If there is no buyer in 12 hours, the price is reset and you are paid back 40% (20% if you have a website set) of the house profit for the round.
Thu Apr 18 2013 09:39:43 GMT+1000 (EST): You Bought the Emerald for 40.86 BTE and was paid back 4.9 BTE (no buyers)
Last time I checked, 40% of 40.86 is not 4.9. It is 16.344