posted on November 22, 2000 08:03:54 PM new
I thought this would be a good thread for all you new sellers looking for tools to help you do the job.Better,faster,more efficient etc.
These are the ones I like I am sure there are others who will either agree or disagree.
First listing tools.
The best I have seen is Auction Manager Pro thats put out here by Auction Watch.I like it a lot and its very easy to use.
Worth downloading if you want to list a few items at a time.
Auction management,I like EBUD,easy to use and has served me well for the 2 years I have used it.
Easy to generate emails etc.
As to relisting here is a great site its called Auction Robot.Put out by vwrane.com
It has lots of neat programmes to go with it and its free as of right know too.
Its the easiest relist tool I have seen and you can change price,all kinds of things on it.Its been a life saver for me here.
Payment services for credit cards
Paypal is Ok but left a bad taste in a lot of sellers mouths.
Personally I like Billpoint never had a problem with it yet and the support is great too.
If you want to add counters and monitor your hits etc then Honesty.com is the best for that.
As to shipping USPS go to the web site and there you can figure out exact shipping based on weight etc for shipping all over the known universe.
If you want to keep up with what is going on ebaY this is the place to be right here on
Auction Watch lots of good advice and ideas.
Sometimes a little on the negative side but where else can you gripe where others understand.
thats my 2c's worth.
I do not represent any of these but my life is so much easier when they all work together as they have been for the last week.
posted on November 22, 2000 09:52:51 PM new
Imabrit,
How about a little more qualification for your statements? Up until recently, selling was just a hobby, listing about one item every two months are so, but now I'm raising the bar to fifty or so for the next couple of months and I need direction.
Why is Honesty.com better for counters than AuctionWatch? How is EBUD better for auction management than say, uh, AuctionWatch? What features does EBUD have over a scratch-made system using a word processor and/or spreadsheet (I don't want to reinvent the wheel)?
posted on November 23, 2000 06:06:50 AM new
wynter AMEN on the optimizer, but a newbie most likely doesn't even know what an optimizer is! An optimizer compresses the space, that is the number of bits your picture requires and makes it appear more quickly, or in other words, the download for the viewer is faster.
My required list for successful auctions and web sites is:
Digital Camera
Flatbed Scanner
PaintShop Pro 7
Ulead Optimizer
Auction Assistant
eBud
Auction Tamer
Submit-Wolf For Advertising Web Sites
Go-To Auction Submit Program for eBay
AND knowing how to use the above, and creating an auction ad with imagination and style.
posted on November 23, 2000 06:10:19 AM new
Explanation, for those who may wonder why I listed both eBud and Auction Tamer - I use eBud, obviously for eBay, but Auction Tamer for Yahoo and other auctions, and I MUCH prefer the Auction Tamer format. Auction Tamer will function for eBay also, but I didn't get Auction Tamer till I'd had eBud for a year or so.
Among many other reasons one of the best things about Auction Tamer is their support which is FANTASTIC, FAST, AND COURTEOUS!
posted on November 23, 2000 07:09:37 AM new
1. A 10 pound scale!
{It has saved so much time!)
2. Digital camera vote here too!
3. Paper cutter.
(I use it to cut down boxes to be used for postcard or book stabilizers--though it probably won't last too long with that use.)
4. A processing room for product!
(I recently moved all my wrapping supplies, smaller boxes, cardboard stiffeners, scales and paper cutter into a well-lit little second floor bedroom. I always dreaded the wrapping part of auctions. Now I have everything in one area & can actually see because I have two big windows. I moved a rolling butcher block cart about three feet long under those windows. I am actually enjoying the processing part now! The windows look out to the front yard and cul-de-sac. Before I was on a windowless landing, with supplies scattered in whatever room I could find to take them. My kids will be home for a month on college break soon so I am glad I am now contained. No more griping! Sorry so long...just thought I would share....)
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in the U.S. today. LabRat 4 GMOS
posted on November 23, 2000 07:23:53 AM new
I am new to all of this myself, and I gotta say this is a great thread! Too bad I didn't know about AW BEFORE I started listing. It's also too bad that other newbies don't know to read threads like this until AFTER they've made mistakes and great discoveries on their own!
Thanks to everyone for the great tips!
BassicBrian
posted on November 23, 2000 07:33:17 AM new
One of the very best tools I have found to date is the wonderful image viewer by the German Company, Irfanview.
The program is free, downloads quickly and is very easy to use! I use it to view and edit my hundreds of image files. I don't know what I ever did without this program!
posted on November 23, 2000 08:23:35 AM new
I agree with imabrit. I searched for a long time for programs to help save time and make listing and management easy.
I use:
Auction Manager Pro - excellent for inventory management and listings!
eBud - once you have this all set up with your specifics, this is a huge timesaver. I can send all my auction notices with a particular auctions info automatically plugged in - within a few seconds. It keeps records and allows you to print out records of your choice for bookeeping. The person who started this program thought of it all! There is even a browser to go to the web while still in eBud. You can view and leave feedback, etc, etc. There is more - much more, don't have time to go on!
I used to use SimplyPostage and recommend that for anyone wanting to mark postage and mail from home. However, for me I decided not to have that expense. I have a Post Office Box I have to check often, and decided it was just as easy to take packages with me and send.
BillPoint, BidPay (no fees-winner pays for a money order to be sent to you), and PayPal are what I use. Not real happy with PayPal and their fees, but I have many customers request it.
A flatbed scanner is useful.
Sony Mavica Digital Camera is the best! Especially if you take close-ups.
A packing area with all the necessities within reach makes things so much easier. -boxes, labels, tape, box cutter, scissors, markers, etc-
USPS at their worst is still the best for shipping. If you go their website, you an order for FREE different sized Priority boxes, tape, labels. I don't think I could stay in business if it wasn't for this.
A storage area is a must for me. I keep my auction items there and half way organized.
A 10lb scale is important for precise shipping quotes. I've lost money guessing!
And for my own sanity, I have a TV-VCR by my computer. Sometimes just to have noise or to watch Fox News to see if we have a president yet.
Along with this I have a small stereo for listening to CD's, tapes, Dr. Laura & Rush. (don't hate me!)
And finally, this Auction Watch Message Center has taught me a lot. I've learned more here than I thought possible!
Good Luck to all you just starting! I would have so much time if I had seen lists like what's in this thread! Go for it!
posted on November 23, 2000 08:28:07 AM new
The things I have found most helpfull since day one being A seller.
AuctionWatch manager Whether you lauched auctions from here or just import you can track all sold and unsold inventory your unsold items are alway at your figure tips to simple just relist when you need to.
The digital camera, scanner, and programs are all good tools but none of this will do you one bit of good that one day you get to your computer to find it dead broken unbootable or dead monitor.
Most valuble thing I have is the number of a place where I can rent or lease a computer to use within an hour if your with out a computer your outa business.
The second most valuble tool I have is a instant I Photo camera and flim you know the polaroid that take the little 1 inch pictures I cant say how many nights this has saved me when I go to take pictures and find I dont have new batterys for my digital camera these camera take little pictures the when scaned come out great.
Card board clean used and new boxes no matter the size broken down any heavy box can be cut down and used to make a custom size package or box this is great for when you have an item you need to double box you got the inside box the item fits in but cant find the right size for the second box also a dry place to store 50 or 60 of these broke down boxes.
paper shreader for some of the best low cost packageing around styrofoam like you can find in most art and craft stores or any craft department in most department stores, Foam rubber for padding them delicate items and rolls of brown wrapping paper and a supply of cheap clear packageing tape I can find this tape usually at most dollar stores saves loads of money when you get 300 ft rolls a $1 each.
I have been in the custom packageing business near 20 years this dont hurt much either # 1 rule if you dont want to package it or cant think of a way to pack it so it can ship safe don't list it or make sure the buyer know they will pay handleing for a packing company to box it for you.
As you can see what I am really saying is the most important thing you need before you even think of listing is a plan from the ad to shipping.
Dont list more then you know you can handle shipping in a reasonable amount of time best to get everyone in the house involved.
Set only one or two days a week for shipping this will free more time for takeing pictures listing and out looking for more stuff to sell, this will also pervent much of the burn out pressure some seller feel with dead lines.
Dont set up your auction account with your credit card set up a bank account with a debit card use this no interest with this the money you save yearly on interest alone will more then likely pay for listing fees.
Decide on and set a limit for your sales spending open the account with $50 to $100 never do any thing on a whim that will put you out of business if it fails $100 I think is a perfect ammount you can plan $25 for listing and FVF and have $75 left to help cover shipping before all your payments get deposited for use as the account grows so can your sales and business.
My sales started with free money I made right on the web I didnt use one penny of my own to start. I had 3 $25 checks from alladvantage $20 from x.com $10 from paypal $10 from payplace $10 from jackpot.com.
Its harder to find free money on the net right now but if you go to cyber gold sign up an account with them then start a compubank account through them they pay you $40 this is a good start.
one more important tool certinly not the last or least is a good sense of humor and a will to deal with all types of people. must have the abilty to deal with the public on a one on one bases 24/7 online sales never close like a brick and mortar store.
posted on November 23, 2000 08:46:14 AM new
Well the best deal I found on a scanner was $49 its not big but will scan document size works well does the job for pennys.
As far as digital camera when I was starting I didnt have tons of money haveing a familly of 6 I started with a instant camera and when the chance came up I signed up with earthlink as my proviver it was $6 a month cheaper then I was paying and they gave me a free digital camera this works great I paid $0 for it.
another cheap digital camera for beginers is one of the kiddy digitals you might feel silly at frist but the photos are fairly good quality and you save hundereds as these can be had from $20 to $60 on line and in stores.
The Idea here is that Online auctions is a low cost start up heck a new user dont even know if they will enjoy or like selling why spend thousands to find out.
Another cheap source of equiment is to find someone you know who is getting new stuff if there old stuff still works make a offer usually some one out spending a few thousand On new will jump at the chance to make some back offer $20 or so for there old use scanner, printer so on , no one offer cash is ever insulted inless they would give it to you free.
posted on November 23, 2000 10:48:06 AM new
WHAT IS EBUD...i love auction watch at the beginning but it is a pain when you want to email the info to the buyer
