How Long Should the Auction Be Open?

How Long Should the Auction Be Open?

This depends on various factors.

1. If the article is thought to be in great demand, the Auction needs to be open for a short time only. For example, if it is Picasso which is on sale, there would be thousands of bidders, so there is no point in extending the last date beyond a couple of days. It could even be a couple of hours! Considering the item offered, word will get around and many people will know about the offer soon.

2. On the other hand, if you are offering, a used Printer, you need to have it for at least a week or somewhere thereabouts because the number of people interested in buying a used printer would be rather few and it takes time for buyers to notice it.

3. The Reserve Price set for the item to be sold is another factor that determines the last date. If the Reserve Price is relatively high, say $2,500, you do not expect buyers to cough up such amounts in a hurry. You need to give them some time to consider if the purchase is worth the high price. Therefore in such cases the Auction may be kept open for upto a week or even more. Needless to mention, if the Reserve Price is a small amount, the bidding may be kept open for a much shorter period. Prospective buyers can decide faster to buy or not in such cases.

4. Urgency is yet another factor to consider. For example, if one is moving away, s/he needs to dispose off some of his belongings in a hurry, and in such cases you will have no option than to keep the auction open for limited time. In such cases, even if the bids are lower than the Reserve Price, the seller may accept it because of the urgency of the matter.

5. When perishable goods are offered, it is essential that the auction be kept open for a very short period. For example, if mangoes are to be auctioned, you cannot keep the Auction open for more than a day or two at the most.

Finally you can’t go by the price alone as monthly revenue begins to loom large towards the end. In such cases, if your expectation isn’t met but crossed the reserve price you may close the bid and award the highest bidder.