Has anyone ever charted "Watchers" vs. "Bidders" on eBay?
llafoe
Posts: 7,220 ✭✭
Has anyone tried to analyze the relationship between "watchers" and "bidders" on eBay? I have 8 auctions listed with 66 watchers... and 4 bidders. The auctions end in 2 days.
What do you think motivates most "watchers"... they're actually interested in purchasing the item? they want to see what the item is worth? they haven't found the US Coin Forum and spend all their time on eBay?
What do you think motivates most "watchers"... they're actually interested in purchasing the item? they want to see what the item is worth? they haven't found the US Coin Forum and spend all their time on eBay?
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<< <i>i have found the relationship between the two to be completely random >>
I have had watchers with little to no bid action. I have had several watchers with little bid action. I think there are a lot of interested/curious persons for varying reasons that want to see the ending price. You always hope that with all those watchers there are a few waiting for the snipe during the last 5 seconds.
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What I do, when I see an item I have an interest in bidding on, I'll watch it and then place a minimum bid.
If I am simply interested in what the item sells for, I'll just watch it.
Bidders, encourage other bidders but bidders do not know how many folks are "watching", only the number that are "bidding".
It doesn't make any sense and won;t unless eBay begins to report the number of "watchers" a particular item has just like Heritage.
The name is LEE!
I have bid what I think is a fair amount on the coin I have bid on but I don't know the other watchers intention.
Ron
<< <i>Bidders, encourage other bidders but bidders do not know how many folks are "watching", only the number that are "bidding".
It doesn't make any sense and won;t unless eBay begins to report the number of "watchers" a particular item has just like Heritage. >>
If eBay revealed the number of watchers, I expect it would create a demand that may not have existed elsewise... maybe you could suggest that to eBay and ask for a royalty for the first 12 months!
<< <i>Has anyone tried to analyze the relationship between "watchers" and "bidders" on eBay? I have 8 auctions listed with 66 watchers... and 4 bidders. The auctions end in 2 days.
What do you think motivates most "watchers"... they're actually interested in purchasing the item? they want to see what the item is worth? they haven't found the US Coin Forum and spend all their time on eBay?
Most of the stuff I watch on eBay, TeleTrade, etc. is on my wish list as opposed to my get list.
Additionally, eBay seems to suggest that by having a number of watchers is a good reason to relist the item (and pay the listing fee again), but I've not experienced this either.
I'll be doing similar studies on GreatCollections, since we disclose how many watchers there are for each item on our item pages. Will report back when I have enough data in a few months.
- Ian
Owner/Founder GreatCollections
GreatCollections Coin Auctions - Certified Coin Auctions Every Week - Rare Coins & Coin Values
And while I don't have a lot of insight to add, I would advise that savvy grouping of high dollar high interest items with items that fall more into the widget status pays off virtually every time.
As for any relationships to be tied to number of page views->watchers->bidders->final price. I can only say that when I see an item with a ratio at or above 4:1 (views:watchers) I can, without fail, rest easy that the item will sell for at or above fair market value.
<< <i>What do you think motivates most "watchers"... they're actually interested in purchasing the item? they want to see what the item is worth? >>
some items have multiple sellers, ive used that for comparison shopping.
and closing price.
i like to know what other items sold for, "market price"
it still amazes me to see identical items (not necessarily coins) that will sell for $40 from 1 seller with 1 bidder and another for $50 with 5 different bidders.
<< <i>Well I got burned with watching an auction with no bidders earlier this week. The auction had a starting price at about melt and was poorly described. I was watching and preparing to bid as the auction neared close and the guy closed his auction early...I was probably willing to pay 2-3x the starting bid...and now lost the chance completely. >>
That's happened to me several times. Now I usually place a minimum bid if it's something I really want.
"The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary."
~ Vince Lombardi
True Actions. Where did the lister put the start price.
Fixed price listings. Only one bidder and it's over. High price for the item might get a lot of watchers to see if it sells. Listed too low and it's gone too soon.
Items with bullion value. Many like to list these as low start to save fees and normally get enough bids to get it to base value.
How popular the series is. I listed two dollars yesterday one has three views and the other has seven views and one bid today. Yes different series.
<< <i>
<< <i>Bidders, encourage other bidders but bidders do not know how many folks are "watching", only the number that are "bidding".
It doesn't make any sense and won;t unless eBay begins to report the number of "watchers" a particular item has just like Heritage. >>
If eBay revealed the number of watchers, I expect it would create a demand that may not have existed elsewise... maybe you could suggest that to eBay and ask for a royalty for the first 12 months!
If that were to happen, my whining about eBay would cease.
For 12 months!
The name is LEE!