On Rūbas, every listing is an auction — but you decide how to run it. Set a low starting price and let buyers bid, or add a Buy Now price so someone can purchase instantly. Each approach has clear strengths, and picking the right one for each item can be the difference between a quick everyday sale and an unexpectedly high final price. Here's how to decide.
How each approach works
Buy Now is exactly what it sounds like. You set a price, and the first buyer willing to pay it takes the item instantly. Simple, predictable, and fast for everyday pieces.
Letting the auction run flips the dynamic. You set a low starting price and a time limit, and interested buyers bid against each other. The item goes to the highest bidder when the clock runs out. Instead of you guessing the value, the market discovers it.
The case for Buy Now
A Buy Now price shines when value is predictable and you want a smooth, no-fuss sale. It's ideal for:
- Everyday and high-street items with well-known market prices.
- Sellers who want certainty about what they'll receive.
- Buyers in a hurry, who can purchase instantly without waiting for an auction to end.
- Large wardrobes, where you're listing many items and want quick turnover.
The trade-off: if you happen to own something in high demand, too low a Buy Now price caps your earnings at whatever number you guessed.
The case for the auction
Letting the auction run excels when demand is hard to predict or likely to exceed your expectations. It works best for:
- Rare, vintage or collectible pieces buyers actively hunt for.
- Designer and limited-edition items where scarcity drives competition.
- Anything unique where you genuinely don't know the value.
- Building excitement, since a ticking clock and visible bids create urgency.
When several buyers want the same thing, an auction lets them push the price to its true level — often well beyond what you'd have set yourself. The trade-off is that auctions take time to run and the final price isn't guaranteed, so a low-demand item might close near its starting bid.
How to choose, item by item
A simple rule of thumb:
- Predictable value, want it gone quickly? Add an attractive Buy Now price.
- Unique, in-demand or hard to value? Let the auction run.
Many experienced sellers use both — an attractive Buy Now price for the steady stream of everyday items, and pure auctions reserved for the special pieces that deserve a bidding war. Since every Rūbas listing is an auction, you simply add a Buy Now price whenever you want the instant-sale option too.
Tips for a successful auction
If you let the bidding run, a few habits help:
- Start low. A tempting starting price attracts more bidders, and competition tends to lift the final figure.
- Set the right duration. Long enough to gather interest, short enough to keep urgency.
- End at a good time. Closing in the evening, when more people are online, captures last-minute bids.
- Photograph and describe brilliantly. Auctions reward standout listings even more than a Buy Now price does.
Tips for Buy Now success
For Buy Now pricing, price competitively against similar items, leave a little room, and refresh or relist anything that lingers. Predictability is the goal, so make the price easy to say yes to.
The bottom line
There's no single "best" approach — there's the best approach for each item. Use a Buy Now price for speed and certainty, and the auction to unlock the full value of your rarest pieces. Master both, and you'll sell more of your wardrobe for more money.
Ready to try it? List an item on Rūbas and choose the approach that fits.