Watch Count is an eBay analysis application that allows sellers and buyers to see how many watchers and item currently has. The Watch Count can be an informative metric to use when evaluating market demand. Seeing what items others have heavily (or lightly) flagged for watching can help both buyers and sellers alike make more informed decisions in their activities on eBay.
For example, when comparing similar items on eBay, if one has a much greater Watch Count than the others, that may indicate a disparity worth investigating further (does it possess a more valuable feature? a more popular color? a more attractive listing? a better listing title?).
Also, when combined with the current Bid Count, one can garnish some more insight into item popularity. For example, if an item is a few hours from ending, has only a few bids but a high Watch Count, there may be a greater potential for subsequent bidding or sniping to occur in the closing moments of the auction.
As an eBay shopper, you may find it helpful to “peek in on” how many people have flagged an item as ‘watched’. It can be an added factor when comparison shopping, even more so if you want to see how an item’s Watch Count changes over time, or if, say, you’re a collector who needs to be aware of competing interest in a target item.
If you’re a seller, you can use the results displayed by WatchCount.com to add another edge to your market research efforts. You’re already watching important items; now you can see how many others are, at various points leading up to auction ending. And, naturally, high Watch Counts on an item may be a relative indication of consumer appeal, suggesting a hot item, attractive listing/photos, or intelligently selected title keywords. Some sellers may even be interested in the Watch Count Widget which allows you to display your current watch count directly on your auction page.
