eBay Sold Comps: Quick Guide for Smarter Pricing

If you sell on eBay or source products for manufacturing, you’ve probably heard the term “sold comps.” It simply means the data from items that have already been sold on eBay. Looking at sold comps helps you see real‑world prices, demand trends, and how fast similar products move. In short, it’s a shortcut to market research without guesswork.

What Exactly Are eBay Sold Comps?

When a listing ends, eBay records the final sale price, shipping cost, and the time it took to sell. Those records become “sold comps.” Unlike active listings, sold comps show what buyers actually paid, not what sellers hoped to get. This makes them reliable for figuring out a realistic price range, spotting seasonal spikes, and comparing brand variations.

How to Pull Sold Comps Quickly

1. Go to eBay’s Advanced Search and check the “Sold listings” box. 2. Enter the product name, model number, or SKU you’re interested in. 3. Filter by condition (new, used, refurbished) to match your own inventory. 4. Sort by “Price + Shipping: lowest to highest” to see the cheapest deals, or by “End date: newest first” to catch the latest trends. 5. Export the results to a spreadsheet if you need to crunch numbers.

When you export, focus on three columns: final price, shipping cost, and days on market. Add them together for total cost, then calculate an average and a median. The median often gives a clearer picture because it ignores outliers that can skew the average.

Another tip is to look at the top 10 sold items rather than the whole list. Those represent the most common sales and are less likely to be one‑off anomalies.

For manufacturers, you can also filter by “Seller location” to see if a local or overseas source drives the price. If most sold comps come from overseas, you might have room to cut shipping costs by negotiating with a local supplier.

Don’t forget to check the item’s condition notes. A sold price with “minor scratches” will be lower than a flawless one, even if the model is identical. Adjust your pricing assumptions accordingly.

Once you have the data, apply a simple markup rule. For example, add 20 % to cover your overhead, then round to the nearest convenient price point (like $19.99 instead of $19.47). This keeps your price competitive while protecting your margin.

Finally, revisit sold comps regularly—prices on eBay can shift quickly with trends, new releases, or seasonal demand. A monthly check keeps your listings fresh and reduces the risk of overpricing.

Using eBay sold comps doesn’t require fancy software; just a few clicks and a spreadsheet. Armed with real sales data, you can set prices that attract buyers, avoid costly guessing, and stay ahead of market swings.

Ready to try it out? Open eBay, run a sold‑listings search for your next product, and watch the numbers guide your next move.