Three ways to trade, and how to choose
ScrapTrade supports three different ways to trade, and they are not interchangeable. Picking the right one for a given lot makes a real difference to how fast it sells and what it sells for. The three are a fixed price listing, a live auction and the Wanted Board, and each is designed to solve a different problem.
The three ways to trade
| Method | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed price | You set a price per unit weight, a buyer accepts it and the deal is done. No waiting and no back-and-forth | Common grades where you already know the going rate, and sales where speed matters more than testing the ceiling |
| Live auction | You list the material, verified buyers bid, and the price is discovered in real time as bids arrive. You can set a start time and, optionally, a reserve price | Unusual lots, mixed or uncertain grades, or any time you suspect real competitive interest could push the price above a single quote |
| Wanted Board | A buyer posts exactly what they need, and every verified seller with matching stock can respond | Buyers who know their exact specification and do not want to wait for a listing to appear, and sellers who want first crack at active demand |
All three sit inside the same framework of KYC-verified traders, GPS-verified listings and escrow-held deposits, so the choice is about how the price is found, not about how safe the deal is. For the full process from registration to payment, see how ScrapTrade works.
Matching your situation to a method
| Your situation | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You have a common grade and know today's reference price | Fixed price | There is little to discover, because the market rate is already known. Convenience beats competition here |
| You have an unusual or mixed lot with real uncertainty in its value | Live auction | When value is uncertain, letting several buyers bid tends to surface a more accurate price than one seller guessing at a number |
| You need cash from this material this week | Fixed price | An auction takes time to run its course. If speed matters more than testing the ceiling, price it and move it |
| You are buying and need an exact specification on your timeline | Wanted Board | Post the request and let sellers come to you instead of waiting for a matching listing |
| You are a seller with stock that might match active demand | Wanted Board | Checking it regularly lets you respond to real buyer requests before someone else fills them |
Whichever you choose, start with today's reference price.
Check live pricesWhat the research says about auctions and fixed prices
People often assume that an auction must get a better price than a fixed listing. The evidence is more nuanced. Research on eBay found that auction listings made up about 95 percent of the platform's sales in 2003 but had fallen to under 15 percent by 2013, as sellers and buyers increasingly favoured the certainty of a fixed price once the value of an item had become well established. The same research found that auctions still make more sense when the value of a good is uncertain, subjective, or dependent on timing and demand.
That finding is useful because it describes commodity scrap far better than it describes a used book or a phone case. The value of scrap genuinely moves, sometimes daily, with commodity markets, grade mix and buyer demand. A mass-produced retail item has a stable, well-known price, so a fixed listing is efficient. A lot of mixed aluminium with an uncertain grade does not, which is exactly where competitive bidding earns its place. The lesson is to use each tool where its logic applies: fixed prices for well-known value, auctions for uncertain value.
Each method in practice
Fixed price: set it and move it
Check the reference price for your material and grade, decide what premium or discount your quality justifies, and list at that number. Because the first buyer to accept gets the deal, you want a price you are genuinely happy with. If it does not move, that is information: it may be too high, or the description may not be convincing buyers. Our guides on How to Grade Your Scrap and How Much Is My Scrap Worth? help you test both.
Live auction: let competition work
Set a start time and consider a reserve price that protects you from a poor result. Make the listing as clear as possible, because bidders are pricing what they can see. Good photos, an honest grade and, ideally, a GPS-verified video draw more bidders, and more bidders is what pushes prices up. Auctions work best when there is more than one buyer who plausibly wants your material, so common grades in an active market are good candidates.
Wanted Board: demand finds you
A buyer posts the material, grade, quantity and location they need, and verified sellers with matching stock respond with offers. For a buyer, it turns a search into a request. For a seller, it is a feed of real, current demand. Browse it regularly, and respond quickly to requests that match what you hold. The principle behind it, buyers asking sellers to compete, is explained in Reverse Auctions vs a Single Quote.
Can I switch if my first choice is not working?
Yes. If a fixed listing is not moving at the price you set, relisting as a live auction, or checking the Wanted Board for a matching buyer request, are both reasonable next steps. The reverse also works: an auction that did not reach your reserve can be relisted at a fixed price based on what bidding told you about demand. Treat the first attempt as a test of the market, not a final decision. What you should avoid is waiting indefinitely with a listing that is clearly mispriced or poorly described.
Ready to choose your method and list?
Create a free accountFrequently asked questions
Is one of the three methods better than the others?
No. They solve different problems. Fixed price optimises for speed and certainty, a live auction optimises for price discovery when value is uncertain, and the Wanted Board optimises for buyers who know exactly what they want. The right choice depends on the material and situation.
Is there evidence that auctions get a better price than fixed listings?
It depends on what is sold. Research on eBay found auctions made up about 95 percent of sales in 2003 but under 15 percent by 2013, as fixed prices became favoured once item values were well established. Auctions still make more sense when value is uncertain or depends on timing and demand.
Why would scrap metal suit auctions better than most online goods?
Because its value moves, sometimes daily, with commodity markets, grade mix and buyer demand, in a way a mass-produced retail item does not. That is closer to the conditions that favour an auction format.
Can I switch methods if my first choice is not working?
Yes. If a fixed listing is not moving, relisting as a live auction or checking the Wanted Board for a matching request are reasonable next steps. An auction that missed its reserve can be relisted at a fixed price informed by the bids.
When should a buyer use the Wanted Board instead of browsing?
When you have a specific, well-defined need and do not want to wait for a matching listing. Posting the request puts it in front of every verified seller with matching stock at once.
Pick your method and put your material in front of buyers.
Create a free account, then list at a fixed price, run an auction or post a Wanted Board request.
Related reading: Reverse Auctions vs a Single Quote · How to Buy Scrap Metal Online · How Much Is My Scrap Worth? · Buying Scrap Online vs Visiting Yards