On BidZoo, some listings include a reserve price. This is the minimum price a seller is willing to accept for their item (which they can lower change during the live auction, if they choose to).
To keep auctions fair and competitive, the reserve price is not shown during the auction.
Why we hide the reserve price
1. It keeps the auction fair for everyone
If the reserve price were visible, bidding could become focused on simply reaching that number rather than competing based on the value of the item.
2. It encourages natural bidding
Auctions work best when bidders decide what an item is worth to them. When the reserve is hidden, bids reflect genuine interest rather than being anchored to a known minimum.
3. It prevents price manipulation
Keeping the reserve hidden reduces the risk of anyone trying to influence the auction by targeting a specific price point.
4. Standard practice in auction marketplaces
Hiding reserve prices during auctions is a widely accepted practice across auction marketplaces and traditional auction houses. BidZoo follows this standard to maintain a fair and trusted auction environment and to ensure bidding reflects genuine market demand rather than a known minimum price.
If you want to hit the reserve and have no other bids against you, you can click the "place bid" button until the reserve is met on a listing.
What happens when the reserve is met?
When bidding reaches or exceeds the reserve price, the listing will indicate that the reserve has been met in green, and the item can be sold to the highest bidder when the auction ends.
Until then, bidding can continue and helps determine the true market value of the item.