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Original poster

Why do people 'watch' items?

34 replies

Dustyblue · 03/12/2013 05:01

As a seller, there seems to be no correlation between the number of watchers on an item, and whether or not it sells. Does my head in sometimes.

Was thinking people watch items because:

  • they're sellers who have the same thing/something similar, and want to see what it goes for
  • they're buyers who want to see if the price drops

I've tried watching items myself, but when you 'watch' something you don't actually find out what it eventually sold for, or even if it sold. At best you might get 'seller relisted this item' but often it'll just say "Ended" and you don't know why.

So what is the point of watching items?

OP posts:
Shnickyshnackers · 03/12/2013 05:07

it goes in your watched list and then if you want to wait to the last minute to bid you can click on your watched items list and see what it was that you had had your eye on. I thought you could see the price it went for if you forgot to bid on it.

ZingSweetPea · 03/12/2013 05:09

if it's "Ended" the price it sold for will be there!

I watch items for price comparison or because I asked a question about them.
or because it's something I can't afford (collectors' items) but I'm nosy about if it will sell or for how much.

or I might want to buy it later but I don't want to bid/buy just yet.

many, many reasons....

and yes I had one item once that had 35 watchers and didn't sell.
I re-listed it. had 2 watchers but got sold.
it's puzzling.

Shnickyshnackers · 03/12/2013 05:09

yes, I just checked, you can see what price something went for if you watch it, so if you forget to bid on it at least you can see what it went for and use that to judge how much to bid on a similar item. I often watch quite a but of stuff and then get a message if a watched item is ending soon (via my phone).

LifeIsBetterInFlipFlops · 03/12/2013 05:12

If I'm searching for an item, I watch those that are suitable - and then go back and compare them with each other.

ZingSweetPea · 03/12/2013 05:32

I have also forgot to bid on some things. they weren't sold, so I contacted the seller and asked to re-list it.
They were happy to.
I then bid and won.

Original poster
Dustyblue · 03/12/2013 07:00

Ah ok, thanks for all that info.

Maybe I haven't 'watched' enough items, so I haven't seen this happen. Looking at my 'watch' list now, there is actually one that says 'item relisted' and I can view new item details.

Aaah, now I'm getting it.

BUT others don't provide that info, ie my 'watch list' will just say 'item ended' with an icon on RHS to click on "Visit Seller's Store'. That tells me nothing.

Other items just seem to drop off my watch list & I don't know what happened/why.

Wish you could view the profiles of your watchers, that'd be fun Smile

OP posts:
Anatanacoat · 03/12/2013 07:05

If I am looking for a particular thing, I will watch every item that vaguely matches my criteria, and then go through and compare them for features/condition/postage. Then I compare them to completed and sold listings for an idea of market value. Then I bid.

If I think something is overpriced, but that I'd buy it cheaper, I often watch it, as people normally drop the price when they relist.

SatinSandals · 03/12/2013 07:07

I watch because I need to find them easily and I never bid until the item is nearly up.

SatinSandals · 03/12/2013 07:07

Sometimes I watch because I want to sell one and want to know the final price.

SatinSandals · 03/12/2013 07:09

As a seller I like lots of watchers because you can be sitting there with one bid all week knowing , what the bidder does not know, that you have 20 watchers and are going to have a bidding war at the end.

overmydeadbody · 03/12/2013 07:15

What I never understand is those people who bid when there are still days to do.

I watch loads of things, mainly so I can find them again ready to bid in the last 30 seconds, or I watch things that are buy now that I know I will need to buy at some point but haven't found the exact thing at the right price yet.

It's like putting things in your basket ready to compare later. I always have things in my amazon basket too.

karatekimmi · 03/12/2013 07:22

I watch items i consider bidding on. It saves them in a nice way list for me. I don't always bid, but I spend a lot if time scouring eBay for tat items.

AnAdventureInCakeAndWine · 03/12/2013 07:35

There's something wrong with your watch list, then, because mine shows me what sold items went for.

I watch items because

  • I'm planning to buy something similar in future and want to get a sense for what they go for on eBay
  • I'm planning to buy something right now and want to watch a number of similar items to get a comparison of what they're like (condition, etc.) and how the auction price is developing (I never actually bid until the last moment). I'll bid on the one that seems the best value
  • I'm thinking of buying something but haven't decided yet
ZingSweetPea · 03/12/2013 08:36

satin

I think it is a good idea to not leave it till last minute everytime if you actually want the item - I missed out on a few things before because the internet connection was dodgy and I couldn't put the bid on!

now I make sure I bid a day before and just put on my max bid and leave it like that.
if I forget to watch the end (or not able to) it doesn't matter, a lot of the time I still win!

AnAdventureInCakeAndWine · 03/12/2013 08:40

bid sniping services

SatinSandals · 03/12/2013 09:01

I put it on at the last minute it is convenient, it is handy if the person who has been a lone bid all week has no idea that you intend to have it!

DownstairsMixUp · 03/12/2013 09:05

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Gatekeeper · 03/12/2013 09:21

a few years ago I sold a mixer desk which went for £250; a couple of days after the buyer received it he contacted me to say it wasn't working (we tested it before it was posted) and had to refund him. When dh had a better look at it when it had arrived back we found the buyer had removed the screws on the casing, taken the parts out and replaced them with broken bits from his mixer desk!

Couldn't prove it though - ebay didn't want to know and we were unable to get it mended without spending an arm and a leg; ending up selling it for spares and it went for a tenner Angry

Gatekeeper · 03/12/2013 09:21

BASTARDDDDDD

Gatekeeper · 03/12/2013 09:23

Oops...posted on wrong thread Blush

as you were...

ZingSweetPea · 03/12/2013 13:10

downstairs

Grin @ Ebay rage!

I won to items on Saturday in a bidding war, was watching the time run out like on Countdown and as soon as the "You won this item" came up I went "Fuck you, looser! that's how it's done!"

sad or what

ZingSweetPea · 03/12/2013 13:11

I meant to say I won two items.

silverangel · 03/12/2013 13:13

So I can remember what I've seen and go back and bid just before it ends.

BingBaba · 05/12/2013 10:49

I watch items so that I can buy them in the future, mainly I watch fabric that I like and then buy it when I can afford it or when someone asks me what I want for e.g a present.

Some people watch items then forget about them or are in work when the auction end and then can't buy them?

ChippingInLovesChristmasLights · 05/12/2013 10:55

Sniping tools take all the fun out of bidding Grin

Dusty - maybe you have put them in a different folder, they don't just 'drop off'. With the ones that say 'relisted' are they 'buy now' items from 'shops' rather than individuals?

Do you see now the 100's of different reasons people have things on their 'watch' list - it's not all to lull you into a false sense of security Grin