Blackthorne Software Discussion Forum: Seller's Assistant Release: EASY TO STOP THIS... HERE IS A CURE!

By Dan DeArmond (castingold) on Wednesday, February 07, 2001 - 11:12 am:

WE... YOU AND I.... built Blackthorne... all we need to do to stop this is NOT UPGRADE! Let's find another auction software. We all probably were using something BEFORE coming here... there are even some free ones out there now.... I'm personally going back to the little freebie called EZ-AD PRO.... I got along with it fine before and I'll get along with it now!

WE MUST LEARN that WE are the controlling force...Not E-Bay... Not Blackthorne! STAND UP! If you don't like this... STOP IT! Easy! All this writing is of no value... but our actions CAN and WILL put a plug in this !... Just don't do it!

By Bradley on Wednesday, February 07, 2001 - 11:42 am:

Hello: I have been using AA Pro for some time. I have found a few bugs but overall its been a very good product. I guess we all knew when Ebay purchased Blackthorne and the talk of using AA Pro for
other auction sites vanished that this was just the start! I too remember the days when you could SELL on Ebay and not just list items and pray the site was working when the auctions ended and that someone found your item. I would could even rationalize ( maybe) the renting of the software if it was fairly priced. It looks like the price is going to be way more than it should be. I fiqure it has cost me about $60 year when I average the programs purchase price over the years I have used it. What would be fair? I was always "selling" AA Pro to friends etc in the hopes that it would stay fairly priced. I would not suggest anyone purchases it at that price. Look at what real software costs!
I guess my biggest concern is that ebay can shut down you old AA program that you payed for, with a few changes, as they try to raise revenue, as people fiqure out the more you list the more customers you need..... Perhaps the best idea would be to change that Advert. in you auctions to DONT BUY THIS PROGRAM. Will I be forced to RENT this program. I hope not. I will be shopping and perhaps anyone who has a program that is more cost effective should post it here for all of us X AAPRO's

By Bob Arthur (outlaw8e) on Wednesday, February 07, 2001 - 05:12 pm:

Well, I'm not happy with the fee structure as well, but I could live with it IF I were to receive significant feature upgrades on this new "major" upgrade and receive continual (at least 4 minor upgrades per year) updates and upgrades -- not just for compatibility with new eBay features.

While I like the AA Classic I've been using for three years, I have been very disappointed that users have not received any new product features which other competing products offer. Any upgrades were done solely to maintain compatibility with eBay features. Why hasn't Blackthorn given us more features for post-sale activities for example? Features like a more extensive buyer database with a checklist for actions pending and complete? Or a label program (yes, it's coming with the new release, but why wasn't it provided sooner?) that will print laser labels vs. a sole proprietary label maker? The bottom line is that if we are going to have to "rent" this software then we should receive greater benefit from the product. And, since it is by far the most expensive of ALL auction listing programs it should be state of the art and better than the competition. At the present time it is neither.

Having said that, I have a suggestion for the powers to be. Offer TWO software plans. The first one being solely client based with a one-time software purchase fee with a major upgrade every year. Provide eBay compatibility updates FREE (with no major enhancements to other features). Give the user the option of upgrading annually IF they need or want the new usability features. The second plan would be a subscription plan. You pay an annual fee (no up-front charge) which amounts to the cost of the full-product, BUT during that year you receive all of the standard updates PLUS regular feature upgrades -- something that has been severely lacking in both of the products.

If the software is not going to be provided on a CD, or if the majority of users download the product, Blackthorne is reducing their cost by not having to make and distribute CDs. It's not a significant cost factor, but one that should be benefiting the customer through a slight discount for downloaded software.

I surely hope eBay/Blackthorne re-thinks this whole thing a bit more and chooses to listen to its customers by offering a more fair upgrade plan for this new software.

In closing, it is only a matter of time before most of the auction software companies implement a subscription-based plan of some type. They will follow the rule of "offer a good product at a low-profit level, establish a sizeable and loyal customer base, and then emplement a fee-based plan". I have no objection to that, or to them making a profit. As long as they offer their customers fair pricing-plan options, quality software (ever improving), and good customer support.

By Angie Kiker (ark) (165.247.207.140 - 165.247.207.140) on Saturday, February 10, 2001 - 08:54 pm:

We just ordered software at $19.95 from this new software designer who was just waiting in the wings for this kind of thing to happen. Check it out. Looks really good to us. http://www.kinem.com/index.html I think you will be impressed.