When you list an item, you select whether to sell the item as an Auction listing or as a Fixed Price listing.
If you select Fixed Price when you list the item, you enter the Fixed Price amount, and the buyer can purchase at the specified amount. You can optionally use the Take a Shot offer system. With Take a Shot you allow buyers to submit offers to you for consideration.
If you select Auction, you enter a Starting Bid, and optionally a BuyNow! Price. The BuyNow! Price allows buyers the option of purchasing the item immediately at the BuyNow! Price, without bidding.
Here is a comparison:
| Fixed Price | These items sell only at the price you set, and there is no bidding. The buyer purchases the item immediately. Fixed Price allows you to list multiple identical items at the same price. For example, in one listing, the seller can list 10 Taurus PT92 Magazines for $25.00 per magazine. Buyers can purchase one or more items, up to the quantity available for sale. |
| Take a Shot | Sellers can additionally use the Take a Shot offer system with Fixed Price Listings. This allows sellers to specify their willingness to entertain offers. Sellers can set prices for automatically accepting and rejecting offers so they only have to review offers that are within their parameters. |
| Auction | Buyers place a bid in an auction by entering a Maximum Bid, that is, the maximum amount they are willing to pay for the item. They bid up from the seller's Starting Bid along with other bidders. When the listing ends, the highest bidder wins the item and completes the purchase. |
| BuyNow! | Auction listings allow sellers to designate a BuyNow! Price. Instead of bidding, a buyer can purchase the item immediately at the stated BuyNow! Price by clicking BuyNow! The auction ends when a user clicks BuyNow! to purchase the item. |
For additional information on pricing, see Reserve Prices and Starting Bids.
For additional information on Take a Shot, see How does “Take a Shot” work for Selling?