Example scenario · illustrative, not a real seller
An example search shows 14 sold jackets averaging $62. Remove new-with-tags, lots, other sizes and one $140 outlier, and seven true matches remain at $38 to $55.
What you’ll get
- What eBay’s research tool provides.
- A narrow-first search routine.
- A cleaning list for sold results.
- A worked range from 14 results to 7.
- How the range sets buying and pricing decisions.
Asking prices tell you hope; sold prices tell you history
Any search on eBay shows what sellers would like to get. What you need before you buy inventory or set a price is what buyers actually paid, for the same item, in the same condition, recently. eBay's Product research tool, formerly known as Terapeak, is built for that question, and it is free to sellers who use Seller Hub.
Used well, it turns "I think this sells for about $50" into a range you can defend. Used carelessly, it produces a confident number for the wrong item.
What the tool gives you
eBay's Product research help page, checked November 8, 2026, says the tool provides up to the last 3 years of eBay sales data, including:
- Sales trends and average sales price.
- Sold price range.
- Average shipping costs and how many listings offered free shipping.
- Sell-through rate, for searches covering items sold 90 days ago or less.
- The number of sellers who sold the item and the formats that sold.
It also explains how the results differ from an ordinary completed-listings search: the tool can cover any time period across the last 3 years, while eBay's completed listings only cover the previous 90 days, and Product research shows the actual price an item sold for, even when a Best Offer was accepted. eBay's seller news says you need to be opted in to Seller Hub to use it on desktop, which requires at least one sale.
Step 1: Search narrowly first
eBay says Product research results are intended to be specific to your search, and that in general a sale must match your keywords and parameters to be included. Use that precision:
- Start with the brand, model and a defining detail, such as size or edition.
- Filter by condition to match your item.
- Choose a time window that reflects current demand, often the last 90 days.
- Look at individual sold listings, not just the average.
If you get no results, broaden one term at a time rather than all at once.
Step 2: Open the sold listings and clean the comparison
Averages hide important differences. Open the actual sold listings and remove the ones that are not truly comparable:
| Remove or separate | Why |
|---|---|
| Different model, size or edition | Not the same product |
| New when yours is used, or vice versa | Condition changes the price |
| Lots or bundles | Price covers more than one item |
| Parts or not working | Different buyer and price |
| Listings with accessories yours lacks | Completeness matters |
| Obvious outliers | One unusual sale is not a market |
The sold comps manual explains cleaning outliers in more depth.
Step 3: Include shipping in the comparison
Two sales at $40 are not the same if one buyer paid $12 for shipping and the other paid nothing. The tool shows average shipping costs and free-shipping counts; look at each comparable listing's shipping as well. Compare the total the buyer paid with what your own total would be.
Worked example: from raw results to a working range
In this chosen example, you search for a specific used jacket in the last 90 days and find 14 sold results.
| Step | Results remaining | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Raw sold results | 14 | Average shown: $62 |
| Remove 3 new-with-tags | 11 | Different condition |
| Remove 2 lots of two jackets | 9 | Not single items |
| Remove 1 different size range | 8 | Different product |
| Remove 1 outlier at $140 | 7 | Unusual sale |
| Clean comparison range | 7 | $38–$55, plus shipping |
The raw average of $62 would have overpriced your jacket. Seven cleaned sales between $38 and $55 give you a realistic range, and the sell-through rate for the period tells you whether it tends to sell quickly. These figures are illustrative, not data for any real item.
Limits check: Sold data shows what happened on eBay, not what will happen next. Small numbers of sales, seasonal items and fast-moving trends can all make history a weak guide. Note how many sales your range is based on.
Step 4: Turn the range into decisions
Use the cleaned range for two different decisions:
- Sourcing: work backward from the lower end of the range to set the most you can pay, using the sourcing ceiling tool.
- Pricing: list toward the middle or upper end if your item's condition and photos are strong, and set a Best Offer floor near your minimum.
Record the range, the date and the number of sales you relied on with the item. If it does not sell, you can check whether the market has moved.
Common mistakes
- Using asking prices instead of sold prices.
- Trusting the average without opening the listings.
- Mixing conditions, lots and parts items into one comparison.
- Ignoring shipping when comparing totals.
- Relying on three or four sales as if they were a trend.
The research prices manual covers research on other platforms too.
Research the item you actually have
A sold price is only evidence for an item that matches yours in model, condition and completeness. Clean the comparison before you trust the number, and write down how many sales it rests on.
Worked example · hypothetical, not a real seller
Keep the example in view
| Cleaning step | Results left |
|---|---|
| Raw sold results (average $62) | 14 |
| Remove 3 new-with-tags | 11 |
| Remove 2 lots | 9 |
| Remove 1 different size range | 8 |
| Remove 1 outlier at $140 | 7 |
| Clean range | $38–$55 plus shipping |
Chosen example · edit the numbers
Put your cost floor beside your cleaned range.
Illustrative inputs, not market benchmarks or an achieved outcome. Scratchpad values stay in tab memory, not saved by this application. Reload to reset.
Before the next transaction
With JavaScript and browser storage, only checked-step IDs can stay on this device. No buyer details or amounts are saved.
Practical questions
How far back does eBay product research go?
eBay says Terapeak product research shows up to three years of data.
Does it show accepted Best Offer prices?
eBay says the research tool can show actual prices of accepted Best Offers.
Why not use the average price?
An average mixes different conditions, lots and outliers. A cleaned range of true matches is more useful.
Do I need an eBay sale before using it?
eBay says Seller Hub access requires at least one sale; check your account.
Do this next · one concrete move