We have some exciting news for you: we just created a new template for you! This one is called Auction. Keep reading to find out what makes it so amazing!
Remember that you can change the template whenever you want without extra cost. So, if a different look is what you're looking for, then click here to see what the Auction Template can do for you and your business.
Auction has a fresh design that will make your classified website look like a professional e-Commerce. But a great design isn’t the best part of it. This new theme comes with useful tools you wouldn’t want to miss. Check them out!
- Run your auction website similar to eBay!
- It allows displaying any amount of ads on the home page. Each slide includes 6 ads.
- You can choose among three different colors for the template: orange, red, green, blue, and orange-blue.
- Layout options for the header, footer, sidebar, toolbar, and breadcrumb.
- Homepage slogan and site description.
- Infinite scroll, display listing slider on mobile devices, and display slider in linting.
Before You Launch an Auction Site: Fees, Bidding Rules and Seller Checks in 2026
A good design is only part of running an auction website. Bidders need clear rules, sellers need to know what you charge, and in many countries the operator now has legal duties. Here is what the established players do in 2026, and what that means for a new auction site.
What the big auction platforms charge
| Platform | Who pays | Fee (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| eBay (US) | Seller | 13.6% final value fee on most categories up to $7,500 per item (2.35% above that), plus $0.30 or $0.40 per order; 250 free listings a month, then $0.35 each |
| Catawiki (Europe) | Buyer and seller | Buyers pay a Buyer Protection fee, usually 9% of the purchase price plus a fixed amount (usually €/$/£3), added at checkout. Sellers pay a commission, usually 12.5% of the purchase price plus a fixed amount that depends on the price |
Sources: eBay selling fees (checked October 2026), Catawiki Buyer Terms, valid from 1 April 2026 and Catawiki Seller Terms, valid from 31 October 2025. eBay charges only the seller; Catawiki adds a fee on top of the winning bid and also takes a commission from the seller. Whichever model you pick, state it on every listing so the final price never comes as a surprise.
Bidding rules worth copying
- Bids are binding. Catawiki's terms say a bid can't be amended, retracted or revoked, and the winner must pay within 3 days of the end of the auction.
- Reserve prices. Both eBay and Catawiki let sellers set a hidden minimum. On eBay, bidders can see whether the reserve has been met, and the seller doesn't have to sell below it.
- No shill bidding. eBay's shill bidding policy bans bids that artificially raise a price, including bids from family, friends, roommates or employees, and notes that shill bidding is illegal in many places. Put the same rule in your terms and act on it.
Seller checks are now a legal duty in the US and EU
- United States: under the INFORM Consumers Act (in force since June 27, 2023), marketplaces must collect and verify bank, tax ID and contact details from "high-volume" sellers of new or unused consumer products. That means 200 or more sales and $5,000 or more in revenue in a 12-month period. Sellers with $20,000 or more a year must have their name and contact details shown to buyers. The FTC lists penalties of $53,088 per violation.
- European Union: the Digital Services Act has applied since 17 February 2024. It requires online marketplaces to trace the traders who sell on them ("know your business customer"). Under Article 29, marketplaces run by micro or small enterprises are exempt from these duties, unless they are very large online platforms.
For a new auction site, that means three things: publish your fee model, write binding-bid and anti-shill rules into your terms, and keep verified contact details for your professional sellers from day one.
If you build on Yclas, the Auction theme is still available. New sites start on the Nova theme, so switch to Auction from your admin panel.
Already loving it? If you want to know about all the features that the Auction includes, check the overview of the theme HERE.
