Do buyers understand Best Offer?

[polar_b]

In recent years I found ebay buyers seem to just go for anything that is rock bottom in price. I've got all my listings at a fixed price + best offer. Only problem is few users seem to understand Best Offer or they can't be bothered to make an offer?

I tried auction but found people could then purchase at the minimum price and that's what happened several times. No one else was bidding so they got the item for the starting bid which meant I made a loss.
I can set a reserve but the fees are so expensive!

Suggestions for my catch-22?

[pixiesen2012]

if selling at auction set your start price at the minimum you are willing to sell for and don't add make an offer

if listing at fixed price set your price and don't add make an offer,

or set your price slightly higher than the amount you want and add make an offer,

never list at a price where you would lose money!

[arkwebus]

There are two points here.  If you use auction don't pay for reserve simply start at the price you will accept.  Then you cannot be in the circumstance of getting less.  [You may not get bids of course but that's life on eBay].

If you are doing a BIN I can't see the point of "offers". If you'd take less set a lower BIN.

It works the other way too with offers.  I saw a nice IKEA table locally on auction at 99p with 10 days to run and offered £15. We did thedeal and it was in my car within 1/2 hour. Happiness.

@polar_b