posted on July 18, 2001 03:24:06 PM
I don't how many others are dealing with the problem of finding new auction software. Having previously been a happy customer of Auction Amiga, I'm not finding the choices out there very appealing. As I stated in a previous post, I have not been able to get my auctions to post with Auctiva and have had no response from customer service. So, they have been eliminated.
I just downloaded Ebay's Auction Assistant Basic (formerly owned by Blackthorne Software's Auction Assistant). At a cost of $4.99 a month, I don't find the cost to be unreasonable. Their premium service with Auction Assistant Pro is $15.99 a month, which is a bit out of my comfort zone. Have any of you used this software since it was purchased by Ebay? If so, have you been pleased? How is customer support? Thanks in advance.
posted on July 18, 2001 03:47:09 PM
I wanted to sign up also, but I went to the Ebay forum where all the Auction Assistant users congregate. 90% of the posts were complaining about how poorly the software works so I didn't continue any further. That was a month ago.Maybe it has improved now.
posted on July 18, 2001 03:55:55 PM
I use an auction Software that I found online and the seller sends me regular updates etc. It took me a little time to learn how to use but once I got started it was worth the one time cost I paid for it. Just a suggestion here's the link to the site.
http://www.qwe.net/auctions/
posted on July 18, 2001 04:08:07 PM
If I was in the US I'd probably try auctionworks. Their sloagn is 'power tools for power sellers'. It probably works since developped by a powerseller and they need to make their numbers. It doesn't interest me too much because one has to be connected online all the time and I live in Europe and I pay for each second connected to the Internet.I use Auctiva because you can work off-line.But I'm not a happy bunny at the moment.
[ edited by lafournigue on Jul 18, 2001 04:08 PM ]
posted on July 18, 2001 04:48:27 PM
I used AA Classic for years & it was a nice product.
I signed up for SAB when it was purchased by ebay (actually..when we were "forced" to make a choice) and found some nifty new features (multi-view upload, all the ebay "options can be filled in, so no more going to the "view auction page" to it over the AA Classic.
It has a pretty quick learning curve to it and the help/tutorial section is reasonably good.
ebay revisions to the "sell your item" page are virtually transparent if you do a weekly maintenance on the upgrades (there's a clickable link for this).
I know some people hate it & have had problems getting to know it but I've enjoyed it both as a Blackthorne product & as an ebay product. It has nice post auction communication so with the click of your mouse, you can send EOAs, payment received & item shipped emails fast.
The "clean up" feature on each auction allows you to manage not only your pictures on the web but your storage files on your hard drive as well.
You can use IPIX w/it or your own webspace. If you use your own webspace, it has a section on how to set up your FTP settings if you don't have a separate FTP section.
It automatically fills in your auction number when you submit an auction & you can toggle between active & inactive auctions in your database.
One of the few drawbacks is the larger your database, the longer it takes to load. Once you have a description you like, if you have others to sell, you can just "duplicate" that auction to another one.
Everything, your BIN, reserve, prices, quantity, almost everything can be entered & built off line. Then once you are ready to submit, go on-line, turn the individual auction to "active" and hit the button. Takes seconds (usually) to load.
Even during FLD, it was taking me less than 20 seconds to load an auction.
There are several people on AW who use both the SAB and the SAP and if you need help, just check back in & one of us will be glad to try & help you with your questions.
posted on July 19, 2001 06:01:30 AM
I'm still using Mister Lister, primarily because it is free, and have my own custom Access database to record/track auctions and sales.
There's really very little rocket science to auction software, but because eBay changes things frequently, you have to spend a fair amount of energy dealing with upgrades for listing.
posted on July 20, 2001 02:24:49 PM
What I want to know is why are there so many sellers on these boards that dont use AW?
I tried AA Pro before AW went to fees, and I didnt like it. I was used to AW and am still used to AW, and it may cost a bit, but it is good, and it works (most of the time, more than eBay, anyway). The site is great, the software is great, the stuff looks good, its easy, usually effecient - basically I like it. I just wonder if this post will be deleted for me promoting their own site.
posted on July 20, 2001 03:09:11 PM
I'd love to use Auctionwatch, but will not pay a final value fee. If they ever eliminate that criteria, I'd gladly give them a try.
posted on July 20, 2001 04:14:31 PM
kristie- I don't understand why any site, offering as much as AW does, would furnish those facilities free. I appreciate your need to get everything free, but it is just not reasonable to EXPECT everything to be free. Most of the free sites, over the past couple of years, have added too much advertising, flooded me with pop-ups, caused system problems, or gone belly-up. (AW- note that I do expect a site I am paying for
to do none of these awful things.)
posted on July 20, 2001 05:16:04 PM
rgrem, I wouldn't interpret what Kristie wrote as someone who would "EXPECT everything to be free". Some services charge a flat fee. For people who list more than 400 auctions a month, or more than $2000 in auction sales a month, a $20/month fee is more economical than a nickel per auction and 1% back end fee. Even AW's "Power Plan" isn't a flat fee, because you still get the nickel a listing.
I'm sure that AW put a lot of thought into this, and tailored their fee structure according to what kind of customer they wanted to attract. For low volume sellers, their fee structure might be very attractive. For high volume sellers, I'm sure that there are other, less-expensive options available.
I would be the first to suggest avoiding services that are still "Free". Free services on the internet is too 1999 for me
posted on July 20, 2001 06:26:57 PM
I get the point about volume of business and costs. I am very small. But I probably won't have to worry about it much longer. I'm getting the pop-up windows again and just won't take it any longer. I'll let my current auctions finish, and check out of AW (sadly) as soon as possible. It must be just I, but it enrages me to treated this way by the intrusive pop-ups. Guess it's because I have zero control over what AW wants to do dump on my syatem.
to it over the AA Classic.
