niallc
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posted on January 12, 2001 01:40:03 PM
I was reading the OAUA review of auction management services here:
http://www.auctionusers.org/eval/wbams.shtml
And wondered if anyone agreed with their findings? I've used AW a couple of times and didn't realize there were so many alternatives - anyone have experience with the ones that scored higher?
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tomwiii
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posted on January 12, 2001 03:19:00 PM
I've used ROVER for past 5 mos & can't say enough good things about it!
My stored auctions take about 1 minute each to launch & new auctions take me about 5 minutes to create & launch!
Six mos ago they were a MESS; NOW they are THE BESTEST!
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forgiven
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posted on January 12, 2001 05:15:44 PM
Tom,
How do I get to ROVER?
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tomwiii
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posted on January 12, 2001 05:20:17 PM
goto someplace different...
To avoid being slapped upside the head by the ModSquad this is as subtle as can be...
[ edited by tomwiii on Jan 12, 2001 07:34 PM ]
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AnnieJean
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posted on January 12, 2001 07:46:42 PM
Seems there's an echo in here tonight. Not sure why I got two posts for the price of one, but this post has been deleted by yours truly because it is the same as the next post by yours truly. (sigh!)
[ edited by AnnieJean on Jan 12, 2001 07:48 PM ]
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AnnieJean
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posted on January 12, 2001 07:47:18 PM
Next to Auction Watch, flow is one of the best I have come across in a long time.
flow and rover and watch all have the same first and last names.
goto has no first name but his last name is the same last name as all the rest.
OUCH! Said in anticipation of slap on wrist!
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tuition44years
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posted on January 12, 2001 07:56:01 PM
Is AW the only one that does thumbnails in auctions? I'd like to try gt but don't know how to or if I can do thumbnails. Is there an html code for it?
While I have your attention  .. what do you use for a blank URL to get the 'pic' icon??
Thanks!
Edited to turn on email .. where'd that option go??
______
I have a memory like a steel trap .. unfortunately it's rusted shut!
[ edited by tuition44years on Jan 12, 2001 07:57 PM ]
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MAH645
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posted on January 12, 2001 08:00:43 PM
Pooch is my favorite.
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AnnieJean
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posted on January 12, 2001 08:08:14 PM
Pooch??????
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magazine_guy
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posted on January 12, 2001 08:14:27 PM
We didn't look at AuctionPooch....
AuctionRover is now Goto.
Here's the clickable link to OAUA's evaluation that niallc referred to:
http://www.auctionusers.org/eval/wbams.shtml
We only looked at Web-based management systems for this report; we will be taking a look at the home-based software (like Auction Assistant, eBud, and similar programs) in coming months.
I'd be interested in folks' comments on whether the report matches their observations, and also any input on which home-based software packages work well.
Steve
[email protected]
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BustaGrooves
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posted on January 13, 2001 08:59:24 AM
Doing thumbnails are pretty easy, after you get the knack of HTML code. Let's say you have the URL of your image (simplified to 'X' for instructional-sake) and it's put into your auction ad template like so:
< IMG SRC="X" >
Then to make a thumbnail, you then change the IMG tag with the constrained width or height that you desire. Most people worry about width, and constrain it at 200 pixels, like so:
< IMG SRC="X" WIDTH="200" >
So that'll make your image a thumbnail, but it's not clickable to the fullsize version. To do that, you surround the IMG tag with the A tag to link it to the same URL of your image, like so:
< A HREF="X" >
< IMG SRC="X" WIDTH="200" >
< /A >
You may also want to put instructions for your buyer to click on the image to get the enlarged version.
HTH,
Busta
[ edited by BustaGrooves on Jan 13, 2001 09:01 AM ]
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niallc
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posted on January 13, 2001 08:08:26 PM
thanks for all of the replies. I plan to check all of the services, although the vote seems to be overwhemingly in favor of GOTO. I will report my findings when I do. Thanks again....
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gluechunk
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posted on January 13, 2001 09:25:22 PM
BustaGrooves, that code will get you a fake thumbnail. While the viewer will be shown a smaller image, they will still be downloading the entire image (which kinda defeats the pupose of a thumbnail).
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tuition44years
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posted on January 13, 2001 09:58:11 PM
Thanks Busta!!
Gluechunk .. any idea how to work around that?
Your names really crack me up for some reason!
______________________
I have a memory like a steel trap .. unfortunately it's rusted shut!
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xenotoys
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posted on January 14, 2001 06:51:02 PM
Am I the only person that's running a business here? If you're not paying for your management service, I think you are crazy - for an example of why, read my post here->
http://www.auctionwatch.com/mesg/read.html?num=2&thread=314907
I use eladna (read it backwards) and while the 3% is pretty expensive - heck at least I know they'll be in business tomorrow and my business will keep running vs. logging in one day and having something like this->
www.pets.com
Or does anyone remember:
www.auctionuniverse.com that became
www.auctions.com (now redirects to cnet i think).
Then there's
www.boxlot.com
All of these guys had more $ than AW, *and* charged their users.
Xeno
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xlhgrl
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posted on January 14, 2001 06:54:42 PM
eposter is pretty good, plus you can put in pix as thumbnails, there's no html involved, they do it for you.
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motive8
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posted on January 14, 2001 07:05:23 PM
I use both AuctionWatch and A******works. I used to use AW all the time, then tried the other. Neither one is perfect, and it takes a while to get used to all the little nuances.
At least with the other one I know I can complain if I have a problem since I'm paying for it.
I used to use AW for eBay, but switched to the other. Now I use AW for my Yahoo! auctions, which I just registered for. This was I keep the two separate, plus the other guys haven't reached an agreement with Yahoo! yet, AW has.
Can't beat this discussion board and newsletters on AW, though.
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xenotoys
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posted on January 14, 2001 07:22:17 PM
motive8 - i tried the auctionw***s before - they charge now right?
How much do they charge? are you happy with the fee/value proposition?
xeno
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motive8
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posted on January 14, 2001 07:37:11 PM
xenotoys,
Just to be sure what I tell you is current and correct, I checked on the website to verify, this is a cut & paste
We charge a small fee of $.10 minimum to $.75 maximum on each item sold through an auction launched through Auctionw***s (based on a 2% commission) and a straight 2% commission on each item sold from a user's S***eFront. That means no listing fees, and no fee at all unless an item sells. All of our other features and services are free!
I didn't like it at first. Partially becuase I hated to get used to a new system. They have been quite reliable and have a toll free number for questions, plus 24 hour navigational support (like a private chatboard between you and a rep).
I like how they are flexible and have many customizable features. I like their EOAs, it will calculate shipping for each auction if I enter the price I want.
They do charge, but I think it's worth it. I still like AuctionWatch, becuase it too, is reliable and at least it supports Yahoo! which the other one does not (yet).
When I first started with eBay I listed manually on eBay's web site. I also used Dish***sty.com, which is great when it works.
Overall, I'm happy with both. Each one has its advantages.
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xenotoys
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posted on January 14, 2001 07:56:18 PM
motive8 - do you agree with the ratings at that auctionusers.org site?
They gave your guys a 'b' on functionality - what do you think they lack vs. AW? Have you tried the other one that charges?
Xeno
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motive8
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posted on January 14, 2001 08:16:57 PM
xenotoys,
I'm not aware of the ratings you mentioned, but generally I would agree with the "b" for functionality.
They're not perfect, and there are some glitches, but overall they work quite well.
They are the first paid auction management site I have used. I think it's worth paying a bit.
What they lack that AuctionWatch has, is being able to launch to Yahoo! Auctions, ease of use (AuctionWatch I found much easier to learn), better preview screens, AuctionWorks has easier to use features, but the other guys have more features in general.
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rhondalee65
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posted on January 14, 2001 08:24:54 PM
<b>tomwiii:</b> I totally agree with you - Auction Rover / goto is hands down the ABSOLUTELY BEST auction management. Their post auction management is a breeze! They now have an even greater selection of holiday templates and counters. I can't even imagine paying for auction management while Rover is out there!
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rnrgroup
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posted on January 14, 2001 09:24:45 PM
The OAUA report is excellent - recommended reading for anyone interested in online auction management tols. Even if the site you use or are interested is not reviewed, it will give you things to look for in assessing another sites value to you.
Reports like these seem so simple, but they reflect an absolutely huge number of hours to do the research and test all the variables. OAUA did a superb job on this. -Rosalinda
TAGnotes - daily email synopsis about the Online Auction Industry
http://www.topica.com/lists/tagnotes
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computerboy
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posted on January 15, 2001 08:12:01 PM
Hands down! Auctionamigo. invenna.com
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paintpower
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posted on January 17, 2001 05:02:42 AM
I've been using AuctionPoster and EBud for about a year and have been very happy with them. They are not free and there is a yearly fee involved, but they are very much on top of any changes in the auction sites, add new features very quickly and are very fast to answer any tech support questions you have and stay with it until your question has been answered. I like them because I don't have to be on the Internet to work on my auctions (terrible slow Internet connection would make that almost impossible). You can convert Ebay auctions over to Yahoo auctions without retyping all the information and then post them.
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lovepotions
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posted on January 17, 2001 05:10:07 AM
Interesting thread.......thanks.
I have been hand typing all my auctions and I am frankly burned out after an entire year of doing it.
I signed up for most of these services but never actually USED any of them.
So what is the final word??
Maybe someone can create a poll and vote on which service is the easiest, best to use??
Add a little flavor to your love life with "Love Potions"
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nefish
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posted on January 17, 2001 07:03:24 AM
Another vote for auctionamigo from invenna. *Great* customer support and a superior product. Leaves e-bud in the dust, IMHO, for auction management...
But I am a diehard supporter of AW to create my listings.
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debbielennon
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posted on January 17, 2001 07:20:59 AM
Another happy auctionamigo user here, too! I list & manage with aa & use auctionworks free image hosting service. Took me awhile to find a good easy-to-use image host (without violating any TOS') that was reliable! I like the gross profit reports that I can generate and I also like that the stuff like shipping costs & my item cost can be entered & saved when I create my listing. (Less rework! Less paperwork!)
Do any of the online auction management services generate detailed gross profit reports? I suppose you could always use the sales reports at Vrane to do some of that.
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susanjamoya
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posted on January 18, 2001 01:44:57 PM
another vote for the ROVER here. i love him and he's just kept getting better over the last 6 months. goto their site and check them out if you're still trying to decide.
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mark
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posted on January 18, 2001 01:56:58 PM
susanjamoya, of course you like rover, you work for them.
I'm getting a little tired of people with agendas masquerading as auction users around these forums. If you don't have the common decency to come forward as an auction site affiliate/employee you don't deserve the right to post. Stop trying to manipulate the users here, ok?
You're suspended, do not return to these forums.
Mark
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