The astute Umar Anjum writes:

Luckily there are other online tools that make comparing products on eBay easier then it is on eBay itself.

WatchedItem is the first entry in my list. It presents users with a friendly interface that lets them select a category and then enter some keywords of the query. The results are then shown with their prices and details. A link is provided with each result which can be clicked for further details.

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Savvy eBayers already know this eBay search trick. If you have an eBay listing’s 12 digit listing number, you can type it into any eBay search field to see the listing information.

Say you want to know about item number 150403914444. Just enter the 12 digit number in any eBay search box.

This capability extends beyond just the eBay.com site to any 3rd party eBay search site.

Try it on WatchedItem.com by clicking here. You will see the number of watchers for item number 150403914444.

Another easy way to find info on an item is to paste the entire title for the eBay listing into the search box. Try it here.

Another question about Watched Item appeared on SlickDeals.net’s forum.

“How does it work? Unless it is a subsidiary of eBay, I don’t see how they can access the database. ”

I get a lot of questions like this from shoppers and eBay sellers. Sometimes the eBay sellers are angry that I display their listings on Watched Item.

eBay runs an Application Programmers Interface (API) which gives 3rd party developers access to eBay listings. Sites using the API display the Right Now On eBay logo.

Sites that get approved by eBay show the eBay compatible application logo and get a listing in the eBay solutions directory.

Here is Watched Item in the eBay solution directory.

Hope that helps!

OK, at first glance Watched Item appears to be like all of those one page eBay affiliate sites that appear in Google searches.

Au contraire, hundreds of repeat users return to Watched Item each day, if not each hour, to see what’s happening in their niche.

Watched Item is a most watched auction shopping engine which shows you the most popular and interesting eBay items that match your search criteria.

Watched Item provides information which is hidden from shoppers on eBay. The number of eBayers watching an item is visible to the seller on eBay, but not to the buyer. The information is retrieved through the eBay Application Programmers Interface so you can rely on it being accurate and up to date!

If you are not sure where to start, try the Top 500 Most Watched Auction List which shows the hottest listings of the moment across all categories. The list is updated every 2 hours and supports US and UK.

There are 3 super auction searches available only on Watched Item:

1. Search by the number of eBay watchers *
2. Search by the most bids or purchases
3. Search the highest priced auctions that will sell

For buyers, it gives insight on how many people you are going up against in an auction. For sellers, it provides a rough idea of the interest in a particular item that you are not selling at the moment.

Watched Item is a great place to start your search of the 40 million active eBay items. It supports all global eBay sites.

Check it out for yourself!

* Please note that an active item’s watcher count is only available after 1 bid (auctions) or 1 sale (fixed price). The watcher counter disappears after the listing ends.