Choose the right selling format

Use the auction-style format when:

• You're unsure of the value of your item and want it to sell right away

• You have unique and hard-to-find items that could attract demand and start a bidding war

• You're currently using auction-style listings and your items sell the first time you list them

Tip: Use 7- or 10-day duration to get the maximum exposure for your listing

Use the fixed price format when:

• You have multiple items that you can group into one multi-quantity or multi-variation listing

• You know the value of your item or know the exact price you need to get for it

• You have a lot of inventory and want to minimize your insertion fees

• You want your items to be available to buyers for more than 7 days

Tip: Use 30-day durations and try automatic renewals (Good 'Til Cancelled)

Write a good title

Do:

• Use up to 80 characters to describe your item

• Make your title clear, concise and professional

• State exactly what your item is, even if your title repeats the category name

• Use sentence or title case

• Use correct spelling

Don't:

• Use all capital letters

• Use special characters like punctuation marks or asterisks

• Include multiple synonyms (like purse, handbag, and bag)

• Use words that don't describe your item (wow or l@@k)

• Use words that are false or misleading

Write a good description

Do:

• Make your description clear, concise, and professional

• Use sentence case or title case—use correct capitalization and don't write in all caps

• Use correct spelling

• Use a single, simple font in a single color

• Organize your description in paragraphs or bullets with like information grouped together:

  • First describe your item. Include the relevant details about your item, and be clear about what will be in the package the buyer receives

  • In a separate paragraph or bullet you may want to include a story about the item, or information about why the item is unique or appealing

Don't:

• Use all capital letters, multiple fonts, or multiple font colors

• Use negative or anti-buyer language

• Make false or misleading claims about your item

List in the correct category

Selecting the right category is crucial to accurately describe your inventory. Be precise when you select your category so it is the most relevant one for your item.

Provide as many item specifics as possible

Complete as many of the recommended item specifics as possible to insure your items are returned in search and ranked properly.

Use product details from our catalog where possible

Product details can help you create complete listing descriptions that are more visible and appealing to buyers. Using product details helps make listing easier and your descriptions more complete.

Include high-quality pictures of your item

• Upload at least one picture for every listing.

• Take high quality photos that will showcase your items.

• Photograph your item at different angles.

• Include photos of any scratches, flaws, or other parts of your item that a buyer would want to see.

• Don't add borders or text to your photos.

• Don't use the stock photo as your main picture when using the eBay catalog if your item is not brand new.

Price competitively

Price competitively, including shipping. When it comes to pricing fixed price items, it's rarely a good strategy to "set it and forget it." It's a good idea to watch your closest competitors on and off eBay to see what they're charging for similar items. Remember to consider shipping costs as part of the equation as you price your items.

Focus on customer satisfaction

Offer the highest levels of service possible to your buyers. Reduce your low detailed seller ratings (DSRs ) and the number of buyer claims against you. Achieve Top Rated status.

More information

• Seller performance standards

• Becoming a Top Rated Seller and qualifying for Top Rated Plus

• Creating your return policy

• Improve performance by shipping items promptly

Use Listing Analytics to optimize your listing

With Listing Analytics you can see how many times your fixed price listings are shown to buyers, what the click-through rate is, and how well the item is selling.

Include a vehicle history report in your eBay Motors vehicle listing

• If you list fewer than 7 vehicles in a year, you'll get a free AutoCheck report from Experian. You don't need to do anything.

• If you've listed 7 or more vehicles in a year and you currently subscribe to AutoCheck by Experian, you'll need to supply them with your eBay and AutoCheck ID.

• If you've listed 7 or more vehicles in a year and don't currently subscribe to AutoCheck by Experian, just visit AutoCheck to sign up.

What is the most important factor in Best Match?

There are many important factors in Best Match, and no single one will boost your item to the top of the list. Making your listing complete, pricing competitively, and offering great service to buyers gives your listing the best chance for visibility.

Why do you rank auction style and fixed price listings differently?

Different factors are more important for each format. For example, end time may be a buyer consideration for auction-style listings, while the end time of a 30-day Good 'Til Canceled fixed price listing is not important to buyers.

If popularity with buyers matters, what about new items?

We compare new items to similar sold items to get a similar item popularity score. This score is used until we've collected enough observations about an item to rank it based on performance history.

Do my listings get a benefit in Best Match if I offer free shipping, returns, or am a Top-rated seller?

The level of services each listing offers to buyers, and the past performance history of sellers, including seller standing and bad buyer experience rates are considered in ranking. However, no single factor will boost a listing to the top of search results. Making your listing complete, pricing competitively, and offering great service to buyers gives your listing the best chance for visibility.

Why does Best Match change all the time?

eBay regularly gives Best Match a tune-up to make sure we're doing the best we can to meet our objective of highlighting relevant items that follow best practices and offer great value and service to buyers.