What do I need to set up my own auction site?

There are four things that you need to have your own online auction site.

1.      You will need online auction software. Our auction software is built using Open Source technology (PHP, mySQL database) which, in simple terms, means that our software can expand as your site grows without having to pay "license fees". Other auction companies use technology that will work fine for a "small" site but when the site grows the license cost to run the site can be prohibitive.   

2.      You will need a domain name (ie. www.yourauctionsite.com). If you do not have a domain name yet we suggest using www.godaddy.com as they provide domains name registration for as little $8.95 (US) per year. We are not affiliated with Godaddy.com and there are many sites that also offer this service but most at a higher price.

3.      You will need a host (someone to store your auction site and make it available to internet users). If you do not have a host Contact Us and we can recommend one for you. The flexibility of our software allows you to host with companies running Linux, Unix, or Windows. (please see our system requirements for specifics)

4.      You will need a way for the sellers on you site to pay you. This may be the important thing in having your own auction site – How do you get paid?

a.      Online payment service

                                    i.      Our software is integrated with PayPal and you can set up an account with them for free. With a PayPal account a user can pay directly with an established PayPal account or via a credit card. 

b.      Merchant Account

                                    i.      If you want to accept credit cards directly then you will need a merchant account. We recommend Millennium Bankcard for companies in the US and Canada. We are not affiliated with Millennium Bankcard but have found their prices (no initial cost) and service to be excellent.

c.       SSL Certificate (Secure Socket Layer)

                                    i.      An SSL certificate will ensure any sensitive information transferred on your site will be encrypted (coded) to avoid unwanted personnel from gaining access to it. We recommend GeoTrust as they have a quality product and are very price competitive. This and the fact they can produce an SSL in as little as ten minutes puts them to the top of our list.(other companies can take 2-6 weeks to issue a certificate) We are not affiliated with GeoTrust and there are many excellent companies that can provide an SSL.

Some general Information about our software and our services:

Features (Full List Here)

We currently have a feature rich program but we are constantly adding new features and improvements based on feedback from our site owners. All features developed within the first year of purchase are included free. If you need a specific feature that our current package does not have then contact us and we may build it for you at no cost. (some restrictions do apply) If you have an extensive list of features required we will be happy to send you a quote for a custom solution.

What our Auction Package Includes
Our auction packages come with several applications that work together: the Auction itself, phpBB (a message board application that allows you to build and online community specific to your site - online community building is one strong factor in the success of auction sites), a banner manager, and a live chat program

Installation Services
If you are comfortable with using our online demo but you are not sure if you can handle setting up the application yourself, we can help you out. For a flat rate of $60, our technicians will work with you to install the files and to make sure that everything is working. Once you place an order for installation, we will contact you with a list of questions and then we will take it from there. Installation is normally done the same day as the order.

Support Services

We provide unlimited email support for the first 30-days after purchase. After that time we can normally respond within the same day. Our email support is monitored 24/7 and if priority service is required we have a one year support package which places those requests on an immediate action list.

Customization Services
Our auction packages also makes an excellent base for creating a very customized site. Since they are based on PHP an experienced PHP developer can customize it as much as they want to suit their own particular requirements.

If you have specific needs but lack the skills to implement them yourself, we can provide consulting and customization services. Just describe exactly what features and changes you need and we can provide you with an estimate on customization costs. To help us provide the most accurate assessment, please be as detailed as possible in your requests. We are very competitive with our programming costs and are currently 100% on delivery dates as specified in our quotes.