What might be a consequence of conducting an absolute auction?

Conducting an absolute auction means that the item will be sold regardless of the final bid amount, without a reserve price. This can result in the item selling for less than its market value because potential bidders may believe they are getting a bargain and could focus on a lower price, or there may be fewer competitive bids that drive the price up. The lack of a reserve price can also lead to scenarios where enthusiastic bidding is not sufficient to meet the item's full market potential, thus resulting in a final sale price that does not reflect its true worth.

In contrast, the other options highlight potential issues that may not be directly tied to the fundamental nature of an absolute auction. For instance, fewer bidders may not necessarily be a consequence of the auction type but could depend on other factors like marketing and location. Higher fees for the auctioneer are not inherent to absolute auctions but rather depend on the auctioneer's fee structure and the specific terms of the auction arrangement. Complex bidding procedures typically exist in different contexts that involve multiple rounds or methods but do not define the straightforward process of an absolute auction.