What is the difference between absolute and reserve auctions?

The difference between absolute auctions and reserve auctions lies significantly in the bidding process and the presence of minimum bid requirements. Absolute auctions are characterized by the absence of a minimum bid; the auctioneer is committed to selling the item regardless of the final bid amount. This format often attracts more bidders, as participants know that the item will be sold without a minimum threshold.

On the other hand, reserve auctions include a minimum price that must be met for the item to be sold. If bidding does not reach this reserve price, the seller is not obligated to sell the item. This structure offers the seller some protection, ensuring that they do not end up selling their item for significantly less than its value. Thus, the key distinction is the guarantee of sale in absolute auctions compared to the conditional nature of reserve auctions where the sale depends on meeting the pre-set minimum bid.