Advice understanding an eBay message?

Spoonie_Turtle

Context: Someone is selling something I need in a bundle with two other related items.  I messaged just on the off-chance asking if they might be willing to sell the thing I need separately, obviously via eBay still, I wouldn't dream of attempting to buy outside of eBay. 
All the items are for a very specific niche that I will be unlikely to sell the ones not needed any time soon, so obviously I understand it's totally reasonable for the seller to want to get rid of all of them at once.

*** I was and am fully prepared for them to just say no, I messaged literally just in case they might be willing, not expecting anything at all. ***

Question: this is the reply I recieved, I don't understand what they mean by the bit in bold.  Can anyone advise how best to proceed?

"I just think that it would be a waste not keeping the whole thing together. Also I have a reserve price, so would have to sort that out as well. Come back with a bid and I can then consider your request. Thanks"

Do they mean bid on the bundle listing, or responding through messages with a bid for the single item?

Brie

Sounds like they don't want to sell just part of the bundle so make a bid based on what it is that you want and then they can decide whether it's worth their while or not.

Spoonie_Turtle

Brie said:

Sounds like they don't want to sell just part of the bundle so make a bid based on what it is that you want and then they can decide whether it's worth their while or not.

Thanks, that's what I considered too. 
Trouble is if I bid then I'm committing to buy the whole bundle, or it causes problems for them having to cancel it and end the listing with a bid already.  Or maybe they're willing to take that chance if my bid is worth it and I'm just overthinking!

jon81uk

I think they want you to suggest a price via message for the part of the bundle you want. then they can decide if its worth putting up a new listing at that price for you to purchase.

Spoonie_Turtle

jon81uk said:

I think they want you to suggest a price via message for the part of the bundle you want. then they can decide if its worth putting up a new listing at that price for you to purchase.

Maybe, I don't know if an amount in a message would have been flagged up but I didn't want to risk it.

Perhaps I should have, because after an offer was automatically declined I then decided to just bid as they had originally said in the message.  So I don't know if I'm in a slight pickle if it is above the reserve price or not - oh well.  The price is one I'm happy to pay for eBay protection if it turns out the item doesn't work, and I guess if they do send the rest I'll just have to deal with it even though I really don't have the energy to *sigh*