I recently started receiving buy it now offers from items I have simply looked at NOT watchlist

[vintagegreen]

I peruse items on ebay to glean information about a similar item I am considering selling - I simply look and read but I DONT add to a watchlist. I've been doing this for years. Lately, I have received three separate email offers from the sellers of different items that I simply looked at... but did not put on a watchlist. Ebay has gotten way intrusive in their algorithm, seems to me... I'm a seller - often, ebay suggests I send an offer  to interested buyers. I Always thought "interested buyer" was someone who put my item on their watchlist.  Ebay sends the offer... they accept or counter or simply do not respond. All good.  Has there been a recent change and now Ebay is sending offers to someone who has merely perused an item? I'm perplexed.  Thanks for your consideration. 

[fern*wood]

Yes, it's rather new.  As a seller I try not to send an offer if I see no watchers, but otherwise, I can't weed out others that ebay might have been added to the list just by glancing at my item and thus gets caught up in the spaghetti against the wall attempt to make a sale.   I wish ebay would give us the ability to opt out without eliminating sending offers altogether.

[lakefor94]

There is hardly not a day goes by that I don't have a chance to send 5-8 or more offers out to buyers. Granted that I only hit on perhaps 10-15% that turn into sales, glad eBay does this. I send them out right away on most items aside from what I consider a hot item. 

Money in the bank.

Some I allow counter offers on and they don't even bother with a counter.  Cha-ching. 

[vintagegreen]

thanks! well that means that ebay can track anywhere anybody goes on the site and that feels wrong.  If someone chooses  "add to watchlist", that's one thing... and I utilize that and appreciate that ebay encourages a seller to send an offer - sometimes a sale is made.  But to pluck someone from the perusing ether goes way too far and is invasive. Imagine this scenario... It feels akin to going to a dating site, for instance, scrolling through profiles, maybe stopping to read someone's entry, then moving on. Later, receiving a message from that person (that you just observed but did not select to communicate with). Wouldn't that feel way freaky invasive? Another thing... I tried to merely delete those unsolicited offers and can't seem to eliminate 'em.  Am I missing something that is patently clear? Or is this as murky as it seems? Thanks! Wish I could chat with a live ebay person bout it... need some perspective. 

[jjddmwi]

As a seller, I don't like it either - someone who merely looks at an item, shouldn't be deemed eligible to receive an offer by Ebay.  I don't want to annoy possible buyers!  

I actually had a person message me to stop sending them offers - in a not so kind way.  He said that he was not watching the listing and was mad that I sent an offer.  He must have just looked at my item and got the offer when I sent it to the 1 person that had it on their list.

I appreciate the ability to send offers to watchers for sure!     Just wish Ebay would go back to the way it was and only include actual watchers!

[vintagegreen]

absolutely. Yes, I think it can result in a completely opposite reaction from facilitating commerce to putting people off entirely and creating animosity where none need exist.  Thanks, jjddmwi for your response/participation in this annoying quirk.  Any of you Ebay programming folk tuned in? 

[catjewels9876]

I received an offer today for an item I was looking at and didn't select watch item.  I think I got rid of the offer by selecting review offer, then I was able to select decline. 

[inhawaii]

I do too.

I don't like it either but it takes me 0 seconds to ignore it and 1 second to dismiss it.

No big deal.

[kensgiftshop]

I've been getting so many offers for items I just looked at with no intention of buying, so I just opted out of offers.

[dbfolks166mt]

     Ironically when trying to help some sellers who have posted questions on this forum I often review some of their listings to try and help diagnose their problem or answer their question. Recently I have started receiving a lot of offers from just looking at their listings. I suspect some sellers have their account setting set to automatically send offers. I seldom buy things on eBay these days so I simply delete the offer. 

     I also receive offers from sellers for items I am watching. I have multiple reasons for watching items the least of which is any interest in purchasing the item. It is possible eBay has changed some code to expand the pool of potential buyers that "show and interest in your item" aka perused your item. 

[itscalledapostingid]

It would be nice if ebay gave sellers the option of sending offers to just watchers only or to send to "all interested buyers."  I would elect to only send to watchers if it was a choice.