| Over the years, eBay has introduced all | | | | items for how much you want them to sell |
| sorts of different auction types, in an | | | | for. |
| effort to give people more options when | | | | Recently, eBay added a twist to fixed |
| they buy and sell their things on eBay. | | | | price auctions: the 'best offer'. This |
| For every seller who doesn't like the | | | | means that buyers can contact you to |
| idea that their item might sell for a | | | | negotiate a price, which could be a good |
| far lower price than they intend, | | | | way to get sell some extra stock at a |
| there's another who wants to shift | | | | small discount. The only downside to |
| hundreds of the same item quickly. eBay | | | | reserve and fixed price auctions is that |
| tries to cater to all tastes. This email | | | | you pay a small extra fee to use these |
| gives you an overview of the different | | | | formats. In general, it is more worth |
| kinds of auctions and their advantages | | | | using reserve auctions for higher-priced |
| for you. | | | | items and fixed price auctions for |
| Normal Auctions. | | | | lower-priced ones - but remember that |
| These are the bread-and-butter of eBay, | | | | you can combine the two formats. |
| the auctions everyone knows: buyers bid, | | | | Multiple Item ('Dutch') Auctions. |
| others outbid them, they bid again, and | | | | These are auctions where you can sell |
| the winner gets the item. Simple. | | | | more than one of a certain item. Dutch |
| Reserve Auctions. | | | | auctions can be done by bidding. Buyers |
| Reserve auctions are for sellers who | | | | bid a price and say how many items they |
| don't want their items to sell for less | | | | want, and then everyone pays the lowest |
| than a certain price - a concept you'll | | | | price that was bid by one of the winning |
| know about if you're familiar with real | | | | bidders. If you have trouble getting |
| auctions. They work just like normal | | | | your head around that, then don't worry |
| auctions on eBay, except that the buyer | | | | - everyone else does too! These auctions |
| will be told if their bid does not meet | | | | are very rare. |
| the reserve price you set, and they'll | | | | What is more common is when a seller has |
| need to bid again if they want the item. | | | | a lot of one item, and lists it using a |
| If no-one is willing to meet your price, | | | | combination of two auction types: a |
| then the auction is cancelled, and you | | | | multiple-item fixed price auction. This |
| keep the item. | | | | just means that you can just say how |
| Fixed Price ('Buy it Now') Auctions. | | | | many of the item you they have, and |
| Buy it Now auctions can work in one of | | | | offer them at a fixed price per unit. |
| two ways. You can add a Buy it Now | | | | Buyers can enter how many they want and |
| button to a normal auction, meaning that | | | | then just click Buy it Now to get them. |
| buyers can choose either to bid normally | | | | Now that you know about the different |
| or to simply pay the asking price and | | | | types of auctions, you should make sure |
| avoid the whole bidding process. Some | | | | that the items you plan to sell don't |
| sellers, though, now cut out the auction | | | | violate eBay's listing policies. Send an |
| process altogether and simply list all | | | | email to thnet.gr, to receive the |
| their items at fixed price. This lets | | | | complete list of eBay's full list of |
| you avoid all the complications of the | | | | prohibited or questionable items. |
| auction format and simply list your | | | | |