Online Auction Format

Most listings on eBay use the Online Auction format. A typical auction-style listing works this way:

1. The seller offers one or more items and sets a starting price.
2. Buyers visit the listing and bid on the item(s).
3. When the listing ends, the high bidder or bidders buy the item(s) from the seller for the high bid.

You have many options with this format, including giving buyers an opportunity to buy at a fixed price (Buy It Now), selling multiple identical items, and setting a hidden minimum-selling price (reserve price).

On eBay.co.uk, sellers who wish to use a reserve price must set the reserve price to be equal to or greater than £50.00. It is not permissible to set a reserve price level to be less than £50.00.

Insertion and Final Value Fees for Online Auction format listings are based on the starting price and ending price of the item.