This post analyzes the Art category and finds that the Best Match algorithm strongly favors auction style listings for the Art category in general and the sub-categories.  Specifically, my analysis indicates that auction-style listings have a statistically significant favorable effect on the following sub-categories:

  • Art > Direct from Artist
  • Art > Art From Dealers & Resellers

 

Methodology

Here’s the methodology I used to determine which category favors traditional style auction listing types and which favor fixed-price auctions.

I calculated the ratio of auction style listings to fixed-priced listings on the first page of results for each category.  Then I compared that to the ratio of auction style listings to fixed-price listings category wide.  If the difference was in excess of 25%, I considered the category to provide a significant advantage to auction style listings.  If the difference was in excess of -20%, I considered the category to provide a significant advantage to fixed-priced style listings.

Some other details:

  • The category or sub-category needed to have more that 1,000 listings to be evaluated.
  • Auction style listings that also feature a Buy It Now price were considered to be auction style listings in this evaluation.
  • The first page of the listing results was limited to 25 listings.

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