posted on July 24, 2004 09:15:38 PM new
I wonder if I am the only one who does not like the "watch" feature on auctions.
I've begun to sell something, or attempt to at this point, that is untapped - nothing like this in any category. Anyhow in the past week quite a few of my items have shown up as being "watched" and then the watcher vanishes.
I'm curious if a lot of people use that feature, why they use it, if they like it, etc.
I don't like it. I don't watch anything. If I see something I want I either bid on it or I go back and bid later. It's like the watch feature doesn't encourage people to bid - it tells them to wait. Isn't that backwards?
posted on July 24, 2004 09:19:00 PM new
as a buyer and seller I like the watch feature,
I think it is a good indicator if people are really interested in your item... I will watch several of the same item at once and see where the bidding is going.
As a seller I will use it sometimes to see how much and item went for and how many bidders, to see if it is a good time to list and item
posted on July 24, 2004 10:21:10 PM new
I like the new "watch" feature. It shows that someone is interested in my auction
Life Is Too Short To Drink Bad Wine
posted on July 24, 2004 11:23:34 PM new
It just means they are interested enough to not lose it back in the clutter, maybe their better half may be interested, later. Have you ever tried to find an auction, again? Sometimes it is easy.
posted on July 25, 2004 05:17:15 AM new
i use the watch feature as both buyer and seller.
as a buyer, i watch an item for a couple of days before i bid. i try to get a buy it now item if i really want it, if none comes along i bid on the one i am watching.
as a seller, i watch items when i either want to see what the ending bid is or i want to sell a similar item and see if the same people bid on mine. just a curiosity thing.
posted on July 25, 2004 07:56:59 AM new
When I'm really interested in getting an item, I always bookmark it rather than watch it. I also write a post-it note to remind myself that I'm watching it. Sometimes one will sneak by me, but not very often.
posted on July 25, 2004 08:33:57 AM new
I've noticed that even things that get more than one watch don't sell. neroter12 is correct in thinking it's like more sellers watching than bidders. I've been known to do it a time or two myself. Even my BIN items get watched. My BIN price is never much over the start price. Maybe by 50 cents or $1.
The feature is okay, but nothing I'm jumping up and down over.
Cheryl
. . .if you still try to defend the infamies and horrors perpetrated by that Antichrist- I really believe he is Antichrist- I will have nothing more to do with you and you are no longer my friend.. . - War and Peace, Tolstoy
posted on July 25, 2004 09:43:28 AM new
Since I buy so little, I used the “watch” feature initially when it came out, but found I forgot to check what I was “watching!” Now, I use a snipe program, if I happen to encounter an item I like or want enough to purchase, and it isn’t on a FP auction. I just go to my Snipe program, list the auction number, put in my highest bid willing to make, and then I can forget about it. I then either win or I don’t, and I am not tempted to get into any type of bidding competition.
Personally, I like the “snipe” program best, I can list my desired item in my snipe program, put in my highest bid, and forget it, which often I do.
So, answer is no I don’t use the “watch” feature, and since we only sell FP I don’t pay attention to how many folks may be watching our postings. I figure if you really want it, you will use the FP BIN and buy it, if not, I’m not that concerned about “watchers.”
Many “watchers,” are like “be back buyers,” that one encounters at flea markets, and brick and mortar stores. Customers who ask everything, consider, then say we will “be back.” Normally, they are never seen again.
