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Creating a listing


To create a listing, you need to provide your item's title, description, price, and postage and payment information. To make your listing even more engaging and reduce the time you spend answering questions, you can add:

pictures
stock product details and a photo from the catalogue (for many item categories)
answers to frequently asked questions
more payment options
your return policy
enhanced formatting and other upgrades

Before you list your item

Creating your listing

Start selling:

1. At the top of any eBay page, click the Sell tab.

2. On the Sell page, click the Start selling button.

3. Sign in. You're now in the Sell Your Item form.

4. Select a category by searching or browsing. Remember to choose the category most relevant to your item, so it’s easy for buyers to find your listing.

Create your listing:

5. The first few times you list, you may be prompted to choose a listing form after you select a category, and if it applies to your item category, to use product details from our catalogue.

If you choose the Keep it simple form, you'll can create an auction-style listing and can display up to 4 pictures. The More listing choices form provides more selling formats, listing layouts, and other options. To switch forms as you're creating a listing, click Switch to form with more choices or Switch to simple form. If you want to switch to the simple form, just remember that you'll have fewer options and some information might not carry over.

6. Complete the form.

Depending on which listing form and category you've chosen, you'll have various options.

Write a good title and description – Help buyers find your listing with a title that's clear, complete, and descriptive.
  • State exactly what the item is (even if it repeats the category name).

  • Include details such as the brand, product name, size, or artist.

  • Consider adding a subtitle for more description that'll be seen in searches.

Select item specifics – For some categories, you have the option of selecting item specifics. Providing additional item details makes it even easier for buyers to find your item. An example of an item specific is the condition of the item. These specifics may also be included in your Q&A.
Include product details – Many items, including certain books, golf clubs, CDs, video game systems, and cell phones, are associated with products in our growing catalogue. If your item is one of these, you'll be offered product details and a stock photo from the catalogue once you've chosen your category. If you select product details, they'll appear on your listing form. Using product details can save you time and help attract more buyers to your listing.
Add pictures – Including high-quality, evenly lit pictures of your item can help sell your item. You can add and enhance pictures using our picture services.
Select a selling format – Choose from auction-style, fixed price, Classified Ad.
Select a price – This includes deciding on a starting price and pricing options such as reserve price and Buy It Now to help you get the price you want for your item.
Select a listing duration – Most auction listings last 7 days. Durations of more than 7 days may incur a fee and change some upgrade and Insertion Fees. Your listing fee subtotal appears in the Your fees so far section at the bottom of the Create your listing form and again under Review your listing.
Select the payment methods you’ll accept – For community safety, PayPal, ProPay, Moneybookers, Paymate, or Internet merchant credit card payment options are required in most categories. These methods also make it easy for your buyer to pay you right away so you can ship your item faster.
Provide postage information – Specify the locations you'll post to and the postage cost or offer free postage to attract more potential buyers. You can use the eBay Postage Calculator to calculate postage costs based on the item you're selling and the buyer's location.
Specify your return policy – Buyers are more comfortable purchasing from sellers who offer return policies.
Select listing upgrades – Listing upgrades like bold font, highlights, and borders can help make your listing stand out.

7. Preview your listing. If you need to change something, click the Edit listing link.

  • (Optional) To create a template from your listing so you can use it later to sell similar items, select Save this listing as a template.

8. When you're ready, click the List your item button to post your listing on eBay.

Saving, revising, and relisting your listing

  • As you fill out the listing form and click the Save draft link in the Description section or the Save for later link at the top of the page, all the information you've entered so far is saved for you. When you want to finish the listing, return to eBay and click the Sell tab at the top of any page. On the Sell page, click the listing title under Complete your listing. You can continue from where you left off in the listing form. Read more about saving and completing drafts.

  • You can go back and revise your listing, depending on when you do it and whether anyone has bid yet.

  • If your item doesn't sell or the transaction isn't completed, you can relist your item.

Enhancing your listing's visibility

Your listing's visibility depends on factors such as how effective your listing is, and your Feedback and reputation.You can also ramp up your selling with better standing in search results and in special sections on the search results page using: Featured Plus! and AdCommerce.

A message from our lawyers

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