Auction sellers are well aware of how time-consuming the auction-listing process can be. Taking auction photos, writing descriptions, launching listings to the auction site, and dealing with customers' questions is only the beginning. Once the auction ends, we must notify the high-bidder, package the item, mail it and leave feedback for the buyer.

It's no wonder then that vendors have developed tools to help automate many of these steps. There is a wide range of solutions, from free listing tools (see David's review of Auction Submit from last August at http://www.auctionbytes.com/pages/abu/y201/m08/abu0044/s03); to low-end Web-based services; or high-end solutions designed for enterprises, some of which will even manage the auction sales process for you.

These high-end solutions are useful to large organizations that have existing inventory-management systems and want to explore auction selling. I surveyed auction-management vendors in January and again in February, and put together a report that is now for sale on our Web site. "Auction Management Solutions: A guide to tools for managing online auctions" compares the features of seven services designed to help enterprises sell on auction sites like eBay.

But what tools are available for smaller sellers and Power Sellers to use? To help you compare services, we’ve put together a chart listing some of the more popular auction management solutions http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/pages/ams. Auction-management tools can be either Web-based or they can be software downloaded to your computer. They can range from simple listing tools to powerful management systems to help you manage inventory, automate the end-of-auction transaction, and market your auctions.

It's rather surprising that there are so many options. How do you choose which one to use? There are many factors, depending on what you sell, how many auctions you list and your budget. We've included a column in the chart for pricing to give you an idea of the cost of using these products.

Here are questions you need to ask yourself when choosing a product:

1. How many auctions do I list (or want to list) per week? If you don't list many, perhaps you can get away with a simple inexpensive product.

2. Do I want a choice of auction Sites to sell on? Decide which auction sites you want to work with; think long-term - you may want more flexibility in the future. But most vendors are already expanding the auction-sites with which they work.

3. Do I want a storefront? If you have a Web site store or use a Storefront service, will the auction-management tool work with it? Many of these services offer storefronts themselves, so you can offer fixed-price items as well as auction sales.

4. Does the vendor offer customer service support? This is important, so make sure the service you decide to use has prompt customer service, whether it is via telephone or email (or both). The best way is to test it before you make a final commitment.

5. What features are important to you, and do the tools offer flexibility? For example, some tools offer a number of templates, and some offer customizable templates, for your auction listings. Some people will want the ability to print invoices and labels, or the ability to automatically generate end-of-auction notices. And remember to ask which payment services these services support.

Auction management tools can make your life easier. Take the time to explore various tools – you will learn a lot in the process. Share your knowledge and ask questions of others – our Discussion Forums are becoming great resources for online-auction and collectibles-related questions. The Online Auction Services forum is found here: http://www.auctionbytes.com/forum/phpBB/viewforum.php?forum=7&299. And we will continue to update the chart and add new tools.