How to decide if item should be listed as a "buy it now" or as an auction?

[oldcoin007]

I usually go with the auction format. I lack patience. How do you decide, please?

[gracieallen01]

Personally, I think it rather depends on what the person is selling.  Sort of depends on what you have and what you want.

If the seller is listing 'commodity items', things that many, many people are listing and can be bought down at Target or Lowe's, Ikea, Home Depot, Bed, Bath and Beyond, etc., well then it is probably best to list as 'But It Now' with 'Immediate Payment Required'.  Waiting for an auction to end can seem like forever - both for the buyer and the seller.

If the seller is listing OOAK, rare, uncommon, antique, 'old things', etc., auctions may work out better if the seller is looking for a maximum on return.  Collectors may want it now, but will often wait - and pay more.  It can take more research, though.

Again, I think it depends on what you have and what you want.  Being impatient doesn't work well when you throw buyers into the mix.

[oldcoin007]

Hi - It was & is a real question. It just felt good to get help without attacks. Maybe some things are best not said, eh? 

[johnwhiplash]

I list most everything fixed price with immediate payment required. The only time I list an item as auction is if I have no idea what it's worth.  When buying, I almost never look at auctions any more.

[certifiedcitynet]

Many sellers initially list items in a 10-day auction with a minimum bid.

If nobody bids, they re-list the items as "Buy it now", often with the "Make offer" box enabled. 

[fuzzface50]

I agree with Gracie and do the same thing.  If it is  still available in stores or there is lots of competition here for the same identical items then list buy it now with ipr.  

if the item is not readily available in stores or is an original item(not repop or knockoff)) or there is very little or no competition here for it then I like to list auction style. 

If I am not well versed in something I have which is common for me seeing I buy storage units then I also do auction style.  All you need is the right 2 bidders to show up to hit a homerun.  I watched an ashtray out of an old car that I thought was worth a buy it now of $100 sell for $2,000. Would have underpriced that bin price If it sold fixed price  format.  don't mind leaving some meat on the bone for the next buyer but not quite that much. 

Nice to list fixed price and get the fast sale but I don't mind waiting a week more to get extra $'s for not knowing what something is actually worth . 

[oldcoin007]

Hi - Amazing story. If you don't mind sharing, what type of ashtray and what type of car did it come out of?  Thanks, L

[eleanor*rigby]

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@oldcoin007 wrote:

Hi - It was & is a real question. It just felt good to get help without attacks. Maybe some things are best not said, eh? 

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The account you're posting with was initially registered with eBay in 2001--twenty years ago. It appears the account has been used for selling for several years at least, and yet, this is one of the most basic business decisions an eBay seller makes. This account has 1500 feedback ratings for transactions as a seller. It seems odd that a seller with so much experience would be posting such a basic question as whether to use auctions or fixed-price listings or how to price an item--like maybe there was some other motive in starting this thread? 

By message #7, it became--without any provocation whatsoever--yet another commentary on perceived slights by other posters.

[oldcoin007]

Hi - I thank you for the assistance. It seems to me that things sometimes sell on a whim. What I mean is I may list something even nicer than another same thing that sold. Mine may not sell, or it will sell for less. I guess if we understood all the ins & outs, we would be rich selling on the ebay, in spite of the ebay. 

[gracieallen01]

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@oldcoin007 wrote:

Hi - I thank you for the assistance. It seems to me that things sometimes sell on a whim. What I mean is I may list something even nicer than another same thing that sold. Mine may not sell, or it will sell for less. I guess if we understood all the ins & outs, we would be rich selling on the ebay, in spite of the ebay. 

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Now, that, I whole-heartedly agree.  😀

[simba6]

Many buyers want their item right away and don't want to wait around for an auction to end.

[luckythewinner]

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@oldcoin007 wrote:

I usually go with the auction format. I lack patience. How do you decide, please?

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I decide based on the item. 

If the item is readily available or has a fairly well-establish market value, I use the fixed price format. 

I only use auction if the item has demand and that demand far outstrips the available supply. 

You say "I lack patience". IMHO, so do most buyers. They do not want to wait a week for an auction to end, while other fixed-price deals slip past. 

[1tuna]

that is the truth...................folks want there stuff now

I know I  do  not feel like waiting for my GTC to sell

if I use a buy  it now I can   price it too low so maybe I price it higher

therein lies my problem.I do not wan to wait weeks and weeks for my stuff to sell

that is why my 7 day 99 cent auctions pay the bills

I hate waiting for my overpriced buy it now stuff to sell.................7 days and its gone works for me

[annadryl]

"I usually go with the auction format. I lack patience."

That, my friend, contradicts itself.

So, don't do that?

[forward-motion]

I thought the same thing!

[steve_stuff]

Unless it's something that only sells at a fixed price - ink cartridges, vacuum bags, swing-a-way can openers - we list all first time items as auctions, especially the odd stuff that's we can't find up for sale. Take the time to check sales and price. Odd stuff gets high price because if 'they' want it they will pay. We see it in the real stores all the time. If not sold after xxx tried add bin. XXX more switch to fixed.