posted on February 25, 2007 07:37:48 PM
I have always loved Vendio and I really appreciate the help of all my fellow-VDers. So I'm wondering if anyone had tried out Auctiva and what are the pros and cons of Vendio vs. Auctiva. No, I'm not leaving Vendio for my main auctions, but I've just started using another eBay name for consignment items and wanted to start "fresh" and try Auctiva for a few of those auctions only. It is free, but I guess sometimes you get what you pay for (or don't pay for). I think perhaps I'm so used to using Vendios Checklist, that I won't be happy using Auctiva for any of my auctions. I'm a real creature of habit.
posted on February 25, 2007 11:40:40 PM
I have just started to split some of my items and have been trying Auctiva.
I too love Vendio as it is so easy to use but I wanted to also pare down my costs a little and I was also running out of image space here.
I am keeping a couple of categories ( big ones) here as well as my Store items.
There is for me a real learning curve as it is a bit cumbersome to use but I think I have it worked out now.
The main problem I have with it is that you cannot do any re-lists from Auctiva, you have to do them from the My EBay Unsold Items page which takes FOREVER compared with the ease of re-listing from here.
I still prefer Vendio but Auctiva is definitely more workable than some I tried.
posted on February 26, 2007 12:41:51 AM
I think you can use both at the same time to start. I use Vendio for listing, but I like the Auctiva scrolling thing. Its a nice service for free, but make sure you turn off the Auctiva checkout, it can be a pain for buyers!
posted on February 26, 2007 08:47:45 AM
I had to tighten my belt this past fall and had to look at alternatives.
The auctiva scrolling thing....Yuk... If you ever decided to stop using Auctiva the scrolling thing will scroll showing you have nothing for sale in all the auctions you've launced through Auctiva. In order to get rid of the code you have to go into each listing and manually remove it. A real pain in the you know what...
If you are trying to save money look into Sellers Sourcebook (SSB) for picture hosting and templates. Turbo lister will get your items launched. There are more steps involved in listing but it's way cheaper. eBay seller manager keeps track of post sale management.
Switching over to SSB is great because you can just upload your photos by using their drag and drop feature. You just drag and drop actual photos into their webpage from another webpage or your by file name from you computer.
I do miss the scheduling aspect of Vendio and Auctiva though...
posted on February 26, 2007 08:50:50 AM
pixiamom...I must be doing something wrong with my re-lists from the EBay page because it takes almost 2 minutes per item! The page keeps refreshing each time I make a change.
What's the secret..how do you do them so quickly? What if you want to make changes?
posted on February 26, 2007 12:40:28 PM
"I do miss the scheduling aspect of Vendio and Auctiva though..."
you can schedule launches, thru both of these .... but i still like auctive better, cuz it's free .... the 'scrolling'? i'm used to it, cuz it's free ... it's not THAT much scrolling. imho....
posted on February 27, 2007 06:20:30 AM
I relist in bulk. I only make changes when I send to the store, then I make changes in bulk. if I have to make changes to only a few items, I will revise after they are relisted.
posted on February 28, 2007 06:50:47 PM
I also tried to cut some expenses, even though I love Vendio & used it since the beginning of Vendio - when it was free. I keep a basic Vendio account, but I am using Auctiva for the majority of my listings now, but use Vendio Post Sale Management to help me keep track of payment, shipping, feedback, etc. Plus Vendio keeps a list unsold items, which can then be quickly relisted through Ebay.
posted on March 1, 2007 07:39:50 AM
local said..."I am using Auctiva for the majority of my listings now, but use Vendio Post Sale Management to help me keep track of payment, shipping, feedback, etc."
local...How do you use Vendio in sync with Auctiva? Do you have to import your basic listing less the photos or something? One thing I've found with Auctiva is that it has a lot of glitches and sometimes loses your information (a problem I never had with Vendio) and Auctiva's features are not always easy to navigate.
But one of the most supportive features I enjoy with Vendio is this Community. You've never let me down. There are some great people on here who are always willing to help - you know who you are...and I can say I've done my fair share of helping when I can too.
[ edited by cta on Mar 1, 2007 07:40 AM ]
posted on March 1, 2007 08:14:44 AM
"Sure sounds like we are all in the same boat here!We all love Vendio but need to cut expenses!"
My Vendio bill is a drop in the bucket and well worth every penny. I save that much alone in the scheduling feature. Vendio is not the "Cadillac" in auction services but I can get by just fine with my Toyota. Vendio is easy to use, runs on "regular" fairly economically and is very reliable. I am willing to pay for a service that delivers.
And "ditto" to praises for the EO board folks.
EDITED : WTF! I can't figure out how to "bold" here anymore!
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posted on March 1, 2007 09:51:15 AM
I also 'ditto' the comment regarding the wonderful help available here. I have picked up so many tips to add to my knowledge.
I am not a huge seller and use Vendio for picture storage and for preparing listings. I don't take advantage of any of the other Features. I was running out of storage space for photos here.
I do not schedule as I prefer to launch manually and space them out as I like and I don't use the Post Sale features either as being fairly small I can manage to keep a 'handle' on everything myself. I am not in the US so some of the services just do not work for me.
I have experimented with many of the other sevices and Vendio is the best by far and I have no intention of cancelling just putting some of my listings through Auctiva. I do find their systems to be cumbersome compared with here but at least they are easier to understand ( for me) than some of the other services.
posted on March 1, 2007 06:05:44 PM
cta,
I import my listings into Vendio after they have launched, so they will be available in Post Management. I use the Post Management to print invoices & track who has paid - PayPal payments show up the same. I also select my shipped items & do a mass email of items shipped & feedback left. Unfortunately, after you archive the items, they reappear after you import again - kind of a nuisance. When I relist, I click on the link from Vendio, which takes me to the ad & then use eBay to relist the item.
Yes, you are correct, there are sometimes glitches with auctiva & I have lost ads while writing them. It is also much slower than Vendio. Actually, a thumbnail photo is in your images folder, so I periodically delete them - they are small in size & don't really know what the purpose is.
Hopefully, now that my secret is published on this board, Vendio will allow me to keep my minimum account.
I have tried other services, but Auctiva seems the best to me. I value imaging & think their image service is very good.
posted on March 1, 2007 09:33:38 PM
Thanks local - You mean you import your Auctiva auctions to Vendio after they close right? I don't see where you can import any auctions if they are active or just launched. And I'm assuming that Vendio does not charge the Final Value Fee if you import after the auction closes?
I'll give your process a whirl. Like I said, I have been a Vendio user since they began (when they were free too) and have no intentions of leaving. Just using Auctiva for my additional eBay account to keep things separate.
Edited to add - local, I think I figured the importing thing out thanks to you.
I use Vendio for listing, but I like the Auctiva scrolling thing. Its a nice service for free, but make sure you turn off the Auctiva checkout, it can be a pain for buyers! 
