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critical 20164

Error 20164 — Reserve Price must be larger than Start Price and less than or equal to 150% of Start Price

What this means

Reserve Price must be larger than Start Price and less than or equal to 150% of Start Price.

Why this happens

eBay enforces specific policies for restricted/prohibited items, payment methods, returns, and pricing. Listings that violate policy thresholds (e.g., starting price below reserve, restricted-item categories without authorization, payment methods not accepted on the site) are blocked.

How to fix it

  1. Read eBay's policy article linked from the error code for the specific rule you're violating.
  2. If the issue is pricing-related (starting < reserve, BIN < starting), adjust prices to satisfy the constraint.
  3. If the issue is a restricted item (firearms, alcohol, tobacco), apply for the appropriate seller program — most require pre-approval.
  4. If the issue is a payment policy, update your business policies in Seller Hub to accept the required methods (Managed Payments mandatory in most regions).

Common pitfalls