Solutions

[JollyElm]

I definitely like the reasoning and logic behind your suggestions, but I think the problem with your first scenario is human nature. If you're talking about very scare or pricey cards, then it's more viable, but with more 'regular' cards that are relatively low priced, it would really screw things up in regards to the hammer price.

For instance, say there's a well centered 1969 Topps Ernie Banks in nice shape on ebay. People like me (who may not need it to complete a set or anything) who happen to run across the auction would perhaps only bid on it if the current bid is low. The thinking there is, "Wow, that's pretty cheap and it's really tough to find one centered like that. Maybe I can get it for a song." So the result would be me throwing in a bid and raising the price of said card, even if just slightly. Having a few people like that cross the auction's path would continue to raise the card's price. I don't think there's a stronger motivator in 'regular' card auctions than a low price.

Now say the auction format was the type you suggested where no current bid is shown. There is nothing to hook casual bidders like me in, because my motivation was almost entirely dependent on seeing a low price and that's not the case here (I have no facts to back it up, but I imagine the majority of people looking at ebay auctions fall into this category). So I would simply pass the auction by. The end result would be fewer bidders and most likely a lower hammer price.