EBay’s Bid Auction Format vs Fixed Price Format If you are new to selling items on EBay, there’s a chance that you are not 100% sure exactly which auction format would work better for the auctions you have planned. You probably started off with a Bid Auction. This format is very easy to use, and is the one most EBay users expect to see when they click on an item they are interested in. EBay’s classic Bid auction format simulates the excitement of a live auction, complete with the last-minute bidding frenzy! Did you know that around 70% of all bids are placed during the last 10 minutes of an auction? When you choose to list your item using this format, there is always the chance that the small amount you chose as your starting bid could turn into some serious cash for you when the auction is over. It’s always a good idea to start your Bid auction with a ridiculously small starting bid. Why? Well, people can’t seem to resist a bargain. When they see your item, they know it’s worth more than the 99 cents that you have listed as the starting bid, but they will probably bid on it anyway. They realize they probably won’t get the item for that price, but they just can’t resist bidding. This in turn can cause others to follow suit, and before you know it, you’ve got a bidding war going on over your item. There are many reasons why this auction format could work better for you. Guess who will end up the real winner? You! Because you chose the Bid format, bidders had the opportunity to compete for the chance to win the auction, and your profits turned out to be more than you expected. Repeat this scenario several times over, and before you know it, you’ll be a Power Seller! On the other hand, you may have had several identical items to list as an EBay newbie. Maybe you wrote an Ebook, or knitted several cute dog sweaters. Why list each item separately when you can take advantage of the Fixed Price auction format? When you use this format, your customers can buy the items you have for sale at once if they so choose. There is no bidding involved, and no waiting for an auction to end. You don’t have to wonder what your profit will be by the time the auction is over. You set the price once, and that’s the price you will get. You will find that there are some people who shop on EBay that would prefer not to have to wait for the end of an auction to see if they won they item that they bid on. They’d rather use the Buy It Now or the Fixed Price option, which as essentially the same. The difference is that Buy It Now can be attached to a regular Bid Auction. You’re just giving your customers to end the auction themselves by choosing to purchase the item at the Buy It Now price. Choose the auction format that works better for you, depending on the items you have to sell. Enjoy EBay – and enjoy the money you will make by being an informed EBay seller!