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Selecting a selling format

Use this table to help you select the best selling format for your item.

Selling Format

How It Works

Length of Listing

Auction

Receive bids on your item and sell to the highest bidder in a fixed length of time.

Option to add a Buy It Now price to allow buyers to purchase the item immediately. The Buy It Now price must be at least 30% higher than the starting Auction price.

Quantity: Single quantity listings only – you are only able to list one item per listing.

Where: Your listing appears in the eBay category (or categories) you choose and in search results.

1, 3, 5, 7, or 10 days.

Fixed Price

List your items at a set price, so buyers can purchase immediately without bidding.

You may also include the Best Offer option in your Fixed Price listings. This option lets you consider offers from buyers who will name their best price.

Quantity: Offer one or multiple items for sale at a fixed price anytime during the listing.

Where: Your listing appears in the eBay category (or categories) you choose and in search results.

Note: Any Fixed Price listing can use the Best Offer option at no extra cost.

3, 5, 7, or 10 days.

14 days duration is available in the Cars and Motorcycles categories

30 days and Good ‘Til Cancelled (GTC) durations are available only to Store owners. There is no additional insertion fee for using these durations, but some Feature Fees are higher for 30-day and GTC listings. GTC duration listings renew automatically every 30 days unless all of the items sell, you end the listing, or the listing violates an eBay policy. Insertion fees are charged every 30-day period.

Best Offer

Sellers can add the Best Offer feature to their Fixed Price or Classified Ads listing to give buyers the opportunity to make an offer for the item at a price different from the item price. 

Buyers who choose to make an offer where the feature is available will have an opportunity to purchase items they want at their stated best price if the seller accepts their offer.

Available as a free additional feature to Fixed Price and Classified Ads.

Classified Ads

Classified Ads are available in only a few categories as a means to advertise your item and generate multiple sales leads.

No bidding takes place. Interested buyers fill out a contact form, and their information is sent to the seller as a lead.

This unique format does not enable buyers and sellers to transact online through eBay and is not available for eBay Feedback, unless the Best Offer feature is used.

28 days

Classified Ad with Best Offer

Sellers who wish to sell items as pick up only can add the Best Offer function to a Classified listing. This gives buyers the opportunity to make an offer for the item at a price different from the item price. 

Listings must offer Pick up only and feature single quantity .

Buyers who choose to make an offer where the feature is available will have an opportunity to purchase items they want at their stated best price if the seller accepts their offer.

14 days

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