I would also be miffed if that happened to one I was watching, but I have done that myself in the past on some of my auctions as well.

Call it seller's remorse *LOL* If I decide after I list the auction that I just want to start it at a higher bid (maybe I initially listed it at, say $10 (for example, to attract more bids) and later thought to myself "you know, I really need $15 for this", I have no trouble at all with my consience as far as updating it to a higher initial bid.

I probably do this once in a blue moon, but I tend to not use "reserve price" auctions, which is probably the "right" way to do stuff like this. I don't know. I just don't particularly like reserve auctions anyway.

However, in a similar spot IF I had put a reserve on it, what's to keep me from thinking "you know, I really need for this thing" and then changing the reserve price.

To me, there's nothing wrong with that. I can see the frustration you have as a buyer, I have experienced it too, but bottom line is, if someone bids on the auction you can't change the starting bid price, nor the reserve (not sure about the latter, actually).

If you want to protect your starting bid, then BID and then watch it also.

I don't think the buyer can really be justified in being miffed about me raising my initial bid or reserve, since to them it really shouldn't be any different than putting a $10 initial bid on the watch list, then going back to see that it has been bid up to $15. *shrug* I don't really see any difference.

Doesn't mean to say I'm miffed when it happens to ME as a buyer, but not for long. If I want it, I'll keep bidding.