First maximum bid that meets the reserve

[maujohwai]

Is it true that the first maximum bid of at least the reserve immediately moves the price up to the reserve? I've been trying to find this out in eBay Help, but the information doesn't seem to be there. If so, it strikes me as very unfair, since it may be that no other bid is anywhere near, and you should only be committed to one increment over the next highest bid, as normal; if that doesn't win, so be it. The only way to avoid the trap that I can think of (unless you have been told the reserve, of course) is to bid repeated small increases for as long as you want, which is a bore.

[john1297576]

I don't think you understand what a reserve is all about. What is the point in moving up in increments knowing you can't win.

As soon as you see the words "Reserve not met" you should understand that you need to bid at least £50  the minimum reserve before your bid has any meaning.

How is it unfair, if you want to waste your time bidding in increments do it, but until you meet the reserve you are not going to win.

There is nothing secret about a reserve, if I was daft enough to use one and pay the 4% fee at the very least I would put in the desciption what the reserve was to save bidders wasting their time. The 4% Fee is payable by the seller whether it sells or not.