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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

why do people watch things on ebay and never buy them?

34 replies

carocaro · 28/10/2009 19:49

Why? I don't get it?

Had four items on, 4 plus watchers on each and not one thing sold!

I think I just got too excited that I'd have some cash.

These people should go get another hobby than doing this pissing annoying thing!

OP posts:
AnyGhoulKno · 28/10/2009 19:52

Perhaps they are about to sell the same thing and want to see how much it'll go for?

Or they're thinking of buying one but not committed?

you · 28/10/2009 19:52

I always watch things if I'm planning to sell something similar to see how much it goes for.

Or watch it and plan to bid last minute then forget/ miss it.

Or hope I'll have the money before auction is over.

Or to show DH etc.

YABU

GreenPeas · 28/10/2009 19:57

YABU... I often watch things for exactly the same reasons as stated... most often because I forget to check back in with ebay.

Best to ignore the watched stats when selling?

exexpat · 28/10/2009 19:57

I put loads of things on "watch" when I'm shopping around for something, or am thinking about buying something and don't want to have to search for it again - it's part of the whole way Ebay works. Just like you don't end up buying everything you pick up or try on in a shop.

pigletmania · 28/10/2009 19:58

Mabey the price is going higher than they wanted so will not bid on it. Mabey people just want to see how much an item will go for, or mabey they have seen something else that they want to bid on instead. YABU why not watch is there a law against watching and not bidding.

Firawla · 28/10/2009 20:00

yabu i watch things and dont always buy
just means i am considering it and dont want to lose the page incase i want to come back for it, but may be watching several similar, or maybe it goes to high, maybe decide to leave it for now and look again in a bit... many reasons. watching it doesnt mean "commit to buy" so noone is doing anything wrong here, you need to keep your hopes down until you get an actual bid

sweetgrapes · 28/10/2009 20:02

YABU. When I want to buy something I watch quite a few of the same products and see how they go. I may buy/bid for one but not all!

claudialyman · 28/10/2009 20:03

I put things on watch as i know no other way of saving them to look at them and decide later ( like the save for later option in the amazon shopping basket). Is there any other way on ebay?

IdrisTheDragon · 28/10/2009 20:05

YABU but as a seller I agree it is annoying.

I am currently watching three of one item (being sold by the same seller) that are ending tonight. I won't buy all three (and may not buy any of course).

lindsaygii · 28/10/2009 20:08

YABU - I watch several items at the same time when I'm looking for a second hand bargain. Gives me an idea of how much they go for, and lets me try to swoop in at the end of auction of the one I decide to buy.

perfectly normal way to shop on ebay. sorry, but there it is.

Lilyloooohhhh · 28/10/2009 20:16

I am currently watching about 6 or 7 of the same things at the moment to see how they go am prepared to wait for a bargain!

blueshoes · 28/10/2009 21:03

I also have lots of items in my watch list but only bid on a few. If the price goes up too high, I don't bid. Also, to benchmark price, as other posters say.

I also sell on ebay. I reckon that for every 4 watchers, maybe one will bid. The later the watchers come on in the auction, the more likely they are to bid. To get a half decent price, you need around 10 watchers. 20 watchers and you will get a good price.

In my very unscientific experience.

acebaby · 28/10/2009 21:20

I can see that this would be annoying. I do this because DH restrains me from bidding immediately, and because I am too disorganised to then actually go back and bid.

Sorry e-bay sellers - I didn't realise that this information was actually visible (have only ever bought on e-bay) !

blueshoes · 28/10/2009 21:25

Don't worry, acebaby, us eBay sellers are usually made of sterner stuff. Hope OP will come round.

curiositykilled · 28/10/2009 21:25

YABU I use the watch facility to keep an eye on a selection of similar items that have made my shortlist then bid for the one that is the best value for money.

Qally · 28/10/2009 21:29

YABU - I always bid in the last few minutes to stop bid-wars driving the price up; if the price is too high at the end, I won't bid. And if life takes over and I'm not at my computer in those last few minutes, obviously the same. I also do this on occasion purely to get an idea of how much I should bid on an item, if they come up regularly, or what reserve to set if I'm selling another.

As a seller I know it can be frustrating to have a load of watchers and then to sell something fab for a couple of quid, but c'est la vie.

whomovedmychocolatecookie · 28/10/2009 21:50

YABU - you should be grateful people are at least taking an interest because that means they might bid and buy. What were you selling anyway?

I had over 2000 watchers on something I sold once and only got 28 bids. Apparently someone linked to it on a forum much like this and there was much speculation about how much it would go for. I only found this out afterwards, mind you I should have guessed from the barrage of silly questions.

Qally · 28/10/2009 22:41

whomovedmychocolatecookie, what were you selling? Curious

MorrisZapp · 28/10/2009 22:47

YABU and indeed bonkers.

So next time I idly pick up a book in Waterstone's to see how much it costs, I can expect the staff to throw a paddy if I don't then buy it?

I've got about 20 items on my watch list just now, I'll buy maybe two of them. Is no concern of mine if the seller thinks I'm going to bid.

I've sold loads of stuff on ebay too so am seeing it both ways and you are still BU.

(what I don't understand are people who bid early, but perhaps they are new to the world of online auctions so they just have to learn)

Qally · 29/10/2009 00:40

Morris - if I kinda like something but am not overly fussed I put in a 99p bid early, and the forget about it. Have lost most, which is fine, but won the odd astonishing bargain along the way - 99p Bonpoint/Liberty/cashmere/toys for ds, for example. I can't be faffed to watch those, when a casual, on spec bid will do.

If I really want something, I bid a realistic amount at the last minute.

Fibilou · 29/10/2009 09:25

Yabvu. I constantly watch lots of things - it doesn't mean I'm going to buy them. Often I'll have 5 of the same type of thing watched so if I lose the one I want most then I've got a backup.

Fibilou · 29/10/2009 09:28

"what I don't understand are people who bid early"

I bid the day my Quinny went up on ebay. It never got any other bids. Also I've bid on quite a few things early, forgot about them and still won them. I'll bid early if I know how much I'm prepared to pay for an item then I can forget about remembering to look at it before the auction ends.

IMoveTheStarsForNoOne · 29/10/2009 09:32

Sorry, YABU. People may watch several items that are similar, and then pick the one that suits their budget/pick-up arrangements/postage etc. They may also be sellers wanting to know what similar items go for.

btw - it's good to arrange the end of the auction for the day after pay day, not before

Original poster
carocaro · 29/10/2009 15:03

Very interesting, I am new to ebay, so this is all good to learn, the items of clothing I was selling were all one off unique items eg: Aston Martin Le Mans Racing Jacket, only 20 produced.

So as some of you have said, it was not like there were several of them on there and you could watch them all iyswim.

But then I sold two items last night and there was a bididng war (ha ha) and it went for over £45 more- yippee! and no one was watching that!

OP posts:
DuelingFANGo · 29/10/2009 15:10

I watch several things, either because I am trying to get whichever one is cheapest or because I think I want it but then decide I don't.