If this item doesn't sell I'll be angry

[disneysteve]

I have an item on ebay that ends tomorrow. It has 13 watchers, definitely the most I've ever had on one of my auctions. I've already gotten 2 questions from bidders about this item. So far, it has ZERO bids. What are people waiting for?

I'm hoping for a nice bidding war but I'd like it to get started already. All week, I've been watching the number of watchers go higher and higher. I just wish someone would bid already.

I'll report back tomorrow night.

[maat55]

Originally Posted by disneysteve

I have an item on ebay that ends tomorrow. It has 13 watchers, definitely the most I've ever had on one of my auctions. I've already gotten 2 questions from bidders about this item. So far, it has ZERO bids. What are people waiting for?

I'm hoping for a nice bidding war but I'd like it to get started already. All week, I've been watching the number of watchers go higher and higher. I just wish someone would bid already.



I'll report back tomorrow night.

Ebay is like basketball or the stock market, its the last minutes that counts.

[disneysteve]

I know. I see it over and over. Just drives me crazy every time. I often wish ebay wouldn't let sellers see the number of watchers. It really serves no purpose.

[SnoopyCool]

Well, you definitely timed the ending on a good day, so I think you'll get bids.

[disneysteve]

Auction ends in 10 hours. Now 14 watchers. Still no bids. Apparently, nobody wants to make the first move. I'm tempted to have someone at my office put in a bid just to get the ball rolling. I know that isn't allowed. Just kidding.

[jIM_Ohio]

what are you selling?

[disneysteve]

It is a Christopher Radko blown glass Disney Christmas ornament that he made back in 1996 when Disney first commissioned him to do work for them. It is mint in the package as I bought it for resale. Similar ornaments sell for about $65 today. I don't think that this one has any great collectible value other than the fact that this design was only made that one year. I have another auction for a second one that he made that year. That has one bid and 4 watchers.

[jIM_Ohio]

bigger idiot theory- you may have just found out there is no bigger idiot than you.

LOL

I say things like e-bay and garage sales are bigger idiot sales. You are trying to sell your junk to a bigger idiot than you.

If you cannot sell anything, you must be the biggest idiot.

That is really a skit from Al Bundy on married with children... but you get the idea.

No offense intended.

[gamecock43]

That many watchers...this auction cant end well. The bidding never matches the drama built up around the auction. Steel yourself against disappointment.

[sweeps]

The pessimist's view on watchers: They all have the same item and they're waiting to see if yours sells for a reasonable price before they put theirs up for bid.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by jIM_Ohio

I say things like e-bay and garage sales are bigger idiot sales.

I take it you aren't a collector of anything, Jim. Collecting is all about assigning value where there really isn't any.

Originally Posted by gamecock43

That many watchers...this auction cant end well. The bidding never matches the drama built up around the auction.

True. I've had plenty of auctions with multiple watchers and 1 or no bids at the end. It is just really unusual to have this many watchers on the final day and still no bids.

Originally Posted by sweeps

The pessimist's view on watchers: They all have the same item and they're waiting to see if yours sells for a reasonable price before they put theirs up for bid.

I know that happens. I've done it myself. I don't think that's the case here, though, since this is a relatively rare item. Only a limited number were made. They are very fragile. I suspect there aren't a whole lot of them lying around in mint condition 12 years later.

I'm not looking to make a killing here. My asking price is $14.99, well below the cost of a comparable ornament today.

[MoneyTrev]

Good Luck on your bid.

It's pretty amazing that your ornament has gone up in price so high. Just hope that people have the money to buy it.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by MoneyTrev

It's pretty amazing that your ornament has gone up in price so high.

It hasn't gone up in price much at all, actually. Like I said, it is worth about $65 and I'm only asking $14.99 as a starting bid. I'd like to see it go for more, but I'll just be happy to sell it and get it out of my basement.

[Goldy1]

I am in shock and awe at hoe slow e bay has been the past 2 months. Must be the economy and thier new search design. I have been doing a lot of fixed price and it irks me that people watch my "buy it nows" I mean I will have 5 people watching it and no one buys it. lol

I have sold a lot of collectibles on e bay for far less than why my husband paid. Before we met, he collected A LOT of stuff. I am not a collector. I hate clutter. Most of it sells for a fraction of what the offered price was when it came out whether it is ornaments, Barbie dolls, and collector plates. I just sold 3 collectable baseball ornaments which "retailed" for $20 each for $5 plus shipping.

I just bought a BRAND NEW WITH TAG Edie Bauer diaper bag with no flaws that retailed for $35 for $13.50 and the $13.50 included shipping. SHe charged me less than cost to ship I noticed also.

I have NEVER been a buyer on e bay, just seller, but I joke now maybe I should turn the tables.

[Gjowers]

I sell old clothes on Ebay. I've noticed that several things I expected to sell as buy-it-now or at least sell with a lot of bids, have not done so well. I wonder if the state of the economy is reflected in Ebay activity. I would think so.

[Gruntina]

Originally Posted by disneysteve

I know. I see it over and over. Just drives me crazy every time. I often wish ebay wouldn't let sellers see the number of watchers. It really serves no purpose.

It may not serve a purpose to you as a seller, but to buyers, seeing how many watchers and wafting until the last minute to put in a bid somewhat helps keeps the cost down.

By keeping the cost down till the last minute to bid, there is a better chance one can afford it.

For example if I wanted an Item and I went ahead and put in a bid a day prior to the auction ending, there is a very high chance someone else is going to want to outbid me. This means I would have to bid again with a higher price going back and forth. Again this is what the seller's want but not what the buyers want. Buyers want to buy things at the lowest price they can get the item for. It just seems that everyone on watch has the same idea.

[GrimJack]

Steve, I am sure you are aware of the 'sniper' programs that watch auctions and only bid in the last second - sounds like this is what is happening.

[gamecock43]

I dont know about snipers keeping the costs down...now there are so many like items listed on ebay, I refuse to bid if there is already a bid on an item. i know there is already interest and i dont want to get into a bidding war. So I just wait for the next item and place a bid "to mark my territory" and dissuade potential bidders.

[SnoopyCool]

I think the economy is definitely reflected in eBay. For instance, in the past I have sold/purchased Hallmark Snoopy Christmas ornaments for a lot more than what bids are being placed these days. I think people are tightening their belts.

[disneysteve]

Ebay designed a great proxy bidding system, but nobody uses it. If each bidder would just enter the maximum amount he/she was willing to pay, the system would take it from there. Whoever entered the highest amount would win, plain and simple. There would be no bidding wars.

Ebay could (and many feel should) eliminate sniping by eliminating a fixed ending time to the auctions. Live auctions don't have a set end to bidding. Bidding ends when there are no more bids. Ebay could do the same. Instead of an auction ending precisely at 10:00pm, they could make it so that bidding ends at 10:00pm OR after 10:00pm when there have been no bids for 10 minutes. If someone puts in a last second bid, the 10-minute clock would start again.