Choosing EBay Auction Formats Are you new to selling items on EBay? Have you gotten in the habit of using just one of the many auction formats that EBay offers? Either way, you owe it to yourself to learn about all the different ways that you can list your items. Each format s a carefully thought out option that, if used as directed, should help you to increase your auction earnings. Think about conducting an experiment. List five items, each in their own separate auction, using a different format for each. If you’ve been with EBay for a while, then you know that the formats offered are Bid, Fixed Price, Buy It Now, Reserve, and Best Offer. If you’re a newbie, then you might not know exactly how these formats work. That’s okay – this can be a great learning experience for you, and can help you to see which auction format works better for you. Here is a walkthrough which describes the setup of creating a listing. When you arrive at the EBay page where you will list your items for sale, pay special attention to the two options directly beneath the space where you’ll fill in the name of your item. You are given two options there, which are – “List with popular options”, and “List with all options”. EBay has placed the words “recommended for experienced sellers” directly after this second choice. Go ahead and live dangerously… choose the one meant for experienced sellers. If you don’t consider yourself to be one now, you will soon change your mind. Click the “Start Selling” button now! Now you are at the page where you will choose the category for your item. You can choose more than one category here, but an extra fee will apply. Click the “Continue” button. Add your title, subtitle (for an extra fee) and any other information the form asks for. This is different, based on what category you chose. For example, the category of “Toys & Hobbies > Electronic, Battery, Wind-Up > Electronic, Interactive > Other” also has a place to fill in the Type, Age Level, and Condition of the toy. Below this is the section where you can add photos of the item you have for sale. You can add one photo for free. Next, you are asked to write a description of the item you are selling. Then, there is an optional Listing Designer (for an extra fee) where you can select a theme and picture layout to dress up your listing. You can then choose to add a Visitor Counter. Now you are at the section where you will choose how you want to sell your item. You can choose from an Online Auction or a Fixed Price Auction. If you choose Fixed Price, you will see a space to enter a Buy It Now price, and a choice of whether or not you would like your buyers to be able to have the chance to give you their Best Offer. You’ll see a place to enter how long your auction will last.
If you chose Online Auction, there is a space to choose your Starting price, and if you want it in your listing, a Buy It Now price. There is a space to fill in the quantity of items you are auctioning. This would be used for the Fixed Price option if your Feedback rating is 30 or higher. There is yet another space to choose the duration of your auction. You will then choose the ways buyers can reach you, decide what forms of payment you will accept, and use a Shipping Wizard to figure shipping costs for the convenience of your buyers. There’s a space for “Other Things You’d Like Your Buyers to Know” which is a good space to list your return policy. Click the “Continue” button, and don’t worry – you’re almost done! The next page allows you to preview how your listing will look, and gives you the chance to add, for a fee, other options to improve the look of your listing. On the final page, you enter your payment information, and you are done.