I have a client who would like to expand his wholesale business onto
eBay. I am looking for two things:

1. A couple of Web sites and/or books with good guides for a newcomer
to eBay on how to be a seller. I am *not* looking for a bunch of
garbage about putting "L@@K" on all your listings. I want good
information and tips on how to use the eBay system, not to abuse it.

2. Recommendations on an auction management software package that
works with eBay to help him automate the listing process, deal with
product photos, track the auctions, etc. Again, *not* looking for eBay
spamming software. I want a good tool to help a legitimate business
organize the auction process.  Software should be Windows-based and
reasonably easy to install and use.

Note: Quality is much more important to me than quantity on this. I
don't want a list of 30 auction management packages that I then have
to go evaluate. I want two or three well-considered recommendations
with a brief note on each about its pros and cons and why it made your
short list.

Greetings Hammer:

As a former (and aspiring future) Ebay merchant, I highly recommend
the book "Starting an Ebay Business for Dummies" by Marsha Collier.  I
have seen this book and she did an excellent job explaining the all
the things a seller needs to know.  I began selling on Ebay over four
years ago when there were no books and I had to learn the hard way -
Collier is very comprehensive with her instructions and tips, and I
wish the book had been around when I began selling.  She also reviews
and recommends software in the book.

The book information may be viewed at
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0764515470/qid=1058885392/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-8156484-2394514?v=glance&s=books
and there are 62 sample pages there to review before buying the book. 
It currently retails (new) for $16.18 and you may also order new/used
copies from individual booksellers for as little as $14.95.  Please
visit http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/offering/list/-/0764515470/all/ref=dp_pb_a/102-8156484-2394514
 for a new/used list courtesy of Amazon.

In my experienced opinion, "Starting an Ebay Business for Dummies" is
the best book out there for beginning Ebay sellers.

*********

The software I puchased when I began was Auction Trakker by Timber
Creek Software and it was, and still is, an excellent package for an
Ebay seller.  I phoned a friend who is a powerseller at Ebay (we began
selling around the same time and he continued after I ceased) to see
if he was still using the software.  He told me "Definitely" and that
he had also tried a couple of others but Auction Trakker was the best
and the one he continues to use.

The website of Timber Creek Software is
http://www.timbercreeksoftware.com/ and release notes on the newest
version may be viewed at
http://www.timbercreeksoftware.com/ATReleseNotes.htm - the company
constantly updates and all updates are included in the original price
of the software - no additional charges are incurred.  The software
enables the seller to create all the auctions inside the program (text
and photos easily managed) and direct the program when to upload the
auction information to the auction site.  It tracks the auctions and
also offers batched email and cost/expense management tools.

"Auction Trakker 2000 - Auction Trakker lets you track costs, send
automated e-mail messages, prepare and post feedback, and monitor the
status of any auction whether you are the seller or a potential buyer.
 The program's features include: auction information downloading from
eBay; shipping date calculations based on payment type; firewall
support (e-mail requires access to an SMTP server); the ability to
place unattended, automatic bids seconds before the auction closes;
powerful "sniping" features; and automatic dialing.  Auction Trakker
includes a sales tax calculator, and a report generation function."
From http://www.softlookup.com/preview/dis20577.html

ZDNet offers this info:
"The Auction Trakker is the premier eBay auction management tool.
Fully automated the AT downloads all auction information directly from
eBay with no cut & paste. By adding an auction to the current Auction
screen the AT will update the number of bids and the current price at
an interval you define. If you are buying on eBay the AT can bid for
you in your absence within seconds of the auction close. Once the
Auction Closes the AT will send confirmation emails based upon
templates that you can alter to suite you taste. The AT will also
sends template based emails for confirmation acknowledgements, receipt
of payment and shipping notifications. To complete the process the AT
will even leave feedback for other eBay users. Integrated reporting
keeps track of you costs and sales and lets you report over any given
date period. Reporting also includes the generation of invoices for
items your selling and purchase orders for items your buying." [There
is a free download here for the demo so that potential customers may
test drive the program.]
From http://www.zdnetindia.com/downloads/info/1777413.html

An online review is located at
http://yippee.i4free.co.nz/html/win/business/title8097.htm

There is a standard and a seller's version: "Available in two
versions. Standard and Sellers version. The Sellers version (SE)
allows for an add-on inventory and posting module that allows you to
post and re-list auction listings in a addition to tracking
inventory."

Auction Trakker SE is the version your client needs and I highly
recommend this software.

*************

I would also like to direct you to a previously asked question
regarding Ebay selling that I answered about selling books at online
auctions.  Your client may find it interesting because book sales can
be a very profitable business on Ebay.  Also, books ship cheaper than
other items - the USPS has a media rate for printed matter only that
costs less than other item shipping.

Q: Selling books 
http://answers.google.com/answers/main?cmd=threadview&id=83117

Thank you for the opportunity to answer this interesting question. 
Should you require clarification of any of the links or information I
have provided, please request it and I will be happy to respond.

Best regards,
journalist-ga


SEARCH STRATEGY:

amazon [internal search "Ebay for dummies"]
"auction software" review
auction trakker
auction trakker review
timber creek software
google answers [internal search "selling ebay"]

---

Request for Answer Clarification by hammer-ga on 22 Jul 2003 08:56 PDT

Great work, Journalist. Thanks!

One question: Timber Creek seems to have turned AuctionTrakker into
something called Sold!. Should we go with Sold! or try to find an
older version of AuctionTrakker?

- Hammer

---

Clarification of Answer by journalist-ga on 22 Jul 2003 11:37 PDT

I recommend the newest version.  On the page
http://www.timbercreeksoftware.com/sold/BuyNow.htm, Timber Creek
states the following regarding Sold!

"Sold! 
State of the Art Auction Management Software. Sold! automatically
posts and retrieves all information for current and completed
auctions, tracks costs, send automated e-mails, prepare and post
feedback, track the status of any eBay Auction
$79.95


These descriptions ((same page, towards the bottom) are for previous
registered users of Auction Trakker:

"Sold! (For Registered Users of Auction Trakker SE WITH Inventory and
Posting or Sold! BE)
State of the Art Auction Management Software. Sold! automatically
posts and retrieves all information for current and completed
auctions, tracks costs, send automated e-mails, prepare and post
feedback, track the status of any eBay Auction."
$39.95

"Sold! (For Registered Users of Auction Trakker or Auction Trakker SE)
State of the Art Auction Management Software. Sold! automatically
posts and retrieves all information for current and completed
auctions, tracks costs, send automated e-mails, prepare and post
feedback, track the status of any eBay Auction."
$59.95

It does appear they have changed the name to Sold!  I paid $39.95 for
Auction Trakker years ago so it's nice to see they still offer an
upgrade at that price.  Unfortunately, I had a computer crash a while
back and lost the program (downloaded from their site when purchased)
so I'm not certain if I'll be able to reactivate.  If I can't, I will
choose the newly named Sold!  I really liked their original product
and, from speaking with my friend, I learned they've added to it since
(my original version did not have the posting text/photo features).

Any other clarification needed, please request it.  :)

Best regards,
journalist-ga


SEARCH STRATEGY:

Sold! Auction Trakker

Great work, as always. I'm always glad to see Journalist's name at the
top of one of my answers, because I know I'll be pleased with what I'm
about to read.

Hammer, thank you for your comments and your added generosity!  I'm
delighted you are pleased with my research and please give your client
my good wishes for a very successful expansion of business.  :)

Best regards,
journalist-ga