Auction fees question

[ltldpr]

I was thinking of doing an auction, but I don't understand the fee structure and the "help" page is not helpful because it seems like the fees are listed as "upgrade fees".

Back in the old days, you were charged based on your opening bid and charged extra if you had a reserve. I want to know how it works now, but like I said, the page is more confusing than helpful.

Link to the help page that I found:

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/fees-credits-invoices/selling-fees?id=4822&st=3&pos=1&query=Sellin...

It only lists 1 & 3 day auction duration "optional upgrade fees" at $1.

There are longer auction durations.

Are 5, 7, and 10 day auctions not considered "upgrades" and therefore free to list (like BIN) regardless of the amount of the opening bid?

If I want to start an item off at $300, with no reserve or other upgrades, how much will that cost me to list? 

Or would it be better to start it at $1.00 and put a $300 reserve on it?

Is there another page about JUST auctions?

[nobody*s_perfect · Accepted solution]

eBay charges a $1 fee for durations of 1 or 3 days in order to discourage them.  Longer durations have no additional fee tied to their duration.

Unlike the days of yore, insertion fees are not tied to the opening bid amount. So a listing with no reserve, no other optional upgrades (subtitle etc.), and a duration of 5 days or more, will have no insertion fee regardless of the amount of the opening bid price (whether it's $3 or $300).  

Starting at $1 and putting a $300 reserve is a terrible idea because that will cost you a nonrefundable listing upgrade fee of $22.50 (i.e., 7.5% of $300).  Also, many buyers hate reserves so much they'll just hit the back button when they see that an auction has an unmet reserve.  As with short auction durations, eBay charges a stiff fee in order to discourage sellers from using the Reserve option.

eBay has changed so much over the years, it might be less confusing if you try to forget all about how it used to work, and pretend that this is a new site that you've never used before.

[ltldpr]

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@nobody*s_perfect wrote:

eBay charges a $1 fee for durations of 1 or 3 days in order to discourage them.  Longer durations have no additional fee tied to their duration.

Unlike the days of yore, insertion fees are not tied to the opening bid amount. So a listing with no reserve, no other optional upgrades (subtitle etc.), and a duration of 5 days or more, will have no insertion fee regardless of the amount of the opening bid price (whether it's $3 or $300).  

Starting at $1 and putting a $300 reserve is a terrible idea because that will cost you a nonrefundable listing upgrade fee of $22.50 (i.e., 7.5% of $300).  Also, many buyers hate reserves so much they'll just hit the back button when they see that an auction has an unmet reserve.  As with short auction durations, eBay charges a stiff fee in order to discourage sellers from using the Reserve option.

eBay has changed so much over the years, it might be less confusing if you try to forget all about how it used to work, and pretend that this is a new site that you've never used before.

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Thank you! 

The only reason I am even considering an auction is because I've read a lot of people on a couple of eBay groups on Facebook say that if you can't find any comps for an item, to list it as an auction. I've only found one close comp on Etsy, and it sold for $200, but mine is more detailed. That one is just a pig. Mine has a sow and piglets 😃.

Still undecided, but thank you very much for the info and the suggestion at the end. Great advice, as always!

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@ltldpr wrote: ...   if you can't find any comps for an item, to list it as an auction. I've only found one close comp on Etsy ...

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That does sound like a situation where auction would be a better format, but choose a realistic opening bid.    Be especially attentive to your title key words, and show great pictures.  Good luck.