Valuing your item

Item condition

This guide will help you estimate how the condition of your item may affect the price.

Price of similar items

Have a look at similar items in a comparable condition to see how they're price. The compare facility can compare up to 25 items in the same category to give you an overall idea of the market.

As well as searching on tradingpost.com.au and your local Trading Post® paper, it might pay to look elsewhere, including local papers or op shops etc.

Setting your price

The price you set for your item depends as much on how you’re selling it as what you believe it’s worth.

Auction prices

When you list your item via an Auction, provide a starting price.

The starting price:

• is the price at which bidding starts, and
• maybe the lowest price at which you are willing to sell your item, unless you also include a reserve price.

You may also choose to include a Buy Now price which allows buyers to purchase your item immediately if they are willing to pay his fixed price, rather than having to wait for the Auction to end.

Things to consider:

• Starting your Auction at a lower amount can result in a higher selling price. Lower starting prices tend to encourage bidders and earlier bids, while higher starting prices tend to deter them.
• Reserve prices may put off some buyers. Carefully weigh up the pros and cons of setting a reserve for your item before you submit your Auction.

Buy Now and Classified ads

You need to specify a selling price for these ads (i.e. the price at which you will sell your item).

For Buy Now ads, this is a fixed, non-negotiable price. However, if you’re willing to be flexible, you may like to place a Classified ad and use the selling price as a guide for buyers to negotiate on.

Including additional costs

If you are running an Auction or placing a Buy Now ad, you should outline any postage or delivery costs associated with purchasing your item. This will make it easier for buyers to decide whether to buy or bid on your item.

Simply complete the fields for the Delivery methods you offer and refer to Australia Post’s postage calculator for help on calculating the cost of postage. A courier service will be able to provide you with a quote if you are willing to courier the item.

Adding GST

Where GST is applicable on any items you advertise the advertise the advertised price must be inclusive of GST.

Pricing multiple items

Trading Post allows sellers to advertise multiple items within a Classified ad, provided the items are identical or interrelated. See rules for ad details for more information.

Lowering your price

Consider lowering the price of your item if it doesn't initially sell. You might not have to lower it by much.

Related topics

Reserve price
Choose your ad type
Rules for ad content