Once you’ve described exactly what kind of item you’re selling, you can choose the format that best fits your needs. This guide will help you decide when to use auctions or fixed prices, how to set the right price, and which delivery options to choose – so you can maximise your chances of selling.
Learn more: How to describe the article I want to sell?
1. What matters to you?
Before choosing a selling format, take a moment to think about your item, the market, and your own expectations:
What's the expected selling price?
- Can you estimate the value easily (e.g. a new motorway vignette)?
- Or is the price more variable (e.g. a painting, classic car or designer piece)?
After you enter your item in the web listing form, you’ll see similar sold items as guidance.
In the app, RicardoAI gives you a rough price estimate based on a photo – but it’s less precise than the suggestions in the web version.
What’s your personal price expectation?
Do you have a minimum price you don’t want to go below?
At what price would you be satisfied with the sale?
Are you open to starting with a low price to attract more interest?
How important is selling speed?
Do you need to sell by a certain date (e.g. moving out, concert ticket)?
Is your priority the best price or a quick sale?
How many potential buyers do you expect?
Is it a niche product (e.g. a specific spare part) or something with broader appeal (e.g. an e-bike)?
Where is the item located? (Items in urban areas like Zurich may get more attention than rural listings.)
What’s the season? (Skis sell better in winter than summer.)
2. Choose the right selling format
Ricardo is known for its auctions – they often get more visibility and slightly better conversion rates. But fixed-price listings can also be a great option depending on your item.
Not sure what your item is worth? Choose auction
For used or rare items, pricing can be tricky. That’s where auctions shine. Set your minimum acceptable price as the starting price – unless you’re feeling bold 😉Generally, the lower the starting price, the better your chances of selling.
According to our data, auctions that start at CHF 1.00 often achieve higher final prices than those with higher starting prices – but this is not guaranteed.
Most buyers are active in the evening. We recommend starting your auction between 17:00–21:00 with a 7-day duration.
Know the market price? Go for fixed price
Again, the more attractive your price, the faster you'll sell. If you're open to a slightly lower price, allow price offers. If you're in a hurry, consider promoting the listing with a boost to increase visibility (see Optional: Boost Your Listing).
3. Choose the right delivery option
Is your item large and heavy? Then pickup only might be your best choice. For everything else, we recommend offering both pickup and shipping.
Choose a shipping method that’s reliable but cost-effective. For example: A T-shirt can be sent in a padded envelope instead of a parcel. Did you know? Letters in B5 format (up to 5 cm thick) can be sent with just a CHF 2.00 surcharge – often cheaper than shipping as a package.
4. Optional: Boost your listing
Want to give your listing extra visibility? Boost it – your listing will appear in strategic places across Ricardo and reach more potential buyers.
Learn more: Visibility Boosts on Ricardo
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