A boost puts your show or your items first in Home, Explore and search for a set time.
It is labelled
Boosted placement shows as Promoted. That matters to everybody: a buyer knows why they are seeing it, and a seller knows what they are buying — attention, not a recommendation.
A marketplace that sells placement without labelling it is selling its buyers' trust rather than its sellers' reach.
You can see whether it worked
Each boost reports its views, taps and sales. Not an impression count in isolation — what it actually produced.
That is the number to judge it on. A boost with a lot of views and no sales is telling you the problem is the listing, not the reach.
Unspent budget comes back
To your balance. You are buying a period of placement, not handing over a lump sum.
When it is a waste of money
Before the listing is good. Boosting a vague title with two dark photographs buys you more people deciding not to bid. Fix the listing first — titles, photographs, condition.
Instead of regularity. A boost brings people once. Being on at the same time every week brings them back, and only one of those compounds. Scheduling.
When you have nothing worth leading with. Attention on a thin show is worse than no attention.
Who cannot boost
A store with too many active strikes, a suspended store, or one with payouts on hold.
Questions people ask
Does a boost affect my reviews or my ranking generally?
No. It buys placement for a set time, nothing else.
Will buyers know it is paid?
Yes — it says Promoted.
How do I know if it worked?
Views, taps and sales per boost, in your promote tools.
Do I lose the budget if the show underperforms?
Unspent budget returns to your balance.
Should I boost my first show?
Usually not. Spend the first few on finding out what sells.
More: growing a store.