Herc Driver
When I'm a seller, the "buy it now" prices for items the same as or very similar to mine end up setting a cap on the price I'm likely to receive for an item. Very seldom does the bidding go over what a dealer is asking for in "buy it now", and I don't blame the bidders for that. Because I don't have a large stock backing me up, and I don't want to list items more than once, setting a "buy it now" price is of little value to me.
Often the starting bid and the "buy it now" price are very close. This tells me what the seller thinks the item is worth. If it sells, he is either at or under the market price. If it doesn't sell, he is at or above market price. I personally prefer to let eBay buyers tell me what an item is worth.
As a buyer, I mainly use eBay to obtain out-of-production kits and locos that can't be bought at any of the hobby shops I normally use. Before placing a bid, I research what the model has been typically selling for. I decide on the maximum price I am willing to pay for that item, and bid that amount. Most auctions I lose to last-minute sniping. That doesn't bother me, since they paid more than I was willing to. I do win enough to keep my stash of unbuilt kits at a several year level (VBG), and to occasionally discover the wrath of the railraod's CFO (VBF).
I will use a "buy it now" price if it is the item I want, and the price is under my maximum for that item. Haven't seen that yet due to the factors I mentioned above in the setting of "buy it now" prices.
I have scored a couple of times when I did not bid enough to cover the "seller's reserve price". The seller realized he wasn't going to get his reserve price, and offered it to me as the high bidder on a "second chance" basis.
PS I used to fly CG helos for a living, and was maintenance officer for both helos and C-130s at the CG base in Elizabeth City. If I didn't know you flew for the National Guard, I'd readily believe you were one of us.
my thoughts, your choices