This will give you an idea of what to realistically expect for your item, and help you establish minimum bids or reserve prices. Never set high opening bids - it scares off bidders. Write your ad Be accurate in your descriptions Probably the toughest thing is to look at your item objectively, and to give a fair assessment of it. Remember - most collectors are concerned about ANY scratches, paint chips, cracks, etc. If there's an interesting story behind the item - tell it briefly.
People like to know about the item they purchased.
Consider having your item graded by someone knowledgeable. A local dealer can give you a good idea what an item would sell for, or what he would pay for it. What you obtain from the auction will probably be between these two values. Appraisals and certificates of authenticity will greatly remove doubt from the minds of buyers, and should be obtained for higher priced items. Providing a photograph almost always makes auctions close at higher prices.