eBay Evangelist: Auction Time Management 101

Selling and buying on eBay is not only profitable, but a lot of fun. Finding the items, putting them up for sale and watching the auctions - that's the fun part. Once the sale is made, come the dreaded follow-ups and shipping. Probably the most boring part of our eBay businesses.
And the organization! Keeping up with who bought what and what goes where - who sent the money and who didn't. Sending those annoying, "Perhaps it's slipped your mind, but..." emails. Yech! It makes you feel that perhaps it's all too much effort to even dream of becoming a Power Seller!

Like the Lone Ranger rushing to your side on his trusted steed, auction management websites are ready and waiting to help with your auctions. Yep, without cost, or for a small fee you can have the silent partner you've been praying for.

"Sell More in Less Time!" That's the promise from AuctionWatch.com. Serving the online auction community since July 1998 originally as a message board. AuctionWatch became a hangout for eBay regulars who needed a place to chat - away from the "official" eBay message boards. In mid 1999, they grew with the help of some venture capital, and added a universal search - allowing their buyers to find items over hundreds of auction sites, as well as a powerful suite of new tools for sellers.

The new tools made listing auctions easier for AuctionWatch devotees. With multiple auction launch, bulk counters, image hosting, and auction templates, their members could begin conducting their online business in a more efficient manner. Recently added features include post sale management tools; which allow sellers to send messages to winning bidders and automatically collect the response. You can also print invoices and access their strategic partners, which aid in shipping, insurance and online payments. The site promises that some of these tools are free, "for a limited time". There's also a free downloadable bulk listing, offline software, Auction Manager Pro, which helps you create and submit your auctions at your own speed.

There's much more to this site, check it out at AuctionWatch.com.

"Powerful Solutions for Online Sellers!" Newly organized Auctiva.com began as the brainchild of Jeff Schlicht, an eBay seller. He devised his own software, AuctionPoster (now ePoster) to automate the process of creating and posting of his auctions. It also automatically uploaded images and added counters. He also wrote eBud, an automated way to track and manage your listings, track payments, generate form-letter emails, invoices and reports. After making his software available online, he found there were many people who enjoyed the ease of his software. So he joined with some energetic partners and soon Auctiva.com was born.

Auctiva offers the software for download, as well as offering other necessary services. For image hosting, you have your choice of Auctiva Fast Pix, used through ePoster to generate a small version of your image in your auction description allowing your bidders to click on the image and go to a larger, enhanced version of the image. They also have a premium picture hosting service, allowing the seller to post full-size images into their listings.

They have a unique method of charging for their services. You may download the software, and use it free for 30 days. The cost for ePoster and eBud, after the free trial is currently $59.95. You then pay a monthly fee (or yearly - at a discount) for using their services. You are only charged for the services you use, and how often you use them.

For a full explanation of how it work, and the costs involved, visit Auctiva.com

"Power Tools for Power Sellers." AuctionWorks.com brings auction management to the power seller who demands a professional auction management system. It's for the seller who's seriously in the business of online auctions. In development since 1999, AuctionWorks has grown to a full service online source. Everything you'd expect is here, from professionally designed templates, counters, image hosting, importing existing auctions and automated winner notification.

Here's where AuctionWorks takes it "up a notch". You can post your inventory to the site, and post auctions deducting single or multiple items from your inventory with a mouse click. Their pre-designed ad templates allow you to launch multiple auctions and schedule the time of posting. They will generate professional sales reports, shipping and tax calculation. Each registered user gets an e-commerce enabled storefront from which they can offer their wares on the web.

Many of their services are free, but auctions launched through the site generate fees of a 10¢ minimum to a 75¢ maximum - based on a 2% commission. There is also a 2% commission on all sales generated through your online AuctionWorks storefront. They also offer 24/7 online chat-based help.

Visit them at AuctionWorks.com for more features and details on their services.

"Manage your Auctions with our FREE Services!" Free, now that's a word I like to hear! ManageAuction.com offers complete auction management services online. Generate your auction listing, post counters (with amazingly detailed statistics - found no where else) and upload your images from one easy place. You can use all their features, or just a few. There's no need to handle all your auctions from their site, if that's not what you need.

They offer online management of your auctions: transaction status, customized email, invoice templates, bulk feedback and you can print USPS Priority Mail address labels directly from the site. Your counter stats and auction data can be downloaded for use in spreadsheets or other programs. It can also be downloaded directly to Stamps.com's software to speed up your shipping process.

ManageAuctions may not be the most automated site, but it's certainly feature-rich. They're at www.manageauctions.com.

Yep, for us auction fiends there are many options. But just like shoes, you have to find the right fit. There are many sites to expedite your auctions. It's up to you to investigate them and pick the one that's right for your way of business.

Now if someone could find a way to beam the items to the winner, I could give up all this packing nonsense!