Choosing Your Category

Once you decide to list an item for sale, you must then choose a category. That

choice is simpler on the specialty sites. But if you are using a general site, how

are you to choose?

For example, you have some toy trucks to sell. Do you place them in “toys,”

“collectibles,” or “automotive”? To make it extra tough, there are subcategories

within those categories. The choice you make may be the

difference between a sale and a no-sale. This section will help you choose the

most appropriate listing area.

• Category Search

First, do your research by checking all possible categories. Initially, this may

take some time, and seem rather tedious, but the research you are doing now

will enable you to become a power seller. The task won’t take nearly as much

time in the future. Choose one potential category to begin with. And then, ask

yourself these questions:

1) Are there other items similar to yours for sale?

2) Do similar items have bids, or not?

3) How do the prices compare in different categories? For example, there are

lots of diecast vehicles for sale in both the Toy and the Automobilia categories.

4)Which category has higher prices?

• Past Auctions

Past auctions are simply wonderful sources of information. Search already

completed auctions for toy - trucks. If you get too many results, narrow your

search. See where the toys have sold well.

• Active Categories

Avoid the faulty thinking which says that you should list your item in a

category where there isn’t much action. Too many newcomers make this

mistake. The problem is that there aren’t any buyers, either!

Of course, if there are six items just like yours, it may (or may not) be prudent to

wait until some of these auctions close. That’s one of the good things about

online auctions -- they’re over very quickly.

• Multiple Categories

One sensible strategy, if you have multiple items, is to try them one at a time in

different categories so that you can compare your success. In this way, you

inexpensively test your market.

If you are selling the only antique clock that you own, obviously you must

choose only one category. But if you have an entire line of merchandise that

you sell repeatedly, list it in any category that makes sense.