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Selecting a selling format
In this article

Selecting the best selling format for your item is key to having the greatest success with your sale. Consider:

  • How the format works

  • The listing duration

  • Fees

  • eBay services such as Feedback and what type of protection is offered if you have problems

A quick comparison

You can quickly compare eBay selling formats in the following table. Read on after that for details about each one.

Selling format

Highlights

Auction-style listing

Sell to the highest bidder or offer Buy It Now or Best Offer.

Duration: 1, 3, 5, 7, or 10 days. Real estate: 30 days

Fees: Insertion, Final Value, and upgrade fees depend on the item and listing options used

eBay services: Complete access to eBay services such as Feedback and problem resolution

Fixed-Price listing

List items at a set price, so buyers can purchase right away (with no bidding). Best Offer is also an option.

Listing with variations: If you sell different versions of an item; for example, a T-shirt in various sizes and colors, you can list them in one fixed price listing.

Duration: 3, 5, 7, 10, or 30 days, or Good 'Til Cancelled

Fees: Insertion, Final Value, and upgrade fees depend on the item and listing options used. Good 'Til Cancelled Insertion Fee is charged every 30 days.

eBay services: Complete access to eBay services such as Feedback and problem resolution

Store Inventory listing

eBay Store owners list their items at a set price, so buyers can purchase right away (with no bidding).

Duration: 30 days or Good 'Til Cancelled

Fees: Insertion, Final Value, and upgrade fees depend on the item and listing options used. Good 'Til Cancelled Insertion Fee is charged every 30 days.

eBay services: Complete access to eBay services such as Feedback and problem resolution

Classified Ad

Advertise on eBay just as you'd use a traditional classified ad. You state a price, the buyer contacts you, and you handle the transaction personally.

Duration: Most run for 30 days with the option of Good 'Til Cancelled. Good 'Til Cancelled Insertion Fee is charged every 30 days.

Real Estate ads: 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 30, or 90 days

Fees: Vary by category

eBay services: No access to eBay services such as Feedback and problem resolution

Motors National listing

Sell within 100 miles of your vehicle. Good choice for selling older, more unique cars.

Duration: 3, 5, 7, or 10 days.

Fees:

  • Monthly subscription fee: None

  • Insertion Fee (per VIN): $0

  • Successful Listing Fee: $125

  • Feature fees: $0-$99

eBay services: Complete access to eBay problem resolution, Vehicle Protection Program, Feedback, and other services

Motors Local Classified Ad

Sell within 100 miles of your vehicle. Good choice for selling older or lower-value vehicles that would interest local buyers.

Duration: 7 days

Fees: Flat fee based on the number of Local Classified Ads you place over a 12-month period:

  • 1 to 6 listings: Free

  • 7 to 12 listings: $15 each

  • 13 or more listings: $30 each

eBay services: No access to eBay services such as Feedback and problem resolution

Motors Local Market listing

For dealership subscribers only.

Good for late model, everyday, or unique vehicles that would interest local buyers.

Duration: 3, 5, 7, 10, or 21 days

Fees:

  • Monthly subscription: $1,000

  • Insertion Fee (per VIN): $0

  • Transaction service fee: $50

  • Feature fees: Additional features aren't offered through eBay

eBay services: Complete access to eBay problem resolution, Vehicle Protection Program, Feedback, and other services, including a free toll-free phone number

Auction-style listing

How It Works
You receive bids on your item and sell to the highest bidder. You can also include a Buy It Now price in your auction, which lets the buyer purchase the item before the listed end date for the auction.
  • You can list one item or by lots.

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

Duration
You can list auction-style for 1, 3, 5, 7, or 10 days. Real estate auctions may also run for 30 days.
Fees
  • You're charged an Insertion Fee to list your item.

  • You're charged a Final Value Fee after the sale.

  • There are fees for optional features and upgrades.

  • See eBay.com fees for details.

eBay services
You have complete access to eBay services such as Feedback and problem resolution.

Fixed Price listing

How it works
You list your items at a set price, so buyers can purchase right away (with no bidding).
  • You can include the Best Offer option in your Fixed Price listing and choose among buyers who name their highest offer.

  • You can offer one item or multiple items for sale at the Buy It Now price anytime during the listing.

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

Duration
You can list for 3, 5, 7, 10, or 30 days, or Good 'Til Cancelled. Good 'Til Cancelled renews automatically every 30 days until the item sells or you end the listing.
Fees
  • You're charged an Insertion Fee to list your item.

  • You're charged an Insertion Fee every 30-day period for Good 'Til Cancelled listings.

  • You're charged a Final Value Fee after the sale.

  • There are fees for optional features and upgrades.

  • See eBay.com fees for details.

eBay services
You have complete access to eBay services such as Feedback and problem resolution.

Store Inventory listing

How it works
eBay Store owners list their items at a set price, so buyers can purchase right away (with no bidding). These listings have longer durations but with limited visibility compared to auction-style and Fixed Price formats.
  • You can include the Best Offer optionin your Fixed Price listing and choose from buyers who name their highest offer.

  • You need to open an eBay Store to use this listing format.

  • You can offer one item or multiple items for one Buy It Now price.

  • Store Inventory listings appear with other listing formats in these areas:

    • Your eBay Store

    • Seller’s Other Items

    • eBay Stores search results

    • Regular eBay search and browse results if there are 30 or fewer auction-style and Fixed Price listings

    • Product details (catalog) pages (when you use product details)

    • When a buyer selects "All items including Store Inventory items" or "Store Inventory items only" in Search Options

Duration
You can list for 30 days or Good 'Til Cancelled. Good 'Til Cancelled renews automatically every 30 days until the item sells or you end the listing.
Fees      
  • You're charged an Insertion Fee to list your item.

  • You're charged an Insertion Fee every 30-day period for Good 'Til Cancelled listings.

  • You're charged a Final Value Fee after the sale.

  • There are fees for optional features and upgrades.

  • See Store fees for details.

eBay services
You have complete access to eBay services such as Feedback and problem resolution.

Classified Ad

How it works
You can advertise on eBay just as you'd use a traditional classified ad. You state a price, the buyer contacts you, and you handle the transaction personally.
You can create an ad for these categories:

Businesses for Sale

  • Advertising Inventory

  • Home-Based Businesses

  • Internet Businesses & Websites

  • Manufacturing

  • Marketing

  • Patents & Trademarks

  • Retail & General Stores

  • Service Businesses

  • Vending & Coin-op

  • Wholesale Trade & Distribution

  • Other

  • Construction - Buildings, Modular & Pre-Fab

Trade Show Displays

  • Banner Systems & Signage

  • Pop-Up & Booth Displays

  • Tabletop & Portable Displays

  • Literature Stands & Racks

  • Trade Show Counters & Tables

  • Tradeshow Booth Lighting

  • Travel & Carrying Cases

  • Trade Show Display Accessories - Other

  • Trade Show Displays - Other

Real Estate

  • Commercial

  • Land

  • Manufactured Homes

  • Timeshares for Sale

Specialty Services

Travel

  • Airline

  • Cruises

  • Vacation Packages

  • Travel - Other

Everything Else

  • Advertising Opportunities

  • eBay User Tools

  • Funeral & Cemetery

  • Caskets

  • Cemetery Plots

  • Funeral & Cemetery - Other

  • Information Products

  • Memberships

  • Reward Pts, Incentive Progs – Other

Duration
Most Classified Ads run for 30 days with the option of listing Good 'Til Cancelled. Good 'Til Cancelled renews automatically every 30 days until the item sells or you end the listing.
Real Estate ads can run for 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 30, or 90 days.
Fees
  • The Insertion Fee for ads varies by category.

  • Insertion Fees are charged every 30-day period for Good 'Til Cancelled listings.

  • There's no Final Value Fee.

  • There are fees for optional features and upgrades.

  • See Classified Ad fees for fees for most classified ads.

  • See Real Estate fees for details on Real Estate fees.

eBay services
Because classified ads are posted on eBay but the transaction takes place off eBay, you don't have access to eBay services such as Feedback and problem resolution.

Motors National listings

How it works
Anyone in the United States with an eBay seller account can list their vehicle nationally. This is a good choice for older, more unique cars.
  • Local buyers will also see your listing if your ZIP code is within their search range.

  • You can sell using auction-style, Buy It Now, and Best Offer formats.

Duration
 You can list for 3, 5, 7, or 10 days.
Fees 
  • Monthly subscription fee: None

  • Insertion Fee (per VIN): $0

  • Successful Listing Fee: $125

  • Feature fees: $0-$99

eBay services
Motors National listings have complete access to eBay problem resolution, Vehicle Protection Program, Feedback, and other services. 

Motors Local Classified Ad

How it works
You can save money on your vehicle sale using a Motors Local Classified Ad. This is a good choice if you're listing an older or lower-value vehicle that would interest local buyers.
  • Your listing is fixed within 100 miles of your vehicle.

  • Like traditional classified ads, you state a price and payment method, and the buyer contacts you.

  • You can put your phone number and email address on the listing. You can also request the buyer's email address so you can contact them. You can talk to numerous buyers and negotiate a price.

  • Buyers like this because they can check out the vehicle and meet the seller before the sale. They also save on shipping.

  • Buyers can find your ad when they search for a vehicle, and will find local listings faster when they enter a ZIP code or use the Find Local Vehicles search box in Motors.

    See how to sell your vehicle locally using a Motors Local Classified Ad.

Duration
7 days
Fees
You're charged a flat fee based on the number of Local Classified Ads you place over a 12-month period:
  • 1 to 6 listings: Free

  • 7 to 12 listings: $15 each

  • 13 or more listings: $30 each

There's no Successful Listing Fee. Optional feature and listing upgrade fees still apply.
eBay services
Because classified ads are posted on eBay but the transaction is closed off eBay, you don't have access to eBay services such as Feedback and problem resolution.

Motors Local Market listing (for dealership subscribers only)

How it works
Local Market listings are for dealers with a Local Market subscription. (Dealers also need to work with a Preferred Solution Provider for uploads and other productivity tools.) Local Market listings are good for late model, everyday, or unique vehicles that would interest local rather than national buyers.
  • Like traditional classified ads, you state a price and the buyer contacts you.

  • You can put your phone number and email address on the listing. You can also request the buyer's contact information. You can talk to numerous buyers and negotiate a price.

  • Buyers like this because they can check out the vehicle and meet the seller before the sale. They also save on shipping.

  • Buyers can find your ad when they search for a vehicle, and will find local listings faster when they enter a ZIP code or use the Find Local Vehicles search box in Motors.

  • You list using the Classified Ad Format with the option of Best Offer.

Duration
Although you can list a car for 3, 5, 7, 10, or 21 days (10 and 21 day listings incur an additional fee), our most successful dealers find that 5 or 7 days work best.
Fees 
  • Monthly subscription: $1,000

  • Insertion Fee (per VIN): $0

  • Transaction service fee: $50

  • Feature fees: Additional features aren't offered through eBay

eBay services
Local Market dealers have complete access to eBay problem resolution, Vehicle Protection Program, Feedback, and other services, including a free toll-free phone number.
Find out more at our Dealer Center.
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