that desperate for something they've probably bid on things before and lost out because they've not bid high enough.... which means you're likely to get more through the auction.
Some people use to anonymity of ebay to be very cheeky... or outright rude!
We sold DH's PA system a while ago. We listed it as pick up only because it was so big. Someone emailed asking, if they paid extra, to cover petrol would I meet them halfway. Halfway between Manchester and Norwich!
I replied apologising but said no as I couldn't fit the item, plus DD's car seat in the car, and that was why we'd said pick-up only, however he could arrange for a courier if he liked.
He replied saying he hadn't asked me to bring my f***g daughter.
I politely pointed out that spending over half my day driving to meet a stranger at some random location to hopefully be given a couple of hundred pounds for an item probably wasn't the safest thing a female could do. (I think he assumed because it was music related that I was male.) Therefore I would also need to bring my husband, who doesn't drive, and we could hardly leave a 2 year old at home alone for 5 or 6 hours!
I so far have 4 watchers. I think I've checked at least half a dozen times today... and I've been in work. 