Watched items and sending offers to "interested" buyers.

[limitlesscollectables]

Some of my listings have had over 40 people watching them, magazines that could be purchased from me for sometimes as little as £5.99?! - Select music artists seem to generate people using the 'watch' function as some kind of social media 'like or love' for the item, with no interest in purchasing the item.

I have spoken with eBay to see if there are plans to see the users who are watching listings showing if they have purchased from me before so at least then you might be able to see if a sale could be possible but they don't listen to business sellers really anymore.

It is endlessly frustrating to be lulled in to a false sense thinking sales are possible and take time sending offers to items being watched with no sales generating from that.

As it stands though, business has been so bad that the end is nigh and I genuinely fear for business sellers on this platform. Brexit killed my European trade, the Russia/Ukraine war killed my trade with Russia and the free listings for your ordinary person will kill of the business I am sure. I would like to say it has been fun but alas the past few years have been anything but...

[roger_roger_over_and_nowt]

Ebay don't allow you to see watchers (or your "followers") because they think it could lead to an off site deal.

[limitlesscollectables]

another "not really going to happen" ebay thing.

I have no way of contacting customers other than through ebay channels.

[bojangled]

@limitlesscollectables 

I don’t have a solution for you but are you aware there is a new feature on the orders page.
If you see a repeat buyer on the list click the name and you can see if they are a follower, with the option to send a coupon.

Finding it quite useful myself.

Jo

[bravergrace]

I'm afraid I may be one of the people that you dislike.  I have many items on my watch list.  

The thing is, it's easy to put them on the watch list, but there's no real incentive to take them off.

You say it seems to be a problem with "select artists" rather than across the board, so it may be a social or age group thing. 

This is how I use my watch list for music (I may be the only one, or this may be normal for my age group or tastes):

I sometimes buy myself music, and my children like to get me music for birthday/Christmas presents.  So when I hear a singer that I like, I put their albums on watch, and they may stay on my watch list for months.  Cost isn't a consideration, so if the seller sends me an offer, that won't persuade me to buy. 

I use the eBay watch list so I don't forget their name, and I may buy the album from eBay.  But (and I appreciate this may be painful for you), I prefer to buy direct from the artist where possible.  I feel more of a "social duty" to support the musician rather than an eBay seller.

[limitlesscollectables]

The Pain!!!! - You are right, I don't like you ! (i joke of course, I don't know you, and I am sure you are a good person!)

from a business sellers point of view, it seems a weird way to use the whole 'watch' thing on ebay - to use a function on a website you have zero interest in purchasing from. from a seller you have no desire to purchase from, who will send you offers to try and tempt you to buy something that you won't buy.

Nice to hear views so thanks so much for the response, I mean no ill feeling from my reply of course.