No one has ever sent me an offer. I'm a buyer and I'd say that 90% of the items on my watched list are things I'd consider buying but like lyndal, I think 50c off wouldn't sway me, 5-10% off might.

There's not one doubt in my mind that sales work. There's a company I know of (and that you have probably heard of too) that sells cooking machines at $2089. That price never varies (except upwards). But recently they announced a new model was coming out in about June-July so the present stock is being sold at the equivalent of $650 off. The consultants are currently being swept off their feet. People who were seriously considering one but were put off by the cost are all jumping in now. The sales levels have gone through the roof since the sale started.

I think the key things are that the customer has to be seriously interested in the first place, the discount has to be enough to tempt them and they have to know there is a time limit on the offer. It also helps a lot when they know that the sales price is a genuine discount and not like some shops where there is always some sale or other going on.

With watchers on ebay, you can't know that they are seriously interested. Maybe they once were but haven't cleaned out their watch list, maybe they are just watching to see how an item does (as i am in a couple of cases).

But I have no doubt a sales offer would tempt me on some things, push me over the line.

A seller though needs to think of their own needs and what they need to get for an item. No use practically giving it away just to please buyers. If they have a glut of something or want to clear the line, by all means a mark down might work. Otherwise, stick to your price.