Have you noticed a trend on eBay with lots of watchers but no bids?

mercurydimeguy · August 9, 2015 3:25AM

Are people just tagging coins to see what they sell for? Other research? With BIN I can see tagging it and keeping in your watch list but with auction, are they waiting for relists at lower price?

Anyhow it used to be 5+ watchers almost guaranteed a snipe at the end, but now you can have double digits watchers with no bids...

Curious as to your experience?...

mbogoman · August 9, 2015 3:29AM

Very similar, week after week...

BillJones · August 9, 2015 3:35AM

Unfortunately times are tough for a lot of middle class people. Unfornately the prices for nice coins, at least on the retail market, don't seem to have adjusted to that. Therefore it does not surprise me that there are more watchers than bidders and buyers.

CoinJunkie · August 9, 2015 4:17AM

I frequently watch auctions where I'm interested in the final price and the bidding is already high
enough that I don't feel comfortable entering a token bid (my usual method). Regarding
sell-through, keep in mind that it's summer and the coin market is hardly on fire these days
unless you've got something pretty special.

machoponcho · August 9, 2015 4:55AM

Absolutely I have! Further, being a perennial seller on both eBay and GreatCollections for years now I will reveal this: my comparable coins sell for slightly more on GC (impressive considering GC has a buyer's fee) and they have slightly less watchers and definitely less page views than their eBay counterparts. People are more serious about bidding on GC. The eBayers are tire-kickers, an audience of just browsers, or just tracking prices more often it seems. Not that that's a bad thing - just sayin.

jesbroken · August 9, 2015 4:58AM

Is it possible that friends of the seller are watching the coin just thereby inflating the watcher count as an attempt to
spur bidding? Just a thought.
Jim

coinkat · August 9, 2015 5:03AM

I agree with Bill Jones on this one

TopographicOceans · August 9, 2015 5:34AM

Sure. It started in 2007 and continues to this day.

OPA · August 9, 2015 6:05AM

<< <i>Unfortunately times are tough for a lot of middle class people. Unfornately the prices for nice coins, at least on the retail market, don't seem to have adjusted to that. Therefore it does not surprise me that there are more watchers than bidders and buyers. >>

True. Nice coins, priced according to current trends, will sell and have multiple bidders. As a whole, the buyers are more informed as to realistic values and will avoid the over hyped b.s. BIN's. As a seller, I plead guilty, in tagging auctions to see what they sell for, so that I can price mine correctly.

ctf_error_coins · August 9, 2015 6:07AM

I watch many errors coins as BIN and auction with no intent on biding.

I like to know what types of errors sell for and at what price range. Doing this over 15 years, now I have an error price guide in my head.

WaterSport · August 9, 2015 7:23AM

I think with more coin values dropping folks are not as quick to bid and want to see what the coin sells for, if at all, before becoming committed. I also am seeing a bigger amount of reposting of the same coins because of this trend, and very little new material getting posted. JMHO.

WS

topstuf · August 9, 2015 7:25AM

Sellers should get a small spiff for having an item watched.
At least it indicates that someone kinda likes it enough to keep an eye on it.

Unwatched items are usually dogs.

291fifth · August 9, 2015 8:48AM

Many of the watchers are probably other sellers or potential sellers trying to learn what they actually will bring. This is nothing new and is not confined to the coin category.

LanceNewmanOCC · August 9, 2015 9:55AM

<< <i>Many of the watchers are probably other sellers or potential sellers trying to learn what they actually will bring. This is nothing new and is not confined to the coin category. >>

+1

i also figure it is people wanting to outbid someone for whatever reason. i think people have bidding withdrawal since a lot of items done start at .99. hehe
.

robertpr · August 9, 2015 9:56AM

The trend in eBay has been toward fixed price, good till sold type sales, rather than auctions. EBay itself sees this as a positive as it results in more listings and higher final sales prices. They have incentivized such listing practices through their fee structure, promotions, and search results algorithms.

Unfortunately, this means TONS OF OVERPRICED CRAP to wade through. Yes, there are more serious buyers on other venues such as Greatcollections because there's better material, way less clutter, and no games after the sales is over. EBay without PayPal is gonna be a tough sell to investors unless they do something to kickstart growth again. As it is, it's almost a chore to buy or to sell there.

valente151 · August 9, 2015 10:15AM

I think this would indicate that the watchers are interested in the coin, but the price is just out of line for the coin.

They are watching with two thoughts in mind:
1. "Holy crap, I'm gonna watch this just cause I want to know if it can sell at this outrageous number!"
2. "I want the coin, but holy crap the seller is on another planet price wise! I'm gonna watch it so I'll be notified if it gets listed at a more earthly price!"

mustangmanbob · August 9, 2015 10:29AM

I am watching around 200 items at a time, most I have no interest in owning, because:

I already have it, and probably are going to try and sell it

Looks odd, want to see what it goes for

If it goes for moon money, then I should keep my eyes out for one cheap and flip.

If it is cheap enough at the end, I may even bid on it.

oih82w8 · August 9, 2015 10:53AM

I would reply with a well thought out response, but I'm busy watching an item which is fixin' to end and place a low "best offer" and see if they bite.

Walkerfan · August 9, 2015 10:59AM

I am very interested in the study of market trends and pricing. I watch many coins that I don't bid on, if they are interesting. I do this with many websites and not just eBay.

Zoins · August 9, 2015 11:18PM

I've seen a number of items with 5+ watchers recently sell so at least the pieces I've been watching have been moving.

garrynot · August 9, 2015 11:25PM

Sometimes I keep something on my watch list just to remind me to search a seller or a genre periodically.

TwoSides2aCoin · August 9, 2015 11:49PM

No. I don't notice those things.

19Lyds · August 10, 2015 1:33AM

<< <i>Are people just tagging coins to see what they sell for? >>

Yes. At least I do.

keyman64 · August 10, 2015 3:06AM

Have you ALSO noticed a trend on eBay with lots starting at ASTRONOMICALLY HIGH PRICES forcing ONLY watchers AND no bids?

The astronomically high eBay/PayPal fees for those that don't have a store need to be taken into consideration then plus shipping.
The market has been slightly down and people don't want to risk giving their things away for free.
People watch said items because there is a legit interest. When an item gets ample number of watchers maybe a BIN can be added.
Maybe a Best Offer can be added. Or maybe when the item has garnered enough watchers, it can be relisted with a more
reasonable auction start price and all of those people will see it.

I would also hazard to guess that every now and then a high priced item DOES sell to an uneducated buyer giving credence to the
why not try a high price first idea? You can always lower a price later but you can't raise it if someone hits the BIN button at a low price.

Also, as others have said, some watchers are other dealers or potential sellers of similar material so that they can see what happens.
I like watching things that interest me and also have a BIN/BEST OFFER option so I can later look the item up the item number on
http://www.WatchCount.com to see what it ultimately sold for. It is very useful to keep track
of things in your watch list rather than scribble down item numbers on a piece of paper and hope to remember to check them later.

Have you noticed a trend on eBay with lots of watchers but no bids?

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