posted on November 25, 2002 12:44:38 AM new
I am a small time seller-between 74-100 auctions a month. I use turbo lister and host my own photos to avoid having to pay double listing fees ande double FVF. I know Auction Watch has some flat fee pricing, but they still include listing fees.
Is there any program that works with Ebay where you pay a flat fee?
Something that will download all the auction info after it is listed and automate the emails and accounting?
Anyone know what I am talking about?
I used the AW Premium Variable Rate, but avoid paying any listing or FVF to AW. Here's how:
Sign up for AW plan, flat rate $13.10 a month. Launch your auctions using Turbo Lister (I do), then use AW's "import my auctions" feature to get them on your AW list. Since you don't launch using AW or AW's software, the flat fee and FVF don't apply. AW's image hosting is part of the $13.10 flat rate (I use AW's image because I love that it has "click to enlarge" feature).
You can then use AW online for all of your post-management e-mails, etc, plus you can also set it up so that Paypal payment are automatically posted to the AW post-management. I don't make my customers use AW checkout, but I do fill in the info my self by (go to buyer checkout).
Used to be AW didn't work with eBay store items, but since eBay fixed-price started, AW recognizes eBay store items as FP and will import them.
I've done my auctions this way for the last 2 months, and only paid the $13.10 monthly fee to AW. The only problem I have had is that the "import" items sometimes takes up to a day to show up on my online AW listing.
I sometime have to use the "track auctions" and enter in the specific auction number, but usually it will import them in one lump throught the "import auctions" feature.
So, your cost for post management would be $13.10 divided by # of transactions/auctions. Works out to about 13 cents each for 100 auctions/month. Very much worth the money as it keeps everything post-management very easy to manage. I also love AW's "combining" feature, as I often sell multiple items to buyers, and it takes no time at all to combine items into one "order" for a customer. Bonus, too, you can access all of your auction info from anywhere there's internet access, if you travel, etc.
IMHO, AW's desktop software was worthless - the software ran extremely slow on my computer (unlike every other software program I have) and it was literally faster to post thing through the AW online.
posted on November 25, 2002 02:03:19 PM new
I have a cable modem and listing with AW's offline is great for me. I can upload in seconds with pics attached.
That is why I switched and am going to use the $29.whatever monthly rate. The 1.25% FVF will be well worth it since I can list 10 times as fast offline.
That didn't answer your question, but I wanted to defend the offline program at AW as it has been the best thing I have come across for listing.
Turbo lister is fine, but the 10 cents for extra pics at Ebay is tooooo much and having to attach my pics with html after manually uploading them on AW was just to slow.
posted on November 25, 2002 02:28:15 PM new
Be careful when it comes to Auction Hawk, the guy that runs it (Jason Rittenour) is a psychotic lunatic. I tried the service awhile back and was not happy with it and had all my images deleted while still under the free trial period. Then all of a sudden I received threatening emails from the guy satying I was interfering with his business. To this day I have no idea what his problem was.
posted on November 25, 2002 02:30:10 PM new
Buffalowoman:
Check out Shooting Star at http://www.foodogsoftware.com Ypu pay a one time fee and it is the best software out there for post-sale management. They do offer a free trial.
posted on November 25, 2002 03:19:57 PM new
Ash Looks like yours is the way to go. I wasn't aware you could do that with Auction Watch. I checked out the other suggestions also and they seem pretty much what i already have. I had paid $80.00 for Blackthorne the year before Ebay bought them, I do have Auction Commander which does pretty much what Shooting Star does only the cost was just $19.00 and I also purchased Retail Ice (but I found out that like Auction Watch, they are free now but will be charging fees in the future.)
I always liked Auction Watch, but between Ebay fees, PayPal fees and AW fees it started costing to much to sell anything.
I'm going to try it your way for a month or two-nothing to lose right?
Thanks everyone
posted on November 25, 2002 06:02:40 PM new
I've used AuctionTamer for years, and they are reliable, updates are free, and their support and managment is tops.
posted on December 1, 2002 03:29:40 PM new
Well, I have tried them all and I must admit that Auction Tamer takes first place for my needs!
Liked it so well I took paid a year in advance-less than $6.00 a month that way.
Have to admit I had a problem in the begining-but their support is FANTASTIC!!!!
Turns out my problem was due to a virus on my computer that I was unaware of..everything running smooth now.
Thanks everyone!
