Sometimes, I come across a seller that has a ‘bunch’ of stuff I might be interested in but I don’t have time at the moment to filter through 3500 or so listings so I’ll pick any random item and put it in my watchlist since this seller has caught my attention. I don’t know why that should upset you?
Its a marketplace, an internet garage sale/flea market.
eBay has tweaked things over the years, some good, some not so good. I used to sell quite often but I haven’t listed anything for years. Still I have a feedback score (which seems to be less important anymore) of 100% on almost 2000 transactions.
Some people swear by eBay, others swear AT eBay. Personally, I like it. I’ve never had a disappointing purchase there. I’ve been pretty good at steering clear of any of the ‘hucksters’ I guess. In almost all cases I’ve come away with purchases well below retail and that’s OK with me
I’ll admit to being one of the watchers. I will do that if there is something I just can’t afford at the moment but don’t want to forget about it in case it’s still available later. I’ll also watch an item I want that a seller has listed for more than I’m willing to pay for it. Sometimes the seller will offer a deal on it and if that deal is in line with what I’m willing to pay I’ll happily hit buy now.
I dunno Rich, maybe just understand that a few watchers, like me, want to buy but just can’t at the moment. There have been numerous items I’ve watchlisted as I didn’t have the funds when they were listed that I was able to go back in and locate quickly when I had the funds. A couple clicks in my watchlist and the sale was done.
Looking back through my purchase history - in 2024 I purchased ten things from Ebay, four of which had been watch list items.
That’s exactly where the four watchlist purchases from last year came from for me. I watchlisted a few favorite pieces of rolling stock they were selling. Some lasted until I was able to purchase, some didn’t.
Yes. Traditionally, Watchers are those who’ve declared an interest in your item and they don’t want to lose track of it. This is much more valuable than “viewer” who simply confirm they’ve clicked on it. Often, too, a Watcher is someone who wants to buy it, but thinks that your price is too high. If you are patient, a seller with too high a price will eventually lower that price. If the lowered price is 5% or more, Ebay automatically sends a “Price Drop” notice to every single Watcher of that item. As a Seller, this is important knowledge, because it lets you know how much to drop in price … to get a response.
What corrupts this relationship are sellers who are interested in competitors’ pricing. The Ebay suggested price is a joke - ignore it. It’s never correct. Like all economics, the price is what a customer will pay - period. So, sellers (including me) will “Watch” numerous other listings of the very same item to see if they sell at one price or another. That’s how to keep your own listings competitive.
It gets frustrating, though, when those “Watchers” make you think your product has interest, when it’s simply being cross-checked by other sellers hoping to see the same thing.
On a slightly different subject, I left the Bid process years ago - both as a seller and a buyer. It’s a total waste of time, IMHO. Yes, you can sometimes make a killing - but that’s the same thing an addicted gambler says. The House (EBAY!) is the only one who always wins with Bidding.
I almost always use Buy It Now with Offers - as a seller and a buyer. As a seller, it keeps interest while guaranteeing minimum pricing without fees. As a buyer, it often puts you in a one-to-one relationship with the seller, instead of competing with who knows how many bidders and the omni-present Snipers who are always present in the closing micro-seconds. Buy It Now without Offers is also not a locked gate. Contact the seller anyway and offer something. I’ve found it works almost 50% of the time.
I am often a watcher, and will bid on or buy it now sometimes.
Funny thing happened once. I already had a Mehano 2-6-0, wanted another. A seller had 3 he was selling, all closing within seconds of each other. I put in what I thought was super low ball bids on all 3, figuring I had maybe half a chance at winning one. Got all 3! Dan
I don’t often “bid” on Ebay items, I normally use the “buy it now” option is the price is right. With PayPal, you can use PayPal Credit, which allows you to pay over six months with no interest if the purchase is over $100. Since I’m retired, I have a guaranteed income, but not as much as when I was working, so being able to spread a payment out over several months works great.
Otherwise, trainshow/flea markets are a source for me. I started in HO in 1987, and a lot of the stuff made then is still OK with me now - bluebox Athearn cars, AHM/Rivarossi passenger cars, etc. can be picked up cheap.
When I want to rid myself of something, if I can’t make $25/hour for my efforts, I just give it away, usually to a thrift shop.
Similarly, I couldn’t be bothered with bidding. After spending time learning how bidding works, and following items (or leaning how notifications works), I’m not convinced that I’ll save $25/hour.
If the Buy Now price is worth it to me, I buy it. If not, forget it.
