As a tried and true Macintosh user, I am often subjected to PC users' scorn concerning the availability of software for the Mac. But the reason only one software program may exist for a particular task on the Mac is because Mac developers get it right the first time! With that in mind, I can say without hesitation that there is only one Macintosh program worth having when it comes to auction management: A.I.D., the Auction Information Database.

If you happen to worship the dark side of the force, don't fret, A.I.D. also runs on Windows machines. A.I.D. uses FileMaker software to do its magic and straddle both worlds. While I am only reviewing the Macintosh version, the same features are true of the Windows version, so PC users should pay attention too!

A,I.D. manages several of the ways that people commonly interact with eBay auctions. (While the process may seem simple when you sell an item or two a week, you'll be thankful for some structure and tracking if you buy or sell lots of items regularly.)

To assist you in managing various aspects of your auction life, A.I.D. interacts with eBay directly. Unlike previous programs that made you cut and paste confirmation emails and manually enter data, A.I.D. accesses eBay itself when you click the "Fetch" command. Using your eBay username and password, A.I.D. directly downloads your item information, including the top bidder's email address, feedback information and number of bids. A.I.D. tracks the progress of Dutch auctions in addition to individual items.

Now, if that were all A.I.D did, it would just be a suped-up "My eBay" page. But those features are just the beginning of its capabilities:

Email: A.I.D. helps you process and send all of your auction emails (questions, confirmations and follow-ups) using an integrated mail merge feature that stores eight custom email templates and sends them either internally or via your preferred email program. This nifty function also allows sellers to print out packing lists and address labels. The history of your correspondence using the email tool is tracked on an individual-item basis.

Auction Management: Throughout the auction process, each item's detail screen tells you where that auction stands, with check boxes and dates for each step on the way. These steps are also visually reflected in list views, so you can quickly assess where things are. A report feature allows you to view all your auctions by their current status, a handy tool to spot something you might have missed in other views.

Auction Posting: A.I.D. has a view for inputting and uploading auctions to eBay, a great feature if you sell the same item regularly or for preparing posts if you use a slow Internet connection.

Searching: A.I.D.'s ability to store your frequently used search parameters is killer! This is great for both buyers and sellers, as the former may search for favorite items and the latter can search for comparison items (you can store 51 different searches).

There are additional features. The best way to discover all that A.I.D can do is to download it yourself and try it out. A fully functional demo version (Mac and Windows) for up to 25 items is available at: http://www.epigroove.com/?ab.

If you choose to purchase A.I.D. (and at $29.95, it pays for itself rather quickly), you can be confident that this program is fully supported by its author, Jamie Tibbets. Whenever eBay changes its parameters, he issues an upgrade quickly to ensure that A.I.D. functions properly. He is ever at the ready to answer questions about A.I.D. via email as he did several times the day I found and purchased the program.

A,I.D. is a sure-fire way to save time and effort while managing your auctions on eBay.

NOTE: If you've got questions, comments, recommendations about Auction Management Software, check out the AuctionBytes "Online Auction Management" Forum at: http://www.auctionbytes.com/forum/phpBB/viewforum.php?forum=19&27