When to use a reserve
A reserve is the minimum amount you are willing to accept for an item. Turn on Enable reserve and enter a Reserve Amount when the item should remain unsold below that amount. Leave it off if the highest eligible bidder should win regardless of price.
The amount is hidden from bidders. While the current price is below it, bidders see Reserve not met. When a qualifying bid reaches it, this changes to Reserve met and the bid history records that the reserve was met, but the amount itself is never shown.
Set the three amounts
In Add Auction Item or Edit Auction Item, set Starting Amount, Bid Increment and Reserve Amount together. The reserve must be higher than the Starting Amount and must fit the sequence made by the starting amount and increment. Aucly suggests valid amounts when it does not fit.
Check the bidding sequence
- Starting amount £25 and increment £10 gives £25, £35, £45 and so on. £35 or £45 is valid; £40 is not a valid reserve.
- Starting amount £1 and increment £5 gives £1, £6, £11, £16 and so on. Use £11 or £16 instead of £15.
Save the item before bidding begins. Starting, increment and reserve fields are locked after that item receives its first bid.
How maximum bids interact with a reserve
A bidder's private maximum is separate from the reserve. If that maximum reaches or exceeds the reserve, Aucly can move the current price directly to the reserve rather than advance through every intermediate increment. A maximum above the reserve can therefore produce a current price exactly equal to it without revealing the reserve amount beforehand.
When the reserve is not met
If bidding ends below the reserve, the item is unsold and has no auction winner or amount due. It remains in Collect Payments under Items without a current winner. Use Choose alternate winner only if you later agree a sale and amount with a bidder or somebody else.
If the reserve is met, the highest eligible bidder wins and enters the normal payment workflow.
Return to Manage items to finish the bidder-facing description, images and private prize information.