In a message dated 12/13/03 9:37:01 AM Pacific Standard Time,
jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net writes:
> This auction for a Raleigh Team Pro ended with a Buy It Now, even though
> there had already been 7 other bids. I thought once bidding started, Buy It
> Now was disabled. Even stranger, the buyer waited until almost the end of
> the auction, then paid $750 on Buy It Now, even though the next highest bid
> was only $425. Granted, the reserve had not been met, but if he was willing
> to pay $750, why not just bid that? Then if reserve turned out to be $500,
> he would still have gotten the bike, and saved $250 in the process. Maybe
> the seller clued the buyer as to the reserve price.
>
It's my understanding (only because I've seen this a few times) that the "buy
it now" option is viable until the reserve has been met, then it goes away.
If there is no reserve, then it cancels with the first bid.
Stevan Thomas
Alameda, CA