screwy changes at eBay

[grasswire]

So I've jumped back into eBay after several years away. Something has changed with the way buyers approach the "game." It used to be that if a lot of watchers were shown following an item that there was a pretty good indication that multiple bids would ensue, perhaps at the last minute. I guess that's no longer the case, after watching several of my items close with just one bid but lots of watchers tonight.

What's the intention there? Are they dealers just seeing what the market is bringing? Or what?

[InvisibleTouch]

1. I see a lot of non-bidding watchers also...

...and I do a lot of watching myself without bidding.

When I put something on watch, it's usually because I do want the item, but don't have money for it right now, and hope that by the time the listing ends, I will. Or that it will be re-listed and then I'll have money for it. Usually that's not the case these days. But by putting it on watch, my hope is that I can find it again (or one just like it), if I do have some spare cash.

I suspect it's the same with a lot of the watchers I get on my own listings.

[jillan]

2. I have been having that same problem. Last week I had 5 watchers - and

no one bid!

What makes me crazy are the people that watch on my buy it now items - it's like - do you want it or not? Make up your mind! :P

[pipoman]

3. I don't use the watch feature

I am old school and bookmark the items I watch. I, as most collectors (and other types of investors for that matter), am watching the market, so many of the items I watch are items I already have, I watch to see how they are selling. You mention 'dealers', I think the dealer/buyers are much more tight right now than the actual collectors.