posted on February 7, 2001 11:57:30 AM
With all this talk about monthly fees I have been looking for one time fee auction management software for over a month and am just exhausted. I tried Mr lister and it runs so slow on my notebook that I cannot use it. I really like the invenna Auction amigo but they do not support that stupid (can I say that here) Okay STUPID ebay motors. I'd like a software that I can buy one time and not be bled to death! sure the sales based are great if you only do a couple hundered a month but if you do a lot more per month they really kill oyu with their fees. So where can I find a one time purchase software that works on ebay motors.
Prepare for the worst but hope for the best!! Spuddy98
posted on February 7, 2001 12:22:26 PM
As you do your search, you might want to keep in mind that eBud and AAPro (both of which are now pay-as-you-go programs) started out as one time fee programs.
posted on February 7, 2001 05:01:26 PM
Hey Spuddy88,
If you are interested in comparing different management tools, there are two reports that I know of that compare different Auction Management Tools (AMTs). I created one for my company (mybiz.com) and the OAUA created one at the reqest of their message board members. Both are good, but I have to admit that theirs is more comprehensive. The one that I created was just a spreadsheet that compared different features offered by different AMTs.
Here is a link to my report: http://www.mybiz.com/news/general.html
Here is a link to the OAUA report: http://www.auctionusers.org/eval/wbams.shtml
There are a number of other good AMTs that are not on either report. But I'm sure other people can tell you about them.
Hope this helps,
Raisinbrandon
[ edited by raisinbrandon on Feb 7, 2001 05:02 PM ]
posted on February 7, 2001 05:24:17 PM
Hi...
As a suggestion, to save some money and to make yourself more independent, try a little basic HTML.
The Sam's 24-hour book is great. Plus, there are alot of how-to on the web.
Netscape has a very good tutorial.
Just an idea. allows you to customize..not use a cookie cutter template...etc.
posted on February 8, 2001 09:01:14 AM
Thanks for the information. I do in fact have a template of my own that I am extremely happy with. My listings fit nicely on your screen without too much gibberish. I hate to scroll when looking at other auctions so I set mine up so others do not have to scroll to read mine. If I feel it is necessary to add more information I will supply a link. I also spent a lot of time on a 28.8 modem early on and know how slowly the big pictures load. I am now using ADSL but know few ebay buyers have it so I try to keep my pages small.
My need for management software is in :
1) listing--It takes me about two minutes per item to list it after I have prepared everything.
2) Organization--I like to do about 25 auctions at a time and keeping the names addresses and all sorted is a mess. I just received a check from a fellow today that had the dollar amount, His name and address and 'car parts' on it. I don't have the slightest clue what he bought and it will take at least ten minutes of sorting thru the EOA letters to find one that has a total that matches this check.
As I said Invenna's auction amigo is a nice package but their refusal to add the support for ebay motors is disheartening. If they all end up using fees I will do a bit of research and hacking and build my own package. Perhaps use MS Excel which is a great program. If I had it when i was in college (and known how to use it) I'd have had at least a half point higher GPA. (And I won't even get into having a word processor!! The hours spent typing and using whiteout ugh!!) I have time where I work (I am a Firefighter now - with a BSME) and am very capable of learning any computer language, at 39 I just prefer to do other things with my time.
thanks again for the help.
Prepare for the worst but hope for the best!! Spuddy98
Just a temporary fix regarding finding and EOA that matches the dollar amount when the customer does not provide an ID--I use Eudora Pro and you can do a find within a certain folder and within the body of the message. It has saved me alot of time.
posted on February 8, 2001 10:08:49 AM
I tell you the "free" things work best IMHO.
We use frontpage to create the html, using a template.
Mr. Lister to keep the collections and post them.
Then use Excel to track winning bids, shipping, and feedback.
I, too, was on the quest for the best auction management software, only to find it falls short in some particular area or another. I would love to find a program that works like my mind does in organization. A rare bird, I know.
posted on February 8, 2001 10:38:45 AM
Here's the link that was posted above, to OAUA's recent evaluation of six web-based auction managements systems:
I've not found one that lists to eBay Motors- other than perhaps Mister Lister. eBay Motors is essentially a separate site, requiring completely different coding and processes for the auction management system, and few have taken the time to become compatible with it for that reason.
We're just getting started with our evaluation of some of the PC-based auction management software; that report should be out in May.
Steve
[email protected]
posted on February 8, 2001 12:55:05 PM
Tell me what you want to see. I am in the process of writing an application for managing auctions that you are bidding on and watching. I too have found that many of the applications out there don't work the way I would like them to. I am a software developer so I have the ability to write my own. Phase 2 is that I want to create a seller's management.
Yes, I will sell the application once it's complete, but I'm thinking between 5.95 and 9.95.
Of course, I will need beta testers so send me your ideas.
posted on February 8, 2001 02:38:12 PM
Well, on the posting part, I think you should take some info from Mr. Lister. It is very simple, easy to use, and I love the collections metaphor.
On the EOA part the program should grab the info and send a nice e-mail to the winner with all info about paying for the auction. I know this has been done by other programs, but they need to get it simpler, not more complicated.
Perhaps the most important part, IMHO, is getting the information on payment and shipping address. A program that would support the e-mail confirmations from sites like paypal.com and billpoint would be great. Then even allow us at our option, to have an automatic positive feedback listed for the user that paid. Since really, they did their part.
Last but not least, Deadbeats. Gotta have something to track those that haven't paid.
Again, this has all been done, in various forms. I have downloaded, bought, and tried most of them. Except for the most expensive ones. In the end, its back to good old fashioned "paperwork" to get things organized.
posted on February 8, 2001 04:26:06 PM
Hey Spuddy88,
I really can't help for the listing stuff more than my previous post, but for email management, customer support, and marketing you should check out the company I work for: http://www.mybiz.com. We created our service to work with other Auction Management tools. We are focused more around customer service and email management and let the power-listing tools fight it out .
Hope this helps.
Raisinbrandon
P.S. Be on the lookout for our new look in the next few weeks.
[ edited by raisinbrandon on Feb 8, 2001 04:31 PM ]
posted on February 9, 2001 06:07:50 AM
goldensands and toymom,
I'm sorry but I had to delete your posts containing the urls. You may discuss competitive services however you cannot provide links or urls. You are welcome to post again if you omit the link/url.
posted on February 9, 2001 06:18:34 AM
Personally for management, etc., and customer support I don't think there is a better program than Auction Tamer. Not only does Auction Tamer handle eBay, but many of the foreign eBay sites also, and many other auctions should you at sometime decide to use them, such as Yahoo, The Fair Market Auctions, BidBay, etc., Their program is fantastic, I like it much better than eBud which I also have, AND their customer service is the best of any group of any type of soft ware I have ever encountered. You can obviously contact them at their www, and their name, .com ....You know I can't put the link but I am sure that you can figure it out from this. Check Auction Tamer out, it is a program with many rewards, from ZNet, Tucows, etc. I couldn't live without my Auction Tamer.
posted on February 9, 2001 07:27:27 AM
kerrigirl has got perhaps the best solution. As I said I do not want web based solutions. I want something portable that does not involve another party. Mr Lister takes about 45 seconds to load a new auctioin on my computer (a 120 MHz Thinkpad) I have a 800MHz HP at home but it is difficult to use my time at home for creating the listings. Look at auction amigo and you have exactly what I want only I require support for ebay motors as most of my sales are automotive related.
Thanks for info all!
Prepare for the worst but hope for the best!! Spuddy98
posted on February 9, 2001 08:08:22 AM
Software? You must be kidding. That's like buying an antique car to drive to work everyday! The only way to go is web based like AuctionWatch, Andale, GoTo, AuctionHelper, or Auctionworks. Even the recent changes eBay made to AAP supports that. Web based is the answer because your BUSINESS is web based. How is your computer software going to communicate properly with your business on the web. Ok, so AAP's web based component is cheaper than all the rest except Auctionwatch! For how long? When was the last time eBay was the cheapest option in town? We have tried Watch, Andale, GoTo and Works. We like free for sure but sorry Auctionwatch you were not reliable enough and did not provide enough of what we needed. We finally ended up at Auctionworks. Pound for Pound it offered the most for less. We also like the direct sales (sorry eBay)we get off our free WORKS Storefront. However, I think the others mentioned, including Watch, are worthy of consideration.
.