Understanding the Different Pricing Rules
While all pricing rules help determine your listing price, each one uses a different method to calculate that price.
💲 Price
How it works:
Sets a fixed selling price regardless of marketplace competition or profitability metrics.
Best for:
Rare or collectible items
Sellers who know exactly what price they want
Manual pricing strategies
Example:
Set Price = $15 → Item lists for $15
📈 Higher Than Buy Box
How it works:
Prices your item above the current Buy Box price by a dollar amount or percentage.
Best for:
Rare books and media
Slower-moving inventory
Sellers prioritizing higher profits
Example:
Buy Box = $20
Higher Than Buy Box = $5
Listing Price = $25
📉 Lower Than Buy Box
How it works:
Prices your item below the current Buy Box price by a dollar amount or percentage.
Best for:
Competitive markets
Faster inventory turnover
Sellers seeking more sales volume
Example:
Buy Box = $20
Lower Than Buy Box = $1
Listing Price = $19
📊 ROI (Return on Investment)
How it works:
Calculates a selling price that meets your target ROI based on the item's buy cost.
Best for:
Arbitrage sellers
Book sellers tracking sourcing costs
Profit-focused pricing strategies
Example:
Buy Cost = $2
Target ROI = 300%
AccelerList calculates the required selling price to achieve that ROI.
💰 Profit Margin
How it works:
Calculates a selling price that achieves a specific profit margin percentage.
Best for:
Sellers focused on maintaining consistent margins
Businesses monitoring profitability closely
Example:
Desired Margin = 40%
AccelerList calculates the selling price needed to achieve that margin.
Quick Comparison
Pricing Rule | Based On | Primary Goal |
Price | Fixed value | Complete pricing control |
Higher Than Buy Box | Current Buy Box | Maximize profit |
Lower Than Buy Box | Current Buy Box | Increase competitiveness |
ROI | Buy cost and ROI target | Achieve return on investment goals |
Profit Margin | Buy cost and margin target | Maintain consistent profitability |
Which Pricing Rule Should You Use?
Use Price when you want complete control over pricing.
Use Higher Than Buy Box when maximizing profit is more important than quick sales.
Use Lower Than Buy Box when you want to compete aggressively for sales.
Use ROI when you have specific return-on-investment goals.
Use Profit Margin when you want to maintain a consistent profit percentage across inventory.
Conclusion
Each pricing rule serves a different purpose. Choosing the right one depends on your business goals, sourcing costs, competition, and desired profit levels. Understanding these differences allows you to build a pricing strategy that aligns with your selling objectives.