Questions

[the_billycan]

Q1) Why is it necessary to have Paypal as an option for an item that is pickup only? I understand buyer protection when an item is posted but surely if you go and pick it up, if it isn't as per description or you change your mind, you just refuse the item. This just looks like a fee gouge to me.

Q2) Why do people watch an item that is a "Buy it now". It isn't going to get any cheaper especially when it only costs $2.50 in the first place. A friend lists replacement DVD/Blu-ray cases (a set of 2 at a time). Every time he relists about 4 watchers appear.    

[*new2vintage]

Paypal needs to be included as a payment option. The best option for pick up is cash because Paypal doesn't provide buyer protection for a pick up item.

Watchers watch for various reasons including no reason.

[digital*ghost]

I can't address the whys re: PayPal on pick-up items, but I watch Buy It Nows all the time. In fact, I have about a dozen different lists filled with a few hundred items - some I like and may or may not buy, depending on whether I can find a specific use for them in the future. Others I definitely plan to buy sometime soon,  or have bought and will continue to buy. Having easy access to the listing in My eBay simplifies the whole process. Nothing to do with price, just the convenience. 

People watch for all sorts of reasons, but it doesn't help to put to much stock in the watch count - it's pretty much just the buyers you need to worry about. 😉

[***super_nova***]

A1- if they made an exemption for pick up only items it would be easy for sellers to list pick up only, and then say in TOS that they will be happy to post.  End of buyer protection.

A2- when I am looking for something and am not exactly sure, I save everything that could possibly be useful, then go through them and either buy one of them (and delete rest), or if still unsure I may continue my search some other day.

For instance, I was making dress for little fairy, so I was looking at all sort of laces, trims, beads and sparkles, and over time deciding which ones to use.

Or, if it is just a specific item, then I may compare prices&shipping costs, and if I am in hurry to get my item looking where the seller is.

[kopenhagen5]

Also members that have similar items look to see if yours sell and at what price.

[patchoo78]

I watch things as I'm often looking for more than one thing at a time, so I put it on my list so I can find it again 

[zanadoo_56]

I watch Buy it Now items for a few reasons.

Sometimes sellers have sales and may reduce the price for a limited time if it looks like the item may not sell.

There may be something I'm interested in bidding for but it would be silly to bid for more than a Buy it Now price so I may keep one as a price guide.  On more than one occasion I've found the BIN price has turned out to be the real bargain compared to auction prices so have ended up buying the BIN item instead of continuing to look for something cheaper.

I've got a few 'not in any hurry to buy' purchases in mind where the seller has lots for sale.  I keep them on my list so I don't forget.

[thesoulyearns]

If something looks good but I'm hovering on whether or not to buy it, I might add it to my Watch List and just hope (if I decide to buy it in a week or two or three) that it's still there. Usually if it's something a little bit rare or special but just not enough to purchase at that very moment.