2 stars (Oh sigh. We want to like it, we really did.) - You'd think there'd be a wonderful program that did it all for the Mac ebay seller. One that helped you list auctions, deal with customers, manage feedback and fees and backend accounting. Oh wait. there was one. It was called A.I.D. and it was lovely. And ebay gave all the companies that were trying to develop such applications such a hardtime they couldn't keep up. And they stopped making it. Hence, very few programs attempt to become Mac programs for sellers, the total package that mac sellers need. The two big contenders are Isale and Garagesale. Both have the looks allowing you to customise templates and offer rich text format. Both offer their own perks, including integration with iphoto, dashboard widgets and the like. But Both stop short of getting your auction on Ebay. Sure Isale says you can track feedback and the like, what they mean is clicking a radiobox to say you've left feedback (GarageSale does the same).
Both Isale and Garage Sale offer trial versions of their products. I used both for the allowed - three auctions (each). And on the last auction , i had a problem. I e-mailed Isale, twice. NO RESPONSE. So i tried GarageSale. Not only did they respond the next day, GarageSale has a yahoo group where software users can discuss their issues, the group is moderated by the lead programmer. When it came down to it, GarageSale Vs. Isale, GarageSale won out. Sure, it's a little less "pretty" than Isale. But for $15 less and a running support group (still waiting for that Isale to return my e-mail from last month). I knew which company i wanted to have my money. Hopefully GarageSale or another clever company will find a way to integrate all that post-auction/backend stuff that neither company seems to address... Until then its GarageSale, an Excel spreadsheet and a good e-mail program.
4 stars (Wonderful program - but very restrictive activated license!) - iSale is a wonderful, must have application if you list items on eBay on a regular basis. Its integration with Mac OS X technologies is terrific. It uses my iPhoto library or iSight for my auction images. Plus, it can automatically upload photos to your .Mac account. It will automatically convert styled RTF text into HTML. Pretty slick!
BUT -- and this is a big but -- this product must be activated over the internet. And the license code is node locked to one specific machine. So you will not be able to install a copy on your laptop and your home computer unless you buy two copies! That's a pretty shoddy way to treat customers (since almost all other software allows two installs -- especially in this price range). Nowhere in the product packaging is this activating scheme mentioned -- only buried deep within their website.
Check out the shareware GarageSale if you find the license too restrictive.
2 stars (e bay for dummies) - This program is a pain in the a**!!! Mind you, I use it every day, but it's still a pain in the a**! It's worth it to keep track of your auctions after they close, and to post auctions quickly without advance listing fees (though you will still have to be at the computer posting your drafts at the right time to save that ten cents). The only huge plus is that it keeps track of things like payments, shipment, and feedback. This program is VERY basic, but it is still the best thing out there right now for smaller hobby sellers on Mac OS to keep track of things without having to pay $30 +++ a month to pay for one of those services.
It is really like e bay for dummies though. The things you can do on it are very basic. It will allow you to do everything you'd like to do to get a simple post up. But, if you'd like something a little flashier, you'd be WAY better off to work in dreamweaver and copy the html over. Another problem I've been having is that it only allows me to put three photos into the post. I have my own image hosting, and am putting the photos direcly in the html of my posts to save on e bay image fees. If I put in 5 photos, it cuts out the last 2. If I put in 10 photos, it cuts out the last 7. This is a pain because then you have to go back in through e bay and put the rest of the photos in later, or just make your posts in dreamweaver.
If you are looking for a program like dreamweaver that will allow you to input text and it will generate html, then I would tell you to buy DREAMWEAVER. ISale DOES NOT do that! This is nothing like dreamweaver, and if that's what you want then you can't cheap out. You get what you pay for. Now THAT is more than worth the several hundred dollar investment for most busier sellers.
Overall, though, this program can be helpful for managing closed auctions. I always have trouble keeping track of feedback and tracking numbers. Now I can input it all into ISale, and it organizes it for me in that really great iTunes way. It's also kindof fun to play around with, but this is not the program for serious high volume sellers who are depending on it to list and create auctions. I was so excited when I ordered this software because I thought it would be the solution to my cluttered piles of post its all over my office. When I got it and read the read me file (because it doesn't come with a printed manual of any kind), I was a little crestfallen. I ended the manual about 5 minutes after starting it and said, "That's it?". And that was it. There's nothing more to it, so don't expect it to be as great as they make it out to be.
One final note - VERY IMPORTANT - If you do buy this software, please DO NOT install the program from the disc. Apparently, after spending almost a week just trying to get the software to work (and I'm no computer or e bay dummy) and talking to someone on the phone (their telephone hours by the way are 3am to noon) - they only put the disc in there to trick you. You have to first download an upgraded version of the software from their site - BE CAREFUL!!! - It will not mount correctly if you have installed anything from the disc or even have the disc inserted. Then, once you download 2.0, you can register from there, which is a little bit of a tedious process also.
Though their telephone hours are downright bizarre, the company that makes this product does have excellent customer service located in Munich, Germany. That's why they open up at 3am. 2 stars for being able to keep track of auctions closing and for having a nice helpful staff, but overall, this product really sucks quite badly. |
