OK, we all KNOW that reserve is a dirty word. We run No-Reserve auctions where we can and it's fun to watch it happen.

But quality merchandise is not free and high tech is not fail safe----down time, delays, here a glitch, there a glitch and how the cookie crumbles. For us the reserve is strictly shirt-loss protection.

The Reserve Price is the very lowest amount I can accept for the item (not always the opening bid). I use it only as a protective measure against the idiosyncracies of the system and I REALLY, REALLY try to be reasonable. I hope the bidding continues; but if the reserve is met you have usually gotten a bargain.

Although the dollar amount is confidential during the auction, "Reserve Not Yet Met" (next to the high bid amount) will change to "Reserve Met" when the amount is reached.

eBay's confidential Maximum or Proxy bid allows you to deal with the system easily and efficiently. Here's how it works: