Starting bid vs reserve
The starting bid is the first price buyers see. The reserve is a hidden minimum: if bidding ends below it, the item does not sell. Auctions with a low start attract more watchers and more early bids, and bidders who have already bid tend to stay in. A reserve lets you start low without the risk of selling for far less than the item is worth.
Without a reserve, the starting bid is your minimum. The calculator then sets it at the lowest final price that still pays you what you need after the platform’s commission and your costs, rounded up to a figure bidders find natural.
How the numbers are worked out
- Reserve = (least you will take home + fixed costs) ÷ (1 − fee %). This is the smallest final price that leaves you your minimum.
- Low start ≈ 10% of the expected price, rounded to 1, 2 or 5 followed by zeros (₹2,000 rather than ₹1,937).
- Bid step ≈ 5% of the expected price. Many platforms set their own increments; use theirs if they do.
Getting the expected price right
Look at sold prices for the same model and condition, not asking prices — many listings never sell. Ten recent results are better than one. Condition, original box and papers, and good photos can move the final price by 20% or more, so be honest about yours.
Timing and photos matter as much as price
Many auctions get most of their bids in the last hour. End yours on an evening or a weekend when your buyers are free, avoid public holidays, and run it long enough (five to seven days) for people to find it. Clear photos of every side, any flaws and the serial number build the trust that lifts bids.
Questions
Should I start an auction at 1 rupee or 1 dollar?
Only with a reserve, or for items with strong demand. A very low start with no reserve can sell a valuable item cheaply if few people see it.
Do reserves put buyers off?
Some buyers dislike hidden reserves. Setting a reserve close to a fair price, or saying in the listing that the reserve is modest, keeps them bidding.
What fee should I enter?
Use the platform’s final value fee plus any payment-processing fee. Add listing fees, packaging and shipping you pay yourself to fixed costs.
Is the take-home amount before tax?
Yes. Income tax and GST, if they apply to you, are not included.
Sources
Last checked 2026-11-11. Free to use; please check important details before you rely on them.