Best times to post new listings
May 25, 2025
Unlocking Success: When and How to Post Your Listings
Getting your first few sales as a reseller can feel overwhelming. The secret isn’t only about what you sell—it’s also when and how you list your items. Posting at the right time can multiply your views and sales. This guide breaks down the best times to post new listings and offers simple, actionable steps for keeping your inventory, team, and sales process organized from the start.
Why Timing Matters for New Listings
Online platforms like eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Poshmark, and Mercari promote fresh listings at the top of search results. If you post when buyers are most active, your item appears right in front of them. Miss those key windows and your listing might get buried under hundreds of others.
The Best Times to Post New Listings
Peak buyer activity varies by platform, but some universal patterns help maximize exposure:
Evenings (7–10pm local time): Most buyers browse after work or dinner. Aim to post between 7:00 and 10:00pm in your time zone for maximum visibility.
Weekends: Saturdays and Sundays see a surge in browsing and buying. List items Friday evening through Sunday afternoon.
Lunch hours (11am–2pm): Some platforms, like Facebook Marketplace, see a boost around lunch breaks.
For more detail, check out this data-backed breakdown of peak online activity.
Platform-Specific Tips
eBay: Ending listings during the evening peaks can boost auctions. For fixed-price, list mid-evening or on weekends.
Facebook Marketplace: Friday nights and weekends are busiest; renew or repost if possible for extra visibility.
Poshmark: Listing during their "parties" and in the evenings increases shares and views.
Mercari: Sunday afternoons and weekday evenings work well.
Keeping Inventory & Listings in Sync — The Easy Way
When you post on more than one site (a smart move to reach more buyers), keeping your inventory and listings in sync is crucial. Accidentally selling the same item twice leads to headaches and unhappy buyers.
Use a central inventory system: Even a simple spreadsheet helps—list each item, where it’s posted, sale date, and price.
Automate if possible: Tools like Gavelbase can keep inventory and listings synced automatically across platforms, saving time and reducing errors.
Regular checks: If you’re starting small, block out 10 minutes at the end of each day to check your listings and mark any sold items quickly.
Assigning Basic Team Roles
If you have a helper—friend, family, or hired hand—assigning simple roles keeps things smooth and avoids confusion. For a small team, here’s an easy breakdown:
Listing: One person photographs and writes descriptions, another posts them online.
Inventory Management: Someone updates the central system when items sell or are shipped.
Shipping/Pickup: Assign one person to pack and ship, and another to coordinate local pickups (or rotate these tasks).
Customer Messages: Designate someone to check and reply to questions so buyers get fast responses.
Even if you’re solo, using a checklist for each role helps you stay organized.
Tracking Sales & Fees Without the Headaches
Knowing how much you actually earn after fees and shipping is key. Here’s how beginners can keep this simple:
Track each sale: In your spreadsheet or central system, note the sale price, platform fee, shipping cost, and net profit.
Use templates: Create a reusable row or form for each sale to speed up the process.
Automate where possible: Central tools like Gavelbase can pull in sales and fees from multiple platforms automatically.
Review weekly: Spend 10 minutes a week reviewing your totals so you’re never surprised by fees or missed profits.
Clean Handling of Shipping & Pickup
Efficient shipping and pickup processes keep buyers happy and save you time. Here’s how to do it without stress:
Standardize packaging: Keep a supply of boxes, poly mailers, and tape ready. Pack items as soon as they sell.
Print labels at home: Most platforms offer discounted shipping labels. Print at home to avoid post office lines.
Set pickup windows: For local sales, offer clear, limited pickup times to reduce endless messages.
Track shipments: Always upload tracking numbers, and notify buyers once shipped.
Document everything: Take a quick photo of the packed item (with label) before shipping—especially for high-value sales.
Beginner-Friendly Workflow: Putting It All Together
Photo & List: Take clear photos. Write a concise, honest description. Post during peak hours.
Log the Item: Enter it in your inventory system or spreadsheet, noting where it’s listed.
Monitor & Respond: Check your platforms once or twice daily for questions or offers.
Update Inventory: When an item sells, immediately remove it from other sites and mark it "sold" in your system.
Ship or Arrange Pickup: Pack and ship the same day, or confirm the pickup time as soon as possible.
Track & Review: Enter sale details, fees, and shipping cost. Review weekly to spot trends and adjust your timing or pricing.
Quick Recap: Action Steps
Post new listings during evenings, weekends, and lunch hours for best results.
Keep all your inventory and sales tracked in one place, using a spreadsheet or a tool like Gavelbase.
Assign simple team roles or use checklists to stay organized.
Track every sale, including fees and shipping, to know your true profit.
Standardize your shipping/pickup process for speed and reliability.
With these easy steps and the right timing, even beginners can build a smooth, profitable reselling operation without getting overwhelmed.