Home : Help : Seller Guide : Auction Types

Choose Your Auction Type!
As a seller, you can choose the type of auction that gets the results—and the price—you want! As a buyer, check out which auction type you'd like to try.

1. Reserve Price Auctions
   Set a reserve price if you absolutely, positively won't sell below a certain price.
   • Bidders know there's a reserve price, but they do not know what it is.
   • In order to win the auction, a bidder must meet or exceed the reserve price and have the highest bid.
   • If no bidders meet the reserve price, neither the seller nor the high bidder are under any further obligation.
   • You can't use reserve prices for Dutch Auctions, and items with reserve prices are not displayed in the Hot Items section.
2. Private Auctions
   Strictly hush, hush—use this auction to protect a buyer's privacy.
   • Bidders' email addresses won't show up on the item or bidding-history screens.
   • When the auction is over, only the seller will know who bought the item.
   • This option can't be used with Dutch Auctions.
3. Dutch Auctions
   This fast-paced, free-for-all format is perfect if you have multiple, identical items to sell.
   • Sellers start by listing a minimum price, or starting bid, and the number of items for sale.
   • Bidders specify both a bid price and the quantity they want to buy.
   • All winning bidders pay the same price—which is the lowest successful bid. That might be less than what you bid!
   • If there are more buyers than items, the earliest successful bids get the goods.
   • Higher bidders get the quantities they've asked for.
   • Bidders can refuse partial quantities.
     
   • Check out an example.
4. Restricted-Access Auctions
   This separate category makes it easy for you to find or avoid adult-only merchandise.
   • To view and bid on adult-only items, buyers need to have a credit card on file with eBay. Your card will not be charged.
   • Sellers must also have credit card verification.
   • Items listed in the Adult-Only category are not included in the New Items page or the Hot Items section, and currently, are not available by any title search.
   • Please list adult items in the correct area. Otherwise, your auction may be relocated or ended. You could even be suspended from the site.

* Notice to Sellers of Adult Items
Various legal statutes regulate the sale and distribution of adult materials. As stated in the User Agreement, your breach of these laws is a breach of the User Agreement.

* Notice to Bidders and Buyers of Adult Items
Various legal statutes regulate the sale and distribution of adult materials. Please exercise caution and obey all applicable laws when dealing with buyers and sellers in this category. Please do not visit the Adult-Only category if you do not want to see explicit materials.

Want to Sell in Bulk?
For large quantities, go to TradeOut, the leading online business surplus marketplace.