<Wonder Rant powerrs....activate!>
On my eBay Sellers page - just as on all eBay Sellers page - there's a recent additions: "# of watchers." This is the number of folks who have actively selected to watch this auction while it tics down towards completion.
I myself have selected the "Watch this auction" option for an item I was particularly interested in. Whenever I accessed my eBay account, it would remind me I have "Watched auctions" still underway. My ultimate goal would be to snipe the auction just as it was about to end. That seems to be the ultimate reason for "watching" an auction.
EBay Sellers can tell how many people have chosen to watch an auction. When I go to "My Ebay", each item I've listed tells me how many buyers have selected the "Watch This Auction" option. I can tell - at a glance - how many people may get into that Last Minute Sniping Match all buyers like to see breakout. In fact, several of my auctions have 3 or more "watchers" at this time.
So, where's my rant? It's this:
THESE ARE NOT AUCTIONS. I HAVE BUY-IT-NOW SALES UNDERWAY WITH "WATCHERS!"
I mean, c'mon! I'm selling my clocks on eBay with a Buy It Now of $7. They are not up for auction. Click and buy. However, several of these sales have "watchers!" They've HAD "watchers" for days! What are they waiting for? The price to come down? IT WON'T! IT'S A SALE! Are they waiting to "snipe?" THEY CAN'T! IT'S A SALE!
C'mon, buy the damn things! You're obviously interested, else you would'nt click "Watch!" However, I just know that - once again - I will watch the sale end with 5 watchers listed. Those same 5 watchers were there all week. And, after the sale ends, 2 of those watchers will e-mail me and ask me to relist, 'cause they missed it.
WHAT WAS THE DELAY?!?!? YOU HAD ALL WEEK! BUY IT OR DON'T "WATCH" IT!
Frack, that drives me insane. It's like going to Sears and staring through the window at the riding mower. Every day, you go look at that mower. The salespeople see you staring, but maybe you're not interested, or it's out of your price range. Maybe you just like window shopping for mowers. Months go by, and there you are, staring at the mower. The mower has a layer of dust on it by now. Then the new models come out, and the salescrew ships the unsold mower back to corporate. The very next day, you pop in.
"hey! Where's the mower? I wanted to buy it!"
They should be allowed to punch you in the face.
<Wonder Rant powers, DE-activate!>
Wow, has that been pent up for a while. Thanks for letting me bitch.