In: Economics
The seller isn't obligated to sell the item to you if the reserve price isn't met. You may place a bid and end up as the highest bidder only to learn, after waiting days or weeks, that the reserve was not met and the seller won't sell to you.A reserve price is a minimum price a seller is willing to accept from a buyer. In an auction, the seller is not required to disclose the reserve price to potential buyers. If the reserve price is not met, the seller is not required to sell the item, even to the highest bidder.
When you place a reserve on your item, you're charged an insertion fee based on the amount of the reserve plus the reserve price charge. Fixed-price listing fees are pretty clear-cut. ... If your item doesn't sell, don't think you can get your insertion fees back.
If you have placed your maximum bid, just wait. Even if the reserve isn't met, the seller has the option to send you a Second Chance Offer, which is an offer to the highest bidder. You may be the highest bidder and the seller may decide to come down in price if she realizes that she isn't going to get her asking price.
Don't bid on another auction listing for the item, assuming that you've not won this one. Wait until the first auction closes and you are not the winner. If you bid on another similar item at the same time, you could be obligated to buy two of them.