Don't be like SD and SS...

Hello to all~ I'm relatively new to Auctiva and am still getting aquainted with the service. I am liking what I see so far, and I do see the potential that this will take care of the majority of my business needs.

I concur with the Capt. on all points...I am one of those self-made business minded people, who lived and learned the hard way and now try to look beyond the short term. So many auction companies have started up to take care of ebayers, and many have failed. I run 4 different selling IDs, two with stores, and 3 are Powersellers. I am constantly trying to find "The One" that will take care of everything I need, but in reality, that isn't feasible--simply because one program only takes care of features ABC, while another has only image hosting and features Y & Z. PLUS the fact that if there is ever a crash or failure, you need a backup system--a backup of listings, ISP, backup image hoster, ect... I get a headache thinking about it. I currently use Meridian, Turbolister, and now Auctiva.

I applaud Jeff for delurking to let us know of the expansions and upgrades. Anyone ever heard from Meg herself? Lol...

I see great potential here, and believe me--if it took care of all of my needs with guaranteed uptime and minimal glitches, that is something this very busy woman would be willing to pay for. Thanks! Tabitha

quote:

Originally posted by hgmartin
"...there's someone in my head but it's not me.

Hee! Reminds me of a guy I used to know, but I don't want to burn any more of Jeff's bandwidth on this, so go here: http://www.theponyengine.com/cjray.txt
CB
"as a matter of fact, it's all dark..."

quote:

Originally posted by Capt. Binghamton:

quote:

Originally posted by wahm922:
Well I for one am letting SS go, I'm not paying that when I can do just about all it does with a simple spreadsheet.

You might have a marketable product there, Danielle. I know my ol' battle axe would be interested. Why not cripple your template and put it out as shareware? Is it for Excel?

CB

You think this blonde is smart enough to develope her own spreadsheet?

Your funny!

A fellow seller and friend developed the spreadsheet over the course of seveal years and was kind enough to pass it along

I'm lucky I'm even able to figure out how it works

quote:

Originally posted by Capt. Binghamton:

quote:

Originally posted by hgmartin:
The lunatic is in the hall....

"You raise the blade. You make the change. You rearrange me 'til I'm sane..."

(This is starting to sound like my kids and their MSN Messengers).

CB
"Roses are red,
Violet's are blue,
I'm schizophrenic
And so am I!"

Well this song is now officially stuck in my head and I will be singing Pink Floyd as I decorate the tree today!

Ya think Pink Floyd has a Christmas CD I could pop in?

quote:

Ya think Pink Floyd has a Christmas CD I could pop in?

No, but how about
"...you poor old sod, you see, it's only me.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0002ZMJ5...879-1660941?v=glance

Well we'll just have to settle for Jimmy Buffet's Christmas Island:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000002P2Q/103-3375941...6633?v=glance&n=5174

yo ho ho and a bottle of rum, Santa's run off to the Caribian . . .

quote:

Originally posted by hgmartin:

I think dmcollectibles was indirectly involved with one of my problems with the moderator on SS.

Yup. You gots a good memory.

I didn't stop using SS because of that incident either, but I might soon. Do I recall hearing that Auctiva was going to roll out some post-auction management features that might serve the same purpose as SS in their big spring new version??? Or was I just dreaming....

quote:

Do I recall hearing that Auctiva was going to roll out some post-auction management features that might serve the same purpose as SS in their big spring new version

Nope that wasn't a dream, our post-auction management system will get the biggest revamp/additions in our phase 2 release next year

quote:

yo ho ho and a bottle of rum, Santa's run off to the Caribian . . .

Sounds good...

I didn't read all of the posts. What people fail to understand and it has been explained several times, is this -- Auctiva is generating income. Huh? How? They've explained it. They've forged relationships with several other businesses and through them are earning capital.

For instance, if I'm not mistaken, they use U-Pic as their insurance source. Being they have or will have A LOT of Auctiva users, they're able to get a great rate. Say they're able to get domestic insurance for up to $100 in coverage for .15 to .25? Ah, but the customer is being charged $1.30 for $50 and $2.30 for up to $100 in coverage. Auctiva gives you a kick back of .25, leaving them with .80 to $1.80. I'm guessing they get a better rate than the one used as an example.

I'm sure they've worked something out with Sellathon and whoever else they're aligned with. It's a savvy way of charging and or being paid for a service they're advertising as being 'free'. So, Auctiva is 'free' but they're being 'paid'. I say, good for them. Witty.

I'm sure Auctiva is looking at things long term. Perhaps, the cashflow is slow in the beginning. However, once things begin to snowball, it could become a cash cow and all while offering a 'free' service.

Of course, this is my understanding of Auctiva.

I'm sure if I'm off base someone will come along and set me straight. I'm all for letting Auctiva handle things and if it goes south, it goes south. Life will go on if that day ever comes. I mean, how many are SpareDollar refugees? Well then, the sun is still rising and setting isn't it?

Don't worry, be happy, lol.

PS -- Let's continue to keep Auctiva 'free'. If you're concerned make insurance 'mandatory' for all of your buyers, use the Sellathon products via Auctiva and whatever else they have set up to generate capital.

quote:

Originally posted by Magie Noire:
I didn't read all of the posts.

Got a problem with Pink Floyd?

Let me be truthful. I don't have access to Jeff's financials, and they aren't any of my business, and I only made it through the 12th grade. I could very easily be wrong.

But I doubt it.

CB
"God Bless Mom, Dad, and Halliburton"

quote:

Originally posted by Capt. Binghamton:

quote:

Originally posted by Magie Noire:
I didn't read all of the posts.

Got a problem with Pink Floyd?

Let me be truthful. I don't have access to Jeff's financials, and they aren't any of my business, and I only made it through the 12th grade. I could very easily be wrong.

But I doubt it.

CB
"God Bless Mom, Dad, and Halliburton"

Actually, I love Pink Floyd. I'm just busy. I read your first post, a few others and posted from there. Auctiva also generates income via their desktop sales. I'm sure, Jeff aka Mr. Auctiva isn't going to sell something for nothing. Maybe he'll loose a little in the beginning, maybe not. He's hiring more help so he must be doing something right. I'm learning more and more that most people think too small, including myself. On the insurance alone, Auctiva could do rather well. If you want to make a plug for Auctiva survival, then plug using insurance on all sales. I have an U-Pic account and that's what I do. I 'included' in my flat rate shipping of $7.00. Now, magnify this by many, many Auctiva users. Say they make a buck or more each time insurance is purchased times 1000's.... get the picture.

Auctiva's success is getting its users to 'use' all of their services they've partnered up with alongside other companies.

You want a free auction solution?

Sign up 1000's of users and get them to get their customers to purchase insurance. Get as many, Auctiva users to use the Sellathon counters and so on and so forth.

I think it's a very savvy new approach to generating capital all while offering all involved 'something' for their money.

Way to go, Jeff.

*sigh* It must just be fear that keeps all the competition from doing the same thing.

CB

"...when you wish upon a star-r-r-r..."

quote:

Originally posted by Capt. Binghamton:
*sigh* It must just be fear that keeps all the competition from doing the same thing.

CB

"...when you wish upon a star-r-r-r..."

Fear or lack of creativity. This is a new approach. Supplying a service and charging a fee for it is the traditional way of doing business. Then along comes - Auctiva.

Which isn't to say they won't make money via U-Pic, Sellathon among others and also begin charging a service fee from their customers. Hey, why not, when they have some people willing to 'pay' them for their 'free' service.

Like I said, some people think small, myself included. If they earn $1.00 and up per each insurance purchase (I'm sure it's much more) because I earn this and I have a high rate -- that's not too shabby times a lot of Auctiva users.

I have no idea what type of deal they have worked out with Sellathon as I've never used their product. I'm sure it's a decent enough slice of the pie to make it worth their efforts.

How is it I can get a gigabyte of picture storage using Photobucket for $25 per year but someone like SpareDollar has to increase their fees to $8.95 per month? As far as 'space' goes, space is space.

Then there's the servers, the auction management program and people to manage the business. A well written program requires 'tweeking' to keep up with changes at eBay and within the auction management community. A poorly written program is in trouble 'prior' to changes from eBay. These companies are hanging from a cliff by their hangnails when eBay makes changes.

If you're in this business then it is expected that you keep up with every stupid change eBay makes because that's the nature of the beast.

Personally, I think eBay would love to corner the market on auction management as well. I'm sure they don't make things 'easy' for these businesses. Slowly we see, eBay introducing, Blackthorne products, picture hosting (at crazy prices) and post auction management tools.

Anyway, I have no idea what Auctiva is thinking about. It seems to me they're being 'sassy innovative', lol. Why not do it the way they're doing it? Um, because it takes creative thinking and balls to break out into something new -- that's why.

Much easier to charge a monthly rate or a monthly rate and a percentage of sales. Heck, look at all of the people who use Vendio? I loved using Vendio -- it is a superior product. With that being said, they need to change their names to Greedio. Why spend $75 per month or more for auction management? These companies will get away with whatever the market base is willing to pay. If Auctiva wants to market themselves as being 'free' and then get paid in a 'creative' way, I say good for them and good for me. By the way, I love the guitar solo from the song, Time.

Magie, you seem like a really nice person. Very kind and filled with a strong faith in human nature. It's just that your vision of how the world works reminds me of the business plan for the "Good Vibes Alfalfa Sprout and Custom Bong Cooperative, Inc. est. 1967." It is wishing on a star. But, of course, that doesn't mean I don't hope "your dreams come tru-u-u-u-u-e!"

I know better than to try to re-orient someone whose faith is that strong. A. It takes too much time. B. They wouldn't pay me. C. Some people just want to drink the Kool-Aid. D. What would I do if they turned out to be right? -- So instead, here's hoping that "fate steps in and sees you thro-o-o-ough..."

CB
"...and bless Sid, and Texaco, and Microsoft, and eBay,..."

"There is no dark side of the moon really. Matter of fact it's all dark."

"Money... it's a hit..."

CB

Not that I want to show my age but, when I saw Pink Floyd in concert they used surround sound. Many had never heard of it and only a few albums incorporated Quadraphonic Sound. Many don’t realize the groups name was taken from two blues musicians, Pink Anderson and Floyd Council.
"We don’t need no thought control".

quote:

Originally posted by hgmartin:
Not that I want to show my age but, when I saw Pink Floyd in concert they used surround sound.

I know the feeling. I first heard them when I was out cruising in my '69 Road Runner in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, listening to Beaker Street from KAAY out of Little Rock (who had FM in their cars back then?). Good old Clyde.

cb