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How to Add a Buy It Now Price to an Item

TL;DR

You can add a Buy It Now price by editing the item settings and entering a fixed price. Once a bidder selects “Buy It Now,” the item is instantly sold and bidding closes.

Author: Tom Kelly 2 min reads

Why Use Buy It Now Pricing

Adding a Buy It Now option is an effective way to:

  • Allow eager bidders to secure an item immediately
  • Maximize fundraising on high-demand items
  • Simplify checkout for time-sensitive buyers
  • Prevent drawn-out bidding wars for fixed-value donations

This feature works especially well for gift cards, merchandise, sponsorship packages, and lower-value items.

Step 1: Log In to Your Dashboard

  1. Log in to your auction dashboard.
  2. Select the event where the item is listed.
  3. Go to the Items tab.

Step 2: Edit or Create an Item

  • Find the item you want to add a Buy It Now price to.
  • Click Edit or create a New Item.
  • Fill in required fields like title, description, and FMV.

Step 3: Enable the Buy It Now Option

  • Scroll to the Bidding Options section.
  • Look for “Buy It Now” or “Instant Purchase.”
  • Toggle the setting to On.

Step 4: Set the Buy It Now Price

  • Enter the Buy It Now price in the field provided.
  • This is the amount the bidder will pay to instantly win the item.
  • Make sure the price reflects fair market value or your fundraising goal.

Tip: Many organizations set Buy It Now prices at or slightly above FMV to encourage bidding first but still allow quick sales.

Step 5: Save Your Changes

  • Click Save or Update Item.
  • The Buy It Now button will now appear on the item page once your auction is live.

Step 6: Preview the Item

  • Use Preview Mode to check how the Buy It Now button displays.
  • Ensure the price and description are correct.
  • Adjust if needed before the auction opens.

Step 7: How It Works for Bidders

  • When a bidder clicks Buy It Now, they purchase the item immediately.
  • The item is marked as sold, and bidding is closed.
  • The buyer receives an automatic confirmation and invoice.
  • No other bids are accepted after this point.

Pro Tips for Buy It Now

  • Avoid setting Buy It Now too low on competitive items—you may lose higher bids.
  • Use this feature strategically on less competitive or fixed-value items.
  • Clearly label Buy It Now pricing in your item description.
  • Preview before going live to ensure everything is set correctly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Buy It Now price?

A Buy It Now price allows bidders to purchase the item immediately at a set price, ending the bidding process for that item.

Can I use Buy It Now on any item?

Yes. You can enable Buy It Now pricing for any item in your auction settings.

What happens to bidding once someone clicks Buy It Now?

The item is immediately marked as sold, and no further bids can be placed.

Can I change the Buy It Now price after the auction starts?

Yes. You can update the Buy It Now price at any time before the item is purchased.

Can bidders use Buy It Now if there are already bids?

Yes. If the Buy It Now option is available, bidders can still use it until someone clicks the button and purchases the item.

Will I be notified when someone buys using Buy It Now?

Yes. Admins receive a notification and the item is marked as sold automatically.

Can I remove the Buy It Now option?

Yes. You can disable Buy It Now at any time by turning off the toggle in the item settings.

Does Buy It Now work with popcorn bidding?

Yes. If no one has used Buy It Now, bidding can still trigger popcorn extensions. Once purchased, the item closes immediately.

Can I track Buy It Now purchases separately?

Yes. Buy It Now sales are tracked in your event reports and marked as “Instant Purchase.”

Can I combine Buy It Now with hidden or scheduled items?

Yes. You can add a Buy It Now price to items that are hidden or scheduled for later visibility. Once live, the option will appear automatically.

💡 Try this in ChatGPT

  • Summarize the article "How to Add a Buy It Now Price to an Item" from https://www.charityauctionstoday.com/p/help/add-a-buy-it-now-price-to-an-item/ in 3 bullet points for a board update.
  • Turn the article "How to Add a Buy It Now Price to an Item" (https://www.charityauctionstoday.com/p/help/add-a-buy-it-now-price-to-an-item/) into a 60-second talking script with one example and one CTA.
  • Extract 5 SEO keywords and 3 internal link ideas from "How to Add a Buy It Now Price to an Item": https://www.charityauctionstoday.com/p/help/add-a-buy-it-now-price-to-an-item/.
  • Create 3 tweet ideas and a LinkedIn post that expand on this help topic using the article at https://www.charityauctionstoday.com/p/help/add-a-buy-it-now-price-to-an-item/.

Tip: Paste the whole prompt (with the URL) so the AI can fetch context.

Tom Kelly

Tom Kelly

Tom Kelly, TEDx speaker and CEO of CharityAuctions.com, helps nonprofits raise millions through auctions and AI. He hosts The Million Dollar Nonprofit podcast and inspires leaders to live their legacy, not just leave it.

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