In a reserve auction, what does the seller have the right to do?

In a reserve auction, the seller retains the right to accept the highest bid or reject it. This is a fundamental aspect of reserve auctions, where a seller sets a minimum price, known as the reserve price, that must be met for the item to be sold. If the highest bid does not reach this reserve price, the seller can choose not to sell the item. This flexibility allows sellers to have greater control over the auction outcome, as they are not obligated to complete the sale unless they are satisfied with the bid amount.

In contrast, other auction formats, such as absolute auctions, require the item to be sold to the highest bidder without reserve. Thus, the provision for sellers to selectively accept or reject bids based on their satisfaction with the offer is a distinguishing feature of reserve auctions, highlighting the protection it offers to sellers in the bidding process.