posted on September 17, 2000 09:31:07 AM
In the beginning I listed online using the venue forms for creating auctions.
In time I purchased the Auction Ass't program and found it both helpful and well supported. It did require I secure a seperate web site for picture hosting and , due to AOL problems, another location for end of auction emails.
Now I would like to move on. AA has been purchased by eBay and will not be expanded to support YAHOO.
I would like like to create listings that can be used on two or more sites, be able to prepare low dollar items in bulk loading and manage EOA functions.
While all of this is available in stand alone programs for seperate functions and some programs combine several options I'm confused in trying to find the best present option(s) with some reasonable basis for believing they will not be restricted to one venue or other limiting changes imposed.
As most of you well understand, a free or for fee program is only the beginning of the process. Learning the program, developing internal procedures and web sites for storage, facing downtimes and constant up-dates as venues change are all part of the bigger picture.
I also sense, without absolute proof, that the acquiring of services by eBay (AA) or their entering into partner agreements(Andale) will restrict the field and put preasure on the indepentent offerings.
The trade off between flexibility and complexablity has me scratching my head.
The old critical path chart approach would seem to help but it also changes almost weekly.
Any insights into the high end(for more expensive items), low end, individual listing, bulk listing, multi venue, combined mangement, ebay safe solutions would be greatly appreciated. And while your at it, could you add any comments about networked computers so someone could have both online and off line functions happening at the same time (preping ads and doing online work).
Solve this one and you get world peace and hunger next.
posted on September 17, 2000 09:41:50 AM
yo, reston! didcha notice that some of the cyberauctioneers submit 70,000 auctions DAILY using these auction management services?
LOL!!
The online auction houses make alla their money from the BIG FAT SUBMISSIONS, and from the BIG BUCK ADVERTISING.
OAUA's just started an independent evaluation of the web-based auction management systems. This will take a month or so, as we're having team members test drive each system multiple times with real auctions.
Looking in particular at some of the features mentioned by folks in threads like this one, so let us know what's important to YOU!
posted on September 17, 2000 11:49:38 AM
Thanks RADH - that's a great list and a virtual buffet of options. Now could you just point out which ones contain the equivalentlent of online E.coli. I had no idea so many options existed. Now to find the (food) tester. See below.
STEVE - delighted to see what OAUA is doing. Your thread speaks to the answer. Will post the URL and ask the Moderator to close this thread so others may be directed to that project.
