eBay Promoted Listings for card sellers
Promoting a card pushes it higher in search in exchange for a cut of the sale. It pays on some cards and wastes money on others.
How it works
eBay's pay-per-sale ads (Promoted Listings General) show your listing in more places and higher in search results. You pick an ad rate, a percentage of the sale, and pay it only when a buyer clicks the promoted listing and buys the item within 30 days. There's also a pay-per-click option for sellers who want more control and are willing to manage a budget.
When promoting a card pays
- The card is priced right but isn't getting views or watchers. Visibility is the problem, not the price.
- There are many identical listings and yours needs to stand out.
- The margin can carry it. On a $50 card, a 3% ad fee is $1.50.
When it doesn't
- Cheap cards. On a $2 card, fees and postage already take most of the sale.
- Cards that are overpriced. An ad won't sell a card priced above recent sales; fix the price first.
- Listings with weak titles or missing item specifics. Fix those first; they're free.
Do the math first
Put your ad rate into the eBay fee calculator to see exactly what you keep with the promotion. If the card is still worth selling at that number, promote it.
Questions sellers ask
- How much does eBay Promoted Listings cost?
- With the pay-per-sale option, you choose an ad rate (a percentage) and pay it only when a buyer clicks the ad and buys within 30 days. It's charged on top of the normal selling fees.
- What ad rate should I use for trading cards?
- Start near eBay's suggested rate for the listing, and use it on cards that aren't getting views. Check the numbers with the fee calculator: a 5% ad fee on a $10 card is 50 cents.
- Should I promote every listing?
- No. Cards that already sell, and cheap cards where the ad fee eats the margin, usually aren't worth promoting.