posted on November 5, 2000 05:45:18 PM new
Hi. I actually was invited out to visit SmoothSale last month (and I wrote a little bit about my trip in the month's OAUA Newsletter. http://www.auctionusers.org/newsletter/
Most of my practical experience on the site comes from browsing/buying rather than selling. I've only a dozen or two items up for sale there now. I find the concept -- a live chat with your inventory built in for ease of closing the sale -- to be an interesting one. I enjoy live chat -- like meeting my customers -- and so it seems to work well for me and my style. (However -- they're new and traffic is still building.)
posted on November 5, 2000 06:17:29 PM new
Check it out at www.smoothsale.com. They have a live demo there, but if you decide to sign up, use the link from the ad on AW and they will give you $10. to sign up.
SmoothSale is a tool whereby you can talk to your customers via a live chat type forum and actually negotiate a deal and if they use an online payment system, pay for the thing just about right on the spot. You can put this tool in auctions (ebaY so far is saying it is OK), on your website, in emails etc. It lets folks know when you are online or send you an email when you aren't. You can list inventory in the Smoothsale Marketplace, or just use it elsewhere to close deals. I think it is the next wave - the next step past auctions, as it can be used with auctions or seperately.
There is a Smoothsale forum on auctiondiner.com that is staffed by a Smoothsale staff member.
I too visited SmoothSale and am fascinated by the concept. I can see so much potential in it. I do not yet have a financial relationship with SS, but am seriously contemplating one. My original trip was to see how Million Auction March could work with them. I was very very impressed! -Rosalinda
TAGnotes - daily email synopsis about the Online Auction Industry http://www.topica.com/lists/tagnotes
posted on November 5, 2000 06:33:35 PM new
Rosalinda...Thanx for the info & the scoop on the $10 "gift"....Sounds like it is definately worth a look see...At my age, the only waves I can ride are these kind!
posted on November 5, 2000 08:38:56 PM new
ExecGirl, no it is not like HumanClick. From what I have seen/read - human click has a tracking system for adverts, and info, though the element of the chat and the online/offline is similar. SmoothSale does not have any tracking link - it is a tool to close a sale. Check out the live demo, it will give you a much better idea of what it will do. -ROsalinda
TAGnotes - daily email synopsis about the Online Auction Industry http://www.topica.com/lists/tagnotes
posted on November 6, 2000 12:19:59 AM new
Sorta like IRC comes of age.
I miss the old days when it was just anonymous sex....
Now you can get scr*wed and chat with the fella about the weather in his town...oh joy.
Capriole
(juuuuuust joking about anonymous sex or any other sex, oki doki moderator?)
posted on November 6, 2000 05:41:58 PM new
Hi Zapped and everyone else,
As an "official" SmoothSaler, I just wanted to chime in here.
The best way to understand how SmoothSale works is to try out a live demo (between 8 and 8, M-F). Be sure to drive a hard bargain so that you can see how flexible the software is!
As a seller, you have the chance to chat with your customers AT the point of sale. There is nothing like this out there.
If you have any questions, I'm always happy to answer them. SmoothSale is very committed to listening to and learning from our customer feedback.
I actually was invited out to visit SmoothSale last month (and I wrote a little bit about my trip in the month's OAUA Newsletter. http://www.auctionusers.org/newsletter/
