Selling multiple quantity items on eBay. Single auction or multiple?

[Kelemvor]

Let's say you have 4 of the same thing that you want to sell on eBay. Do you make one auction with a quantity of 4, or do you make 4 individual auctions? I'm not sure if one way leads to bringing in more money than the other.

These are plates so it's very possible someone could want to buy the whole set as well if that would make a difference.

Thoughts?

 

[kami333]

It completely depends on the item.

Plates? Are they antique, comemorative, limited run, etc? Did they originally come in a set and if so do you have to complete set? Are they all the same or different? Still in production? Would people need/want more than 1 (is it like a salad bowl, 1 is fine, or a coaster, you would want more than 1)?

For most items non-set items that are all similar it works best to list one each week, you are never competing with your auctions and you have the extra benefit of increased exposure from your finished items. If it's a set you collected or something it's up in the air, usually I've sold the least popular one with the most popular one (minimize risk of having leftovers) and sell the other ones by themselves. Sometimes a complete set is worth more than parting it out.