Should I set a reserve price on my items at auction?

A reserve is the lowest price you will accept, and it can protect a truly valuable item from selling far below what it is worth. For a single high-value piece, a reasonable reserve can give you peace of mind.

However, reserves on ordinary items often hurt more than they help. Buyers are drawn to auctions by the chance of a bargain, and too many reserves can dampen bidding. Items that do not meet reserve may also come with a fee in some contracts, and you still have to deal with the unsold property.

Talk with your auctioneer about realistic values before setting any reserve. If you set one, keep it at a level the market can actually reach, and accept that competitive bidding is usually what produces the best prices.