posted on March 6, 2001 12:42:38 PM new
Hello. I tried to post this in reddeer's recent thread which was locked while I was typing. So, I'll insert it here and hope he sees it.
Hey reddeer, I totally agree with you (about doing your auction listings yourself) and I've always relied on my own resources for the auction process and have NEVER used any of the auction management services, automated or not. Small volume sellers just don't need these services since they can do everything themselves AND can at the same time keep their business and customer info PRIVATE. I don't wish to be in anyone's data base for all eternity either as a seller or a buyer.
I do understand the larger volume seller's need for an auction launching and EOA program since this can be very time consuming and time is money. But here's the thing. Everyone knows that the majority of freeware contains adware which helps pay for the free software and I have no problem with that as long as it's spelled out for the end user. I'm talking about adware and NOT spyware since I definitely have a problem with the latter which has no business existing at all PERIOD!! However, once I buy a program or pay for it's use I expect the adware to be GONE. This is the case with almost all of the software available on the net and the only exception to this that I've seen is the auction management programs.
The fact that your listing will include an advertisement for that particular company's auction management program which will, in turn, bring a lot of new customers to their site is worth some consideration. How many eyeballs view an auction listing? How could the company that owns the software advertise their product any cheaper than by putting it on the bottom of the user's auction listing?
So here's my problem. If I've paid for the software or the right to use it, why should I have to continue to provide the company with free advertising on my auction listing? This is unheard of anywhere else and seems to only occur in the auction industry. Why do folks accept this? That's the other main reason I won't use these auction management programs because I'm not going to provide anyone free exposure to a product that I don't personally own. The majority of businesses have to PAY for this type of exposure. My auction listing has been paid for by ME and is for MY benefit. If someone wants to advertise their product which I've PAID for on my auction listing, they're going to have to either pay me or provide it for free, PERIOD!!
posted on March 6, 2001 12:44:22 PM new
Gheesh, guys...I am WebTv and a senior citizen. I know that it can seem overwhelming re html, web pages, etc. but it is easy. If I can learn it, anybody can...and from a WebTv yet, without all the tools that a pc has.
If you check my auctions at several different sites (including ebay altho a lot closed last weekend there and I am trying to rest a bit), you will see that I use different hosting (and launching) sites...plus do some myself. Don't worry about learning it all at once. Start with html, you can list direct to ebay. It won't be long until you can actually read html as you would another language...trust me.
Other hosting sites are available also...some free, some to whatever reasonable fee structure you need.
You puter people have a LOT of options I don't even have.
Only one of my auctions has a pic on from AW. And I am gonna fix that! Put a replacement one on myself.
If all else fails...grab a kid. They are whizzes at this stuff. I learned myself (with help from online friends and posting at help boards)...but it gets easy...honest!
And do what I did a year ago...spread yourself out....if one site is down, another isn't...or do it yourself. Give yourself choices. You are not dependent...you just think you are.
Remember, if you think you can do it or you think you can't do it, either way you're right .....you CAN do it!
aramatha
edited to take out names of some good hosting sites...don't think AW allows that (feel like I'm back in kindergarten re rules around here sometimes)
You can often edit those pesky ads right out...I do. I bought a sniping program years ago that also included an HTML auction generator. It leaves it's own little ad at the bottom of the table.
I figure I paid for the auction software via the sniping program, so I delete that nasty little ad. Why in the world would I want my customers enticed to CLICK AWAY from my auction?
That would be the height of bad business on my part, IMO. Now, if the program were free, I'd feel obligated to advertise for them...to repay what would amount to their gift to me.
posted on March 6, 2001 01:46:00 PM new
Yippee--there is life after AW! Sure it was a bit tricky to learn the new quirks of other sites--but to have a service for free--and learn the quirks--an attentive student here.
AW---what on earth were you thinking with FVF? It's been swell, it's been grand---
And when I think of all the people over the last 2 years I reccommended to your site and they came. Now---some serious emailing to do. Dang--too bad you didn't have a referral bonus----
posted on March 6, 2001 01:58:32 PM new
Maybe I'm paranoid, but it seems that AW and eBay are catering to the "big time sellers". It's no big deal to me that the "cap" on FVF has been lowered to $4.95. We "strictly small-time sellers" are being shafted...and I see no relief in sight. I sell maybe 40 items a month...some of my stuff but now, mostly things on consignment from elderly friends/acquaintences.I can just see Aw and my credit card account now with all the nickles and dimes...I was told by a credit card official that it generally cost the company $3.00 to process an entry. So...by my figures, when my $5.00 item gets sold, AW will collect 5 cents for the insertion fee and 5 cents for the FVF...and will lost $2.90 cents while doing it. Doesn't sound like good business sense to me. I'm NOT a whiner and do not object one bit to paying an insertion fee...in fact, I'd be more than willing to pay a dime. Actually, I use AW for the picture hosting service...and would be willing to pay 10 cents a photo for that service. The FVF sucks! Reconsider, AW...and keep us "little guys" in mind.
posted on March 6, 2001 02:51:37 PM new
hmmm that one is still there. I wonder why they deleted a post that simply said, "turning on email, gotta love censorship." lol and no commentary putting me on warning for it either or even stating why it was removed. ridiculous! What they gonna start deleting next?? So glad I'm starting that club. At least now I can go post somewhere without censorship!
posted on March 6, 2001 02:52:17 PM new
I never post in here but sometimes read them to see what's up. I will not be continuing with AW. I cannot afford to one more fee. I will use my image hosting services provided by my ISP. I will miss the launch feature, but it is not worth the fees...so bye bye AW it was fun.
posted on March 6, 2001 03:56:35 PM new
Well it looks like the largest auction site will soon be launching a new management program with several levels of fees depending on the services you require. Humm...AW did you really think you could play with the big boys?
posted on March 6, 2001 04:52:03 PM new
Good evening toke. I didn't realize you could edit out the banners/ads. I have never used those programs but I sure do see a lot of ads on the individual auction pages when I'm browsing. I know that Andale charges fees now so I wonder why the sellers are still allowing the advertisements on their page? I agree with you about keeping the ads if the program is free but not if you've paid for the rights to use it.
Some of the pages I've looked at remind me of a huge, tacky infomercial, you know those sleazy late night TV programs that have testimonials!! I can't hit that back button quick enough.
Blanche
[ edited by bhearsch on Mar 6, 2001 04:53 PM ]
posted on March 6, 2001 04:56:49 PM new
Did I read this right:
Under our new pricing structures you will have to sign up under our Power Plan to use our image hosting service.
So that means I will have to pay upfront $200 in FVF to have pictures hosted by AuctionWatch?
OUCH!
I have another business and can take this hit all at once, but what about the people who are just selling out of their homes? What about a monthly fee that totals to maybe $220 or something? After all, you will have their credit cards to bill monthly, anyway.
Although I will be staying because I need the ease of auction listings, I feel many who would have stayed, even with the 5 cents and the 1%, will have to leave because they just cannot afford that much at one time.
I live in Johnstown, PA. The reality here is quite different than in larger areas. In rural America, where you will find alot of your customers, $200 may as well be $2000. Neither is attainable.
Please remember that many eBayers are from the lower income brackets. Find a monthly fee for them.
posted on March 6, 2001 05:53:46 PM new
Well everyone...6 more payments arrived today...that leaves about 1 dozen left in Post Sales...then I'm gone...I'm going to keep an eye on these boards...mostly for the entertainment value of the posts...at least that is still free, but then again AW may start charging you a nickel for each post you make too.
posted on March 6, 2001 06:19:30 PM new
There is no free lunch! Rush Limbaugh was talking about that just today seems that the young people of today have grown up with the feeling that everything should be/is free. Of course he was refering to napster but the same applys here. Auction Watch is a buisiness and for a few years everything was free. Now that banners ads are no longer accepted as the holy grail of the advertizing on the web they are going to the next stage ; that of users paying for what they get. If you have a problem with their fees or policys do not use them. To go else where is a basic move
of a free person, however the free ride on the web is fast coming to an end. Business is in business to make money (many posters have said that they too want a share of the pie) and if they do not they go belly up the business that is. The web is evolving
daily and the inventer (Al Gore) is long gone and now teaching at some universty.
Have fun and good luck to all.
posted on March 6, 2001 06:23:28 PM new
I just read a post on the Services forum from someone here at AW. It seems there will be no refunds for anyone who signs up for the Power Plan of $200 and then later changes their mind.
posted on March 6, 2001 06:27:12 PM new
Does anyone know if the fees go into effect with auctions launched on or after the fourteenth, or will auctions ending on or after the fourteenth be subject to the fees?
posted on March 6, 2001 08:11:09 PM new
First, let me say that I have not used AW's software to launch an auction for several months now - eBay, Yahoo, Bidville, Epier...they all have image hosting for free. Information in the auction ad itself can be copied and pasted with both Explorer and Netscape, as long as the bulk of your auction ads remains the same - just a few keystrokes here and there to describe the item itself, and you're ready to roll.
I stopped using AW for a really simple reason: the "pic" icon didn't show up on my eBay or Yahoo (at the time) auctions.
All this to say that the new AW fees will not affect me.
However, I think AW should read the Yahoo forum...and remember how bitter many Yahoo users were, and still are, about the listing fees. Many, many users abandoned Yahoo and started giving Bidville and others their auction business, myself included.
Those that use an image hosting service instead of the auction site itself WILL leave AW...count on it! Yahoo users for the most part united and have stayed gone...AW users will do the same.
I'd hate to see that happen, simply because if AW sinks, where will we all get back together to post our comments?
I wish they'd rethink options...the ball's in their court.
There's an auction software that includes a code below their sig line with white fonts on a white backround. I don't know why they do this, maybe to make it easier to count how many auctions are listed with them. I plan on revising the auctions I schedule from my pc to remove their code if I buy their new version that will and it still has it. Do a text search for IAAP20 on ebay, select all and you will see this code right below their sig line.
posted on March 7, 2001 04:57:06 AM new
Since I just started using AW, not a big deal, but I cancelled everything I had. Will go back to doing it "My Way" and free. I am too little to pay any fees. I knew learning basic html was worth the effort.
posted on March 7, 2001 08:45:02 AM new
I doubt it. Most credit card companies will tell you to work this out with the vendor.
Best bet? Don't agree to any long lasting contract with ANY dot.com operation - most of them won't be around long enough to honour it, and when their big creditors get their piece of what's left, you'll get next to nothing back.
posted on March 7, 2001 12:21:30 PM newThere's an auction software that includes a code below their sig line...
I wrote to invenna, and here is what I found out.
My question:
I am considering purchasing AuctionAmigo Pro and would like to know if the paid-for version contains your (invenna's) ad at the bottom of listings made with the "auction creator" feature (as the free version I have been using does), with the clickable link to take people away from my auctions. If so, is there a setting that would allow me to leave it off, or is it automatically included with every auction made through the auction creator? Thank you.
invenna's response:
This link is automatically included in yhe Pro. It can't be removed, unless you manually remove the HTML in a manual post <Post menu> Sell Page/Review Page). We will have an 'Enterprise' version in late April that will allow removal of this.
My question:
Is the version you mention above a diferent program? Is there an additional charge?
invenna's response:
Yes, it is a different version, and there is a higher charge for this.
FYI...
...edited for spelling.
[ edited by mrpotatoheadd on Mar 7, 2001 12:24 PM ]
posted on March 7, 2001 01:22:10 PM new
So, mrpotatoheadd, is Ivenna getting their cake and eating it too? Are they seriously saying that EVEN AFTER you purchase the software their ad will still be displayed and the only way to get rid of it besides manually removing the code is to spend yet MORE MONEY on another version?
What a crock!! It's just like the default settings for almost everything on the net being set for OPT IN instead of OPT OUT. They're always set to benefit the company and screw the customer. I don't know about you but I'm really, really tired of being manipulated and jacked around!!
posted on March 7, 2001 05:53:29 PM new
I am a small seller, used auction watch from the beginning because it was easy for me. I have read the posts almost daily since the initial fee announcement. I would not have minded paying a nickle to list an auction, would never give them a percentage of my sales price and searched for days to find elsewhere to go. I found a place and will leave. I spent several days printing my pendings and getting my descriptions back to a word document. I have not posted auctions so that I could be done before the 14th, lost sales. I may have to learn new things now in order to list, but you know what, it is worth it, $5.00 per month sure beats the prices here. I learned from other sellers here and will learn from auction watch sellers at the new home. So, good-bye and farewell. When you decide to drop the FVF, I may come back. No smiley face here.
posted on March 7, 2001 06:52:27 PM new
"Imagine being on a 3 1/2 year Roller Coaster ride, and the carney just helped you get off."
he he he
If it wasn't for my wimpy wife (she won't even ride the ferris wheel) belittling me and my two macho sons, none of us would have experienced the joy of the Kumba (sp?) coaster in Busch Gardens a few years ago.
I think that 3 1/2 years would be too much. The thrill kinda wears off after you have been around the loop a few times. OTOH, I could sit in the back of an F-14 in flight forever and never get bored ...
