eBay Question:
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Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,746
Likes: 7
From: Tampa Bay, FL USA
eBay Question:
There's an item for sale on eBay, and all it has is a "Buy It Now" price: no best offer, no bidding, it's never going to be cheaper or more expensive. BUT- people are "watching" it (I know this because let's say I'm "intimately familiar" with the item that's for sale). So, why would you do this? I can see watching a true auction item to see if there's any action, how much is being bid, how many people bidding, etc... But if you want a strictly "Buy It Now" item, why not just go ahead and BUY it?! I mean, if you're "watching" it, then all you can watch happen is someone else buy it- right?
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 29,941
Likes: 46
From: Drummonds, TN USA
Maybe its the FEDS, man!!!! 
(rofl)
What the heck is it, anyway?
Is it old, is it new, is it funky, clunky, or junky? Is it rare, does it have hair, or is it something NOBODY has quite figured out yet?
Enquiring minds (with nothing better to do today) are curious, here...
(rofl)
What the heck is it, anyway?
Is it old, is it new, is it funky, clunky, or junky? Is it rare, does it have hair, or is it something NOBODY has quite figured out yet?
Enquiring minds (with nothing better to do today) are curious, here...
Last edited by Greywolf; Jun 27, 2005 at 05:01 PM.
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,818
Likes: 3
Maybe they're Russians -they always line up no matter what's being offered for sale. (I used to think this was a joke until I saw it happen repeatedly in Moscow - 1988) I would agree with wyomingaggie, probably just bookmarking for future reference or to send to a friend with similar interests.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 13,873
Likes: 3
From: Atlanta GA
I watch to see if the seller relists it at a lower price once the auction ends. Plus, I keep tabs on many items that are the same to see what they sell for minute by minute before listing mine at a lower price, before the auction ends, so losing bidders find mine listed cheaper.
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2005
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On a side note, I've seen plenty of auctions with a Buy It Now (optional when the BIN ends - upon first bid, meets reserve, etc) and the bidding ends up noteably HIGHER than the original BIN price??!! Huh. . . [Also seen auctions where the ending bid for a readably available part is sold for way over the 'typical' price - once I called the dealer - his # was on the auction - and quickly purchased the repro part for the '70 stang for less than half what people ended up bidding and the highest bidder ended up (apparently) paying. I quess 'A Fool and His Money Are Soon Parted' might apply. . .
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 178
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From: Central TX and Central WY
People do strange things on ebay...I bought a side of leather once that had a starting bid of 49.99, plus $15 S&H, but the BIN price was $59.99 with free shipping...so you'd pay more for bidding even if nobody bid against you...I guess they're trying to catch the folks that aren't paying attention.
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,759
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From: Pleasant Hill, MO
It's probably a guy nosing around on the site looking at 25 different listings of the same item, and it's his way to keep tabs on the cheapest one he's looking at right now. It saves space on your browser instead of you bookmarking each and every item. You know?
Ryan
Ryan
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,542
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From: Murphysboro, IL
Originally Posted by rebocardo
I watch to see if the seller relists it at a lower price once the auction ends. Plus, I keep tabs on many items that are the same to see what they sell for minute by minute
For instance; I was looking for a Milwaukee 1/2" heavy duty right angle drill a while back. I saw the average price of the ones that were being sold that were in good shape. When I finally bid on one I one it for much cheaper than the others were going for and it was in great shape. It came with 4 Greenlee bits and whenI went to Lowes a week later and aw what all of this woudl go for new it was over $400, what I bought in used but great shape was $175.
I have thought about re-listing this same item with a buy it now of $230 since that is wat most of them were selling for when I bought mine.
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 2,881
Likes: 1
From: North of Tulsa, Oklahoma
Easy answer on that one. It's being watched to see if it doesn't sell. And if it doesn't sell they are watching to see if the price will go lower or if they can contact the seller directly for a better price outside of ebay. I have been watching some suspension stuff on ebay for 3 weeks now. And he was originally posting it for too high of a Buy It Now price with inflated standard shipping costs. I emailed him an offer after the first week and he lowered the shipping costs and relisted. Then after week two he lowered the Buy It Now price. I'm almost ready to commit to this one. If you are not in a hurry and keep a level head when bidding you'll come out on top and not pay too much for something, even with Buy It Now. By the by, what do you mean you are "intimately familar" with it? Is it your item you are selling?
Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 13,589
Likes: 2
From: NW burbs of chicago
Or maybe they have something similar they would like to sell and are watching to see if anyone buys it for the "buy it now" price.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Tampa Bay, FL USA
Originally Posted by Greywolf
...What the heck is it, anyway?...
Watching to see if the seller relists it at a lower price?
Or maybe they have something similar they would like to sell and are watching to see if anyone buys it for the "buy it now" price.
I watch to see if the seller relists it at a lower price once the auction ends. Plus, I keep tabs on many items that are the same to see what they sell for minute by minute before listing mine at a lower price, before the auction ends, so losing bidders find mine listed cheaper.
It's probably a guy nosing around on the site looking at 25 different listings of the same item, and it's his way to keep tabs on the cheapest one he's looking at right now...
My point is, there is no reason to "watch" a unique item who's price will not change. Buy it, or watch someone else buy it for the exact same price: those are your options.