etzee

Pricing beauty products for a live auction

Sealed, opened and nearly empty are three different products. Date them all.

The Metzee team13 Oct 20261 min read

Freshness is the price here, far more than brand or size.

The three states

Sealed — unopened, seal intact. Opened — say when, and what percentage is left. Nearly empty — honest, and still sellable to the right buyer at the right price.

Put the state and the remaining amount in the title. It is what bidders filter on.

Dates do the rest

An in-date sealed product and the same product three months from expiry are not the same item. Say the date and let the room price the difference.

Where to start

Everyday products and bundles: low start, lots by type or brand, quick pace.

Sealed, current and sought-after: start sensibly, and use a reserve only where a quiet night would really hurt.

Lots

Group by type or by routine, not by what is left over. A themed bundle sells; a bag of odds does not.

Do not price on a claim

Pricing a product on what it is said to do for a person, rather than what it is, builds a number on a sentence nobody can support — and crosses the line into the licence question. Prohibited items.

Questions people ask

Does shade or size matter?

Yes, and both belong in the title. Shade especially — it is the single most searched detail here.

Should I discount for a short date?

Yes, and say the date. Buyers accept short dates at short-date prices.

Is it worth selling nearly-empty products?

In lots, sometimes. Alone, rarely, and never without saying how little is left.

More: how to price for auction, selling beauty products.

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