asking price

In April it sold a gold pocket watch worn by the ship's wealthiest passenger for £900,000 - six times the asking price.

He tells the BBC he recently increased his prices, hoping it would account for the higher asking prices - but says costs have “only intensified” since.

He argues allowing "voluntary" bids would have been "open to abuse", as tenants may still feel pressurised to offer above the asking price.

This was reflected in flight prices that were well below the usual asking price for this time of year, according to travel expert Simon Calder, writing this week in The Independent.

“There are a lot of out-of-staters that have some money, and they’re willing to pay above asking price. That definitely hurts people.”