watchmen wanted

[Full Quiver]

my listing

I am selling a broken laptop on EBAY. I'm not asking anyone to bid or buy but if you don't mind just clicking on it as if you were interested and being a watcher it might help my cause a bit. Ebayers know what I speak of.

[Mole_J]

I think your link is wrong. It takes me to "My eBay" part of eBay and not your item you are selling.

I will watch.

[beckrl]

If you post your item# ************ I will be glad to watch and maybe place a bid if it's the laptop you spoke of in your recent post.

[Full Quiver]

Thanks Mole J. Should be fixed.

[Mole_J]

I am now a watchman

[macgulley]

I don't see how watching helps you. Is there some way other potential bidders can see how many people are watching? Also, I don't see a counter on the page to tell how many people have viewed your item.

[RamboPreacher]

never understood the reserve thing. I have never used it, just always enter the starting price as the lowest price I would take for it. why hide the minimum? it ain't gonna sell if it isn't reached anyway, right?

[Mole_J]

I don't see how watching helps you. Is there some way other potential bidders can see how many people are watching? Also, I don't see a counter on the page to tell how many people have viewed your item.

Not an eBay guru, but my guess is if someone does a search for an item on eBay. If an item is being watched by a lot of people it may show up on the first page. Not sure if this is correct.

[Pastor Bill]

never understood the reserve thing. I have never used it, just always enter the starting price as the lowest price I would take for it. why hide the minimum? it ain't gonna sell if it isn't reached anyway, right?

Because many people sort by price, wanting to find the cheapest, finding a laptop for $1 really draws attention, even thought everyone knows they aren't actually going to win the auction at that.

Plus at the end of the auction if the price didn't go over the reserve, you can see about where the value is, and may choose to relist with a lower reserve, or offer a "Second Chance offer" and allow the last bidder to purchase it at the price they bid.

[RamboPreacher]

never understood the reserve thing. I have never used it, just always enter the starting price as the lowest price I would take for it. why hide the minimum? it ain't gonna sell if it isn't reached anyway, right?

Because many people sort by price, wanting to find the cheapest, finding a laptop for $1 really draws attention, even thought everyone knows they aren't actually going to win the auction at that.

Plus at the end of the auction if the price didn't go over the reserve, you can see about where the value is, and may choose to relist with a lower reserve, or offer a "Second Chance offer" and allow the last bidder to purchase it at the price they bid.

i see - thanks.

[Full Quiver]

Also when several people are watching it sometimes causes actual bidders to bid more and higher. They get a bit anxious if they think someone might bid it out from underneath them.

Beckl, I think I have spoken of this machine here at J2 before. You can PM me if you have any questions.

[macgulley]

Also when several people are watching it sometimes causes actual bidders to bid more and higher. They get a bit anxious if they think someone might bid it out from underneath them.

How does a bidder know how many are watching? I've sold several things on eBay and I know the seller can see how many are watching but how can a buyer know if an item is being watched? That would come in handy when I'm bidding on something.

never understood the reserve thing. I have never used it, just always enter the starting price as the lowest price I would take for it. why hide the minimum? it ain't gonna sell if it isn't reached anyway, right?

PastorBill's answer is correct and the low starting price entices some to bid in hopes of getting a great deal then once they have started bidding they get caught up in the "chase" and will often bid more than they meant to.