How do I set up instant alerts for new eBay listings?

Question

Is there actually a way to get instant notifications for new eBay items right when they drop? I am desperately hunting for some rare vintage Leica 50mm lenses for a photography project I am starting next month in Seattle. My budget is strictly $800 but the good deals get snatched up in like two minutes flat. I tried the basic eBay Save this search thing and set it to email me but the emails come like hours late, which is totally useless for competitive stuff. I also saw people talking about 3rd party sites or browser extensions but I dont want to give my login to some random site and I mostly need it on my phone anyway. Does anyone have a trick for this?

christian.wade · Accepted Answer

Last year I missed a $700 Summicron and literally cried! So frustrating. Security is basically everything to me, so I found a free ebay price tracker that dont need my password... my current setup just monitors the API and pings my phone instantly. Its been fantastic for my peace of mind and honestly amazing for my gear collection. I love it!

kayla.young · Answer

Honestly, I have been hunting vintage gear for years and I totally feel your pain. The native eBay emails are basically a joke for competitive stuff because of that lag. In my experience, you really have to use a dedicated tracker. I have tried many over the years and the main thing is finding one that doesnt ask for your login details. Safety first, right? The best way is usually a standalone app that pings the eBay API directly.

Set your search to Newly Listed only.

Make sure the app has push notifications enabled so it hits your lock screen immediately.

Check the refresh rate—if it is longer than 2 minutes, you already lost. I am super cautious about security too, so I always stick to tools that just need the search URL. Leica glass is getting crazy expensive lately, so good luck with that $800 limit... its gonna be a tough hunt!

blake.barnett · Answer

Would love to know this too