As a syndicated newspaper columnist about eBay, as well as a trainer on using Direct Marketing techniques to boost eBay sales, I run into lots of eBayers who want to know the best time to list an item for sale. Obviously, they want the highest bids possible.

Starting Times Equal Ending Times

   Your eBay auctions end at exactly the same time you list them. If you list a 5-day auction tonight at 8:34 PM, your auction ends 5 days from now at 8:34 PM. The majority of bidders bid within 3 to 4 hours of an auction's end. Hot items can get half of their bids in the closing minutes of an auction. Buyers often feel that the closer to the end they bid, the more likely they'll win because other bidders have less time to outbid them.

   If you list an auction when very few are looking to buy, you won't see the typical end-of-auction action that you'd see if your auction ended at a better time. Therefore, never list an auction when few people are bidding because in a few days when the auction ends, few people will be there to compete also.

Avoid Listing Your Auction at the Worst Time

   More Americans use eBay than any other single country although the rest of the world comprises about half of eBay's user base. Still, given the American impact, listing auctions that end in the range of 2 AM to 5 AM across American time zones is unwise. Most American eBayers agree these early morning hours are the absolute worst times to put items up for auction because when those auctions end, most bidders are sound asleep.

The Problem Is, The Best Time Might Differ for Your Item

   Never list an item to end in the early morning hours. List your item when it's the best time to sell it. The problem is, when the best time occurs varies depending on what you're selling and to whom.

   On Friday evenings many people dine out, go to movies, and attend high school sporting events. You might think you're the only one on the Internet if your auction ends on Friday night and you see very few bids toward the end of your auction. Stay away from Friday nights. (Conversely, Friday nights are great times to bid if something you want to bid on is about to end!)

   If selling office equipment, you'll probably do better if your auction ends during business hours. The wide time zone range makes this more difficult, but an auction that ends no later than 2 PM on the West Coast helps ensure that you auction will end during the afternoons of most businesses.

   If selling household items and kitchen goods, Saturday mornings are great times to end your auctions.  For just about anything else that's non-business, Sunday evenings produce good results. Again, keep in mind the various time zones across the country. If your item has international appeal, consider ending in the early afternoon on a weekend to grab not only Americans but many European bidders who will still be up then.