Reserved Bid A reserve price is the lowest price at which the item will sell for. If a bidder does not meet that price, the item will not be sold. The reserve price is not disclosed to bidders, but you will be told that the auction has a reserve price and whether or not the reserve has been met. For example, an item retails for $150 new. The starting bid of $10 is placed on the item but the lowest this item will sell for is $80. So a reserve bid of $80 is entered into the system. In this case, even if you are the highest bidder at $60, you will not win the item unless you go over $80.