Ebay - Please explain the reserve price thing to me.

[bluebear]

I have put in a maximum bid for an item. I've watched a lot of the same things sell and know how much they generally go for, so I put in a sensible maximum bid..the bid shown on the screen is only £2 higher than the previous bid but it says that the 'reserve price has not been reached'.

Does this mean that

1. The 'current' bid is lower than the reserve price (but my maximum bid might be over the reserve price)

or

2. My maximum bid is lower than the reserve price?

What happens if I'm prepared to pay more for the item than the current bid, but no one bids against me, so there are no more increases? Is it normal for the seller to contact the top bidder and offer the item to them (or tell them reserve and see if they are happy to buy at that price?)

The auction ends at kid's bedtime tomorrow (hence my dependancy on automatic bidding) - should I try to contact the seller and ask about the reserve price.

(I don't desperately need this particular item..but do need one in the next 3 weeks)

Help please!

i think it means the current bid is not above the reserve price! You can contact the seller and ask the reserve. not sure if it's "legal" but people ask me and i'm not offended. If you don't meet the reserve the seller may give you a 2nd chance offer to buy at what you bid..hth

I think that if the reserve price has not been met. then your highest bid is not enough.
If you had bidded the reserve price then you would have been shown as the highest bidder.
Just to make sure you could always e-mail the seller and ask for the reserve price.

Thanks!

I'm a bit surprised if my max bid is lower than reserve - I've put more than the last 2 similar items went for (this one is in a bit better nick) - but then you see so many things go on ebay for more than you can buy them in shops I guess some people have high expectations.

Hmmm...don't want to pay a ridiculous amount for it..maybe I'll just get a new one.

Thanks again.