How to price second-hand items to sell
The fastest way to price a second-hand item is to look at what similar items actually sold for — not what sellers are asking. Here's how to do it on Bidly.
1. Check real sold prices first
Use the sold price checker to search for your item — for example "Nike trainers" or "LEGO set". You'll see the lowest, highest and typical price that similar items sold for on Bidly, based on real completed sales. Asking prices on other sites tell you what sellers hope to get; sold prices tell you what buyers actually paid.
2. Adjust for condition
Sold listings show their condition, so compare like with like. An item that is new with tags can sit near the top of the sold range; well-used items should sit nearer the bottom. Be honest — buyers can see your photos, and a fair price for the real condition sells faster than an optimistic one that gets ignored.
3. Choose your selling format
- Buy It Now — set a fixed price at or just below the typical sold price if you want a quick, predictable sale. You can also list Buy It Now only, with no starting bid.
- Auction — start low to attract early bids and let buyers compete. Bids placed in the final 30 seconds extend the deadline by two minutes, so genuine interest gets time to play out.
- Live auction — sell on a live video stream, where viewers bid in real time. Good for shifting several items in one show.
4. Remember fees and postage
On Bidly, buyers pay no fees — just the item price plus postage. Sellers pay 5% of the item price (not postage) when an item sells, and listing is free. New sellers pay no seller fees for their first 28 days. Set your postage to cover your real courier cost — Royal Mail or Evri — and remember buyers can collect in person if you offer it.
5. Review and adjust
If your item isn't getting views or bids, you can edit the price at any time — when you lower it, a "Price drop" banner appears on your photo so returning buyers notice. Unsold items can be relisted, or set to run until sold.