Keeping track of customers shipping payment etc.

[coastwindchimes]

Just jumped from my antique computer to a Mac Mini. Love the change, but have a slight problem. Before I used a not very good but serviceable program for tracking auctions, customers, shipping and payment. Well, that was not working well, and does not work at al with the new computer.

I don't run that many auctions each week, and don't really want to subscribe to an expensive online service. Checked around the web, and all the software I have so far seen is junk. Anybody using something good? Tim.

[coastwindchimes]

That's normal, Malcolm-- as long as people are happy with what they use, there is no point in looking at change. A friend who is a retired engineer just loves tinkering with his PC that he custom built himself. He would certainly not be happy at all with this new Mac, since there would be nothing for him to tinker with or 'optimize'. What would he do with a computer that you just plug in, leave on, and that does what you want it to do without crashing or needing virus updates etc.? He'd be bored out of his mind. So I really appreciate that some people need their PCs. I also appreciate that many PCs are built really well now, and the software is pretty good too-- I was impressed by my son's new PC-- the ease of set up, and it has been running okay so far. If this Mini had not come out, I may well have opted for something like that... well, maybe.

[zarzuella]

That's odd - I've been using Apple systems since the early 80's, have had almost every model from the old 11e, tthrough the very first Mac, to my current powerbook and I have never had a system crash, nor have I heard of this being any kind of a problem - and I'm a member of my local MUG.

I confess Ireally feel a little selfish about this; my attitude is to encourage Windows users to stay where they are - the more users who migrate to Mac, the greater the odds that we will end up with all the virus crap that bedevils Windows users. I might even have to buy an Anti-Virus program - 🙂

Ann

[shoplineca]

Ann
Crashes on Macs happened primarily on networks and were frustratingly frequent, slowing the workplace down in many environments. When the G3 came out crashes were, for the most part totally eliminated in terms of it being a Mac operating system problem and then it was just an overloading issue for the hubs which can happen within a Mac or PC environment.

I dont think single running Macs were ever that much of a problem crashing, at least none that I ever used, only when networked and there were communication problems and the systems went into complete shutdowns.

PS I have NEVER had a virus infect my PC to the point of making it non-functioning or creating any slowing down of the system although my daughter has had quite a few courtesy of herself and her mother opening things they shouldnt.

I have NEVER purchased an anti virus program but run a free online check every month of my system which takes about 1 1/2 hours due to the size of my system.

Yes we take protective measures at our server level however I receive every email sent, whether someone has encoded a virus in the email or as an attachment.

Again I am not going to debate the pros and cons of using a Mac over a PC however having worked with Macs, PCs and mainframes starting out in programming using Fortran language back in 1969 I know what I prefer for my use well aware of the limitations of each system depending on where and how it is being used.

Tim, we dont tinker with our PCs because of what you refer to as crashes or virus updates. It sounds like your engineer friend needs some lessons in computers if he is building systems that are experiencing that sort of a problem and requiring his tinkering time to attend to them (is he an engineer with CP or CN?).

I would never buy an off-the-shelf PC from Future Shop or anywhere else either and that is one of the advantages I like about PCs. I can purchase the hardware that is suitable for my needs for that computer and we can build it ourselves or can have a local shop put it together for about $45.

I can use the video and audio cards built into the motherboard should the computer be needed as a basic computer for family use or enhance the system with a high-end video card for multi media use or gaming. Again totally custom, with exactly the brand of hardware I choose, all specific to my needs for the machine.

If I could only buy a ready-made proprietary PC without the choice and ability to build my own, I would probably go back to paper, pencil and a slide ruler.

Malcolm

[recped]

I don't know anything about this program but this listing tool for Macs was mentioned in this post on the Sellers Assistant board.

http://forums.ebay.com/db1/thread.jspa?threadID=410493602&tstart=0&mod=1110208769239

Ben
"What else could I do? I had no trade so I became a peddler" - Lazarus Greenberg 1915

[coastwindchimes]

Thank you very much, Ben-- that like exactly what I need. I knew it was out there somewhere. Tim.

[catseye*]

Black Magik has a couple of programs. I used one for awhile then upgraded to Market Works.

elister, I think.

[catseye*]

Yup, here's the info.

Auction Monitor 2.2 - Released December 10, 2004
Auction tracking utility for sellers using the US eBay.com website which provides a unique way to track bidding activity on open auctions. Notifies you, both visibly and audibly, of new and changed bids on your auctions, and much more.
$24.95 - Available for Mac OS X, Mac OS 9

eLister 2.5.4 - Updated February 11, 2005
Full featured, template-based offline auction listing assistant with tons of handy features for use with the eBay™ online auction service. Create and preview your listings with unprecedented ease, offline and at your own convenience.