Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
eBay

If you buy or sell items on eBay, you will find tips and advice on this forum.

Original poster

What is the best day and time for an auction to end on Ebay in your experience?

35 replies

Aloha · 02/03/2007 16:05

Hi, am about to list a few things, which I don't do that often. What day and time should an auction end to maximise the likelihood of it selling, do you think? Ebay is such a faff I can't face doing it if nobody will buy!

OP posts:
fryalot · 02/03/2007 16:06

weekends or evenings.

A lot of people are at work during the day and can't bid.

Things I have sold have always gone for more and had more last minute interest in the evenings or weekends.

Nbg · 02/03/2007 16:07

Probably after 7pm IMO.
People work in the day, then they have to get home, make tea, get kids to bed etc.

SlightlyMadScientist · 02/03/2007 16:07

I always aim for 6-8pm on a weekend. Don't know if that is officially best tho.

Apparently free listing days are a bad idea as lots of people list and it increases you competition.

Winestein · 02/03/2007 16:08

List your things at around 7:30 - 8:30 on a Thursday evening over a 10 day auction. That way they will finish at that time on a Sunday evening (make sure not a bank hol weekend though)
Not that I Ebay, at all, of course

SlightlyMadScientist · 02/03/2007 16:10

IMO 10 days has no benefit over 5 or 7 days as far as generateing traffic is concerned.

Original poster
Aloha · 02/03/2007 16:12

So is ending on Sunday night after 7.30 about right then?

OP posts:
Winestein · 02/03/2007 16:12

How so MadScientist? It means that the maximum amount of people will see your ad if they do a search and your title or item specifics is searchable.

Winestein · 02/03/2007 16:14

Statistically apparently it's the best Aloha. Whatcha selling? [nosey]

kittypants · 02/03/2007 16:15

id say as late as possible.i personally like to sit and look on ebay after children are sleeping so after 7-8pm.

Original poster
Aloha · 02/03/2007 16:15

Oh, a child's Ikea wardrobe, a very nice computer cabinet/desk in a cupboard thing, some clothes and baby things (sob!)

OP posts:
Cloudhopper · 02/03/2007 16:15

I have definitely noticed that if you want a bargain, you are unlikely to get one on a Sunday evening, and that is when most auctions seem to end.

Winestein · 02/03/2007 16:16

Top tip by the way: download Turbolister. That way you can list all your items to sell in your spare time (whenever that might be) and then upload them all at the same time on your specified day/time

SlightlyMadScientist · 02/03/2007 16:17

We have tended to tell stuff where there are hundreds of similar items (like trendy mobile phones). If we put it on for 7 days and you do a search for the make and model you item ends up on page 12 or something riduculus. We never get many hits until it gets to page 3-4 in the search results, which is usually within the last 2-3 days.

If you are selling something there aren't many of on ebay - maybe. Might try it for longer with my bushbaby carrier as they are much rarer, only 3 for sale at the moment I think.

SlightlyMadScientist · 02/03/2007 16:19

Have just downloaded turbolister actually, which I have been adding to throughout the week. I have 12 items on it already to list at the weekend. I think I am likely to annoy some poor pensioners in the post office queue a week on Monday

Winestein · 02/03/2007 16:20

Take your point there MS. I suppose it's because I tend to sell weird and wonderful stuff!

Winestein · 02/03/2007 16:20

Lol at the pensioners - me too! [hopeful]

SlightlyMadScientist · 02/03/2007 16:23

I actually walked to the post office to dispatch an item for someone whilst I was in labour about 10m ago .

I think the pensioners were quite happy for me to drop my post and run that day LOL

misdee · 02/03/2007 16:25

saturday/sunday evening after 7pm if you are sellling 'family' type items as ost people who ebay will be doing it then. i get the best bargains sunday lunchtimes lol. it feels very wrong to be ebay sunday lunchtimes though

Bananaknickers · 02/03/2007 16:28

I second weekend nights

sixlostmonkeys · 02/03/2007 16:56

Sunday evening certainly does seem to be the best time for an auction to end. Try to check what is going to be on TV when you plan it to end - if there is something popular on...wait until it has finished. Don't get caught out by big football matches etc.

Turbo lister does make life easier

If you are selling similar items within your auctions try to stagger the similar ones so that if someone wants to bid on both they get the chance to. I discovered this the hard way - listed books by same author, all to end at the same time and received messages from buyers who would have liked the chance to bid on more.

Winestein · 02/03/2007 17:00

Aloha - I meant to add... have you put your furniture on the for sale boards here? They are presumably collection only - if you don't and you do list them on Ebay, start them at the price you really want. Unless it is exceptional (original 1960's/70's desirables or true antiques) people either live near you and pick it up or they don't and don't bid....
...for example, a friend of mine bought a sideboard for the starting price of 1p and collected it. That meant the seller actually lost 34p listing fees plus 17.5% final value fee (although I don;t think Ebay could actually collect that!)

nikkie · 02/03/2007 17:13

Yes they could they just add it to the bill.

Mon lunch times not bad time either or Fri pm for officy people.

SlightlyMadScientist · 02/03/2007 17:31

Is there a preference of Sun evening over Sat evening?

I was going to end mine Sat (if I get them all written) so that I had time to package and address them all Sunday ready to post on Monday...

nikkie · 02/03/2007 17:35

People go out on Sat?

SlightlyMadScientist · 02/03/2007 17:36

Wheres my WAVE??????