Perennial watchers! Hit the button already!!!!

[retailtherapist_8]

I have decided to call May ..'WATCHERS MONTH"......Lets hope June is full of button pushers..lol

Anyone else with lots of watchers and very few sales? I need someone to make me feel better ...:_|

[polocross58]

I'm a Watcher.  I used to be a buyer.  I place things on Watch to remind myself it's there while I peruse for something with closer location or maybe something slightly different dimensions, colour, etc.  Nothing devious about me - I'm not a seller or 'competition'

There are things on my Watch list on ebay and on their other site

Very often, I forget these days to check ebay and the items clock over and I lose them

Reason I forget is because ebay has changed or I have, to the extent I don't spend a lot of time here

Sometimes I could kick myself when I remember to look at something I was keen on, only to find it ended three days before.  If I'm feeling sufficient motivated I might check to see if it's been relisted, at which point I might put it back on my Watch list.  And again, I might discover it's ended by the time I get around to logging-in again, or I might have bought something elsewhere

Obviously, if I don't place a bid, I'm not that crazy about the item in question.  So it's 'Watched' because I sort of like it, but maybe put off because of the postage or whatever and waiting to see if the seller is going to list something else I like, in which case I could combine postage

I learned years ago to not place a bid early.  Lost a lot of money that way when still learning.  Have laughed with the family many a time when I've placed a bid only to see presumably the seller bid over me.  Place another bid and sure enough -- I'm bid up again.  If sellers like to play games with jacking up the price, good luck to them.  That one is as old as the hills, as is the claim that an increased price will result in a sale

Everyone's a lot wiser these days.  Most will watch an item then snipe with seconds to go to prevent sellers (and their family, friends and sock-puppets) from up-bidding them

You have to really want an item to bother making time to snipe, though.  And clearly these days a lot of people do not want the item badly enough - or maybe their budget-situation changed in the interim, maybe they found or were given one by someone else in the interim or maybe they found one while browsing the shops - or maybe the prospective buyer just changed his/her mind

[bsal6160]

I am a buyer and a watcher. I like to do my homework/research before buying an item hence I will watch a few of the same type of items to see what price they DONT sell for. This way I can make sure I am not paying too much. There's a big hint sellers.

[nonny_muss]

That's a very good strategy bsal . . . . I'm watching to see if items I am thinking of selling will actually sell . . . and using the completed listing button too.  

For me, watching is also a way of thinking that I can 'hold' an item for a while when I shouldn't be spending the money on it at that time. Or when I'm considering a gift purchase for someone in plenty of time for their birthday/Christmas eft. 

Not meaning to hijack but when you put something on your 'wish list', does it actually come up as being watched on the seller's end?  That is, is there any difference between the 'watch list' and 'wish list' where the seller is concerned?

[bsal6160]

Don't know nonny, as I am only a buyer, but most likely the watch list is something the seller can see while wish list is only for the buyer???

[xena-and-alex]

Sellers can only see the number of watchers.

[retailtherapist_8]

polocross, I can assure you I DO NOT bid against my bidders and I don't know any Sellers who do. My auction listings start at my lowest acceptable price my "hurt" price, if that's all I get then so be it the buyer has had a win.

[*new2vintage]

I own at least 4 watches - does that count ?

[belindabargainhunter]

Whats the problem with people watching. I do it  to compare prices, quality and differences and then based on all my research I buy the one I like most.

[nonny_muss]

Whats the problem with people watching. I do it  to compare prices, quality and differences and then based on all my research I buy the one I like most.

I think it's because the number of watchers is often interpreted as the number of interested buyers and can offer some information about the demand for the item, whether or not it will sell and sometimes even given an indication of the amount it will go for.  

Now any seasoned seller will know that the number of watchers doesn't guarantee anything, (like the number of views on a listing) but it when you get dozens of watchers yet no sale it can be a little befuddling.   However, since I use the watch button for lots of reasons myself, I don't have a problem with people doing the same.  It would be nice however, to have the same number of bidders as watchers!!

[genrel]

Had 30 watchers on one item recently and thought, well there has to be a buyer in there somewhere..but no, not one bidder! As for watchers on buy-it-now items, well you just know they are a waste of space. It's a pity eBay doesn't have a fly-spray button to kick them off, they really annoy me.