The Hobby Network · Buyer Guide

Watch the price fall — grab it the second it's yours

A reverse auction starts high and the price drops continuously until someone buys. Qualify once so your click is guaranteed, then hit Buy now at the price you love — or set a sealed Max bid and let us catch it for you.

⏬ Price falls in real time ✅ Qualify = a hold, not a charge 🔒 Sealed Max bid auto-buy
Step 1

How a falling-price auction works

Open a reverse auction from the list at Reverse Auctions. It opens at a high Starting price and the Current price ticks down live. There may be a Floor price it won't drop below. The first person to buy wins at whatever the price reads that instant.

1

Read the live price and decide your moment

The Current price keeps falling on its own. Wait for a number you're happy with — but remember, someone else can buy first. When you see your price, you buy. The prices below are an example.

☰ Browse ▸ Reverse Auctions
🃏
2003 Topps Chrome LeBron James RC — PSA 9
Basketball · Cleveland Cavaliers · Rookie · ● LIVE
Starting price $5,000
Current price
$3,420.00 ⏬
Floor price: $2,500.00

The price falls continuously until someone buys.

🕒

Not started yet? A reverse auction can be Scheduled or Coming Soon before it goes live — you'll see "This auction hasn't started yet — check back when it goes live to buy." Come back when it's Live to buy at the falling price.


Step 2

Qualify so your click is guaranteed

Before you can click Buy now, you qualify with one of the options below. Qualifying places a hold (or a deposit) so a winning click is guaranteed — it isn't a charge until you win. Think of it as showing you're good for it, not paying yet.

1

Pick how you'll qualify

Choose a payment source to back your click. Nothing leaves your balance and no card is charged at this step — the hold simply reserves the amount so that if you win, the purchase goes through instantly and can't fall through.

☰ Browse ▸ Reverse Auctions

To click "Buy now" you first qualify with one of the options below. Qualifying places a hold (or a deposit) so a winning click is guaranteed — it isn't a charge until you win.

💳 Qualify with a cardWe place a temporary hold on your card. Released if you don't win.
💰 Qualify with my balanceReserves the amount from your THN balance. Freed if you don't win.
🛟

Nothing is charged when you qualify. The hold or deposit only turns into a real purchase the moment you actually win. If you don't win, it's released back to you.


Step 3

Buy now — or set a sealed Max bid

Once you've qualified, you have two ways to win: watch and click Buy now at current price yourself, or set a Max bid (auto-buy) and let us buy the instant the falling price reaches your number — even while you're away.

1

Click Buy now at the current price

Hit Buy now at current price and pick how to pay: Buy with my balance or Buy with a card. You'll confirm first — and the price is still falling until you tap yes, so another buyer can win before you do.

☰ Browse ▸ Reverse Auctions
Current price
$3,180.00 ⏬
⏬ Buy now at current price
💰 Buy with my balance 💳 Buy with a card

Buy this item now for about $3,180? The price is still falling until then, and another buyer can win first.

2

Or set a Max bid and let it auto-buy

Don't want to watch the clock? Enter the highest price you're willing to pay. When the falling price reaches your max, we buy it for you at that exact price — the highest max wins first. Your max is sealed, so no one else can see it.

☰ Browse ▸ Reverse Auctions
🔒 Max bid (auto-buy) · sealed
$2,750.00 Set max bid

Choose the highest price you're willing to pay. When the falling price reaches your max, we buy it for you at that exact price — the highest max wins first. Your max is sealed.

🔒

Your Max bid is private. Other buyers can't see it — they only find out someone had a higher auto-buy if it wins ahead of them.


Good to know

Tips & common questions

Qualify earlyPlace your hold before the price gets low so you're ready to click the moment it's right.
Waiting has a costThe longer you wait for a lower price, the more likely someone else buys first. Balance patience with risk.
Use a Max bid if you can't watchA sealed auto-buy wins for you at your exact number — no need to stare at the screen.
Mind the FloorIf a Floor price is shown, the price won't drop below it — plan your number accordingly.
Does qualifying charge me?
No. Qualifying places a hold (or a deposit) so your winning click is guaranteed — it isn't a charge until you actually win. If you don't win, the hold is released back to you.
Can other buyers see my Max bid?
No — your Max bid is sealed. Nobody can see the highest price you're willing to pay. When the falling price reaches it, we buy for you at that exact price, and the highest max wins first.
What happens if two people click Buy at the same time?
The first click wins at that price. Because everyone who can click has already qualified, the sale goes through instantly. In the rare case a winner's charge fails, there's a short recovery window before the item comes back available.
What does "about $X" mean in the confirm box?
The price is still falling between tapping Buy now and confirming, so the box shows an approximate figure. You'll pay the live price at the instant your purchase completes — and another buyer can still win first.
The auction says it hasn't started — can I still buy?
Not yet. Scheduled or Coming Soon auctions aren't live: "This auction hasn't started yet — check back when it goes live to buy." Come back when it's Live and the price begins to fall.