Geodesic Solutions - Auctions Products Comparison Chart

Auction Software Product Comparison Chart

The chart below is intended to assist you in determining the best solution for your business model. For a detailed and more complete feature description, please see the individual version pages.
GeoAuctions Versions: [E]nterprise - [P]remier

Scalability & Flexibility

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Ability to handle extreme amounts of trafffic due to its database functionality .
Scalable to a virtually limitless number of auctions.
Enter any number of categories.
Enter any number of subcategories.
Admin controllable email configuration for easier installation depending on you server's SMTP configuration.
Extra pages functionality that allows you to take advantage of software functions while the body of the page is free to edit as you wish.
Intelligent thumbnail scaling . The thumbnail size will be controlled from within the admin tool.
Capability to run on both Unix and Windows web servers.
Can be integrated with the GeoProducts API Module , which allows connection to other GeoProducts, vBulletin, and Phorum.
Admin ability to move copy subcategories and category specific questions from one category to another saving valuable hours of setup time.
Template based platform allows for complete flexibility in design layout. Develop one template and assign it to every page of your site. Or develop individual templates for as many pages as you'd like... developer's dream .

Auction Specific Features

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Standard Auctions capability allows sellers to place their individual items up for auction.
Dutch Auctions (Multiple Item Auctions) allows sellers to post several itentical items or "lots" of items up for auction. This allows for the potential of several winning bidders on the same auction...each bidder winning a certain number of items.
"Buy Now" functionality allows willing bidders to purchase the auction item immediately at the "Buy Now" price.
User feedback system and ratings.
Don't like the software's default Auction Display page template? No Problem. This software offers you the ability to customize the auction display page allows you to create your own template and move items around on the auction display page.
Set predetermined auction lengths.
Auto bidding feature that allows the program to automatically place bids up to an amount designated by the user...absentee bidding!
Display of auction categories in left column "Ebay like"
Display of auction categories in traditional format .
Charging of fees based on opening or reserve price .
Charging of additional final fees based on closing successful price (% based).
Charge for relisting of unsuccessful auctions.
Email reporting ...successful, unsuccessful, auction standing, etc... emails . Emails are sent out to bidders when they have been outbid by another user of the site.
Bidders can view the current status of their bids by logging in to their personal "My Account" pages on your site.
Seller has ability to create a "Black List" of those buyers they do not want bidding on their auctions.
Seller has abilito to create an "Invited List" so that ONLY those buyers on the list may bid on his/her auctions.
Admin can allow viewing of Bid History on an active auction.
Ability for user to set the specific time for an auction to begin and end , rather than the auction simply going active when placing the auction.
Preview period for an auction where the auction is viewable, but cannot be bid on until after the auction start time.
Enhanced User feedback system and ratings . A feedback icon is displayed next to each user's username on the "Auction Display Page". The icon changes based upon favorable or unfavorable ratings . The seller and winning bidder may rate each other for each successful auction.
Ability for admin to delete a bid .
User must have a subscription to view an auction or bid on auctions .
Endless Auctions (Sniper bidding) feature automatically extends that auction length if a user bids just before the auction was to end.
Completely html template driven , for maximum design flexibility.

International Capabilities

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Multi-Lingual features:
Conversion of entire site into limitless number of languages Admin sets a default language Visitor selects to view site in any language you've entered Cookie remembers and automatically opens site in visitor's language of choice upon next visit up to one year later Language option can be turned on/off by admin
Ability to set up countries in a dropdown box format.
Accept International payments through its integrated payment system.
Assign International monetary/currency prefixes/suffixes to numerical values.
Full currency display control for ads.
Display the date in a variety of different International formats .
Set up with Authorize.net payment gateway.
Set up with PayPal.com payment gateway.
Set up with Worldpay.com payment gateway.
Set up with 2Checkout.com payment gateway.
Set up with Linkpoint payment gateway.

Admin Control Panel

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Comprehensive Interface that is complex, yet user-friendly.
Hundreds of pages of administrative control over your site, including:
Site Header Site Left and Right Columns Site footer Site page width Site page height Adjust each column's width User menu bar Admin menu bar All site text, fonts, colors, background colors, justification Site name Title bar description Several options to enter Headers, Footers, Columns data: HTML Images Text File Banner Ad Site background image Automatically moves auctions to a selected category from a deleted category Control registration emails Control auction placement emails Identify required/optional fields Edit, update, delete state/provinces dropdown box Edit, update, delete countries dropdown box Control pixel size of thumbnail images Set limitations on file size of uploaded images
Ability to force auctions to be placed in the lowest subcategory . When users place auctions they are forced to place auctions at the lowest level subcategory for the main category chosen. This will make browsing auctions easier for your users that visit the site.
Category selection made from a dropdown box.
Customize and tailor category/subcategory questions so that they are applicable to any market.
Add additional auction questions to subcategories.
Add auction questions at a top level category that filter down through the subcategories.
Enter HTML in most areas within the Admin Facility to display a site that is truly unique from any other GeoAuctions user.
Banner Ads system allows the administrator to customize general layout of site by changing header, footer, left, and right columns on a per page/category basis
Declare HTML tags that will be allowed/disallowed on you site.
Enter "badwords" to be filtered from auction titles and descriptions.
List/search/manage users/registrants by:
User name Last name First name Date joined Email address Company address URL City Earliest joined Latest joined
Create an unlimited amount of form messages to send to users/registrants.
Control text and font of each link that is displayed in both menu bars.
Send messages to registrants.
View messages sent history.
Unique capability to create HTML driven "Extra Pages" . Use for:
FAQ's page Products & Services page Shopping Cart pages Affiliates page General Information page You choose...any HTML driven page you can create
Ability to show/no-show "auction count" for each category/subcategory.
Manual reset of category counts in Category Administration. If you have a lot of auctions you do not have to rely on the software to keep the accurate count. You can force it to do a re-count.
Admin can grant permission to edit auction details . If you do not want your user's to be able to edit their ad's description after it is live then you can prevent it.
Admin can grant permission to edit auction category . If you do not want your user's to be able to edit the category the ad is placed after it is live then you can prevent it.
Admin can grant permission to edit auction images . If you do not want your user's to be able to edit or delete their auction's images after it is live then you can prevent it.
User and Admin Menu bars are "dynamic". Links on bars show/no-show themselves automatically depending on various settings within the admin, and depending on whether the user is logged in or not.
Terms of Use/Registration agreement - require registrant to agree.
Control the number of days a classified auction can be displayed.
Control types of files that can be uploaded through a sophisticated tool that allows you to upload any file and the system identifies the "mime-type" to allow future uploads of that same file type. You can then designate an "icon" to display for each file type that will show up on the auction display page when a user uploads a file of that type.
Control types of images that can be uploaded.
Control amount of images to be uploaded.
Control size of image/file to be uploaded.
Configure column display of uploaded images.
Allow/disallow thumbnails.
Control size of thumbnails.
Control length of auction title.
Control length of auction description - long word filter.
Control aspects of the registration process, including required/optional fields.
Create multiple groups to better organize and communicate with users.
Displays various GeoAuctions Stats on front page of admin. Displays your site's:
total current live auction count number of users with current auctions total users registered total current auction viewed count # of auctions awaiting approval

Banner Ads

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Attach category specific advertisements on individual pages.
Apply banner ads to columns, headers, and footer independently.
"Number of Impressions" statistics.
"Click through" statistics.
Manage your sponsor's ads for advertising space through the banner management pages.
Versatility to allow for virtually any HTML resource to be displayed on each page of the site.

Fee-Based Features

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Optionally charge users for posting auctions.
Issue credits (free auctions) automatically upon user registration for free auction placement.
Issue credits (free auctions) manually to users through administration.
Preconfigured and set up with PayPal for domestic and international payments.
Ability to handle "real-time" credit card processing.
Preconfigured and set up with 2Checkout (2checkout.com) for payments.
Preconfigured and set up with Worldpay (worldpay.com) for payments.
Preconfigured and set up with Authorize.net for credit card processing.
Integration of AIM/SIM from Authorize.net.
Preconfigured for Cash Payments. Auctions will be placed on hold for your approval for thirty days while you await payment.
Preconfigured for Check Payments. Auctions will be placed on hold for your approval for thirty days while you await payment.
Preconfigured for Money Order Payments. Auctions will be placed on hold for your approval for thirty days while you await payment.
Ability to charge a fee based on the price of the item for sale by the user (If using this method, GeoAuctions forces the price field to be filled in).
Optionally charge sellers extra for each picture they upload.
Charge for an auction based on the length of time the auction is displayed.
Automatically charge users for featured auction status .
Automatically charge users for auction bolding . This feature allows you to also change the font color and background to really make these auctions stand out.
Automatically charge users for having better auction placement positioning.
Create and unlimited number of user groups .
Charge different fees to different user groups. You can separate users into groups when they register so that you can charge them differently.
Create an unlimited number of complex price plans and pricing schemes.
Set expiration time to price plans.
Set a new price plan for "expired price plans" to automatically expire into.
Move users from price plan to price plan.
Edit user groups and price plans.
Charge users on a subscription basis (weekly, monthly, annually, etc.).
Optionally charge users for renewing their auctions .
Category specific pricing . For example, if you have an Automobiles category and want to charge $25.00 for auctions placed in this category but also have an Antiques category that you want to be free.
Charge users extra for using an "attention getter" . You can use the default GeoAuctions attention getters or add your own.
Ability to attach Discount Codes to Groups so that users can enter specific codes to get discounts when they place auctions.
Ability to charge users for placing auctions in various levels of featured auctions .

Auction Display Preference & Features

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Auction results tables are propogated from lowest level subcategory to highest and then filtered out as the user browses deeper into the subcategories.
Limit the number of images to be displayed for auctions.
Control browsing aspects of your site:
Number of columns to use while displaying categories/subcategories Display subcategory auctions in a parent category while browsing Number of auctions to display per page while browsing Choose wheter to display dates, descriptions or photo icons
Display the date in different configurations.
Control the use of the country, state/province and zip field within auctions.
Overall auctions front page optionally displays the number of auctions in each category and subcategory next to its listing.
URL specific extra questions - an image of your choice will display with a link to the website entered by user in auction.
Optional use of predefined values for Cities, States, and any other variables the admin wishes to use; Admin selects whether to display variables in a dropdown box or alow users to write in their own values.
Create your own auction templates or use the GeoAuctions default auction templates.
Allow for any type of file uploading (real audio, mpeg, gif, etc...).
Limit the max number of auctions a seller can have at any given time.
Clickable links/buttons on the auction display page including:
Tell a friend Contact Seller Add to favorites Sellers other auctions
Admin can optionally force sellers to place their auctions in the lowest possible subcategory.
Admin can allow the seller to use html to place their auction .
Seller has the ability to log in and modify their auction's title, description, photos, and even the category the item is located in. These abilities are all controlled by the admin.
Each auction has a "times viewed" counter which indicates the number of times that item has been viewed by site visitors.
"Thank You" email sent to user when an auction is successfully (active/live/approved if necessary after payment) placed. Can be turned off in admin. The information will contain basic information about the auction.
When removing an auction from the site the seller is presented with a short form to optionally give a reason for ad removal .
Limit the number of characters used in the Auction Title .
Limit the number of characters used in the Auction Description .
Auction Upgrade process allows the user to pull up their active auctions and upgrade to "featured status", "bolding", "better placement", etc. This process then takes them to a payment page so submit the applicable fee to you for the changes they've made to their auction.
Popup window for auction images on auction display page can be html template based and allow for you to designate a horizontal and vertical size (in pixels) greater than the size of the image.
MapQuest button on auction display page that aut omatically ma ps the item for the buyer. The advertiser can optionally provide this mapping information.
Printer friendly page can be displayed and for user to print the auction.
Optional display of a "splash page" when user goes to place an auction. Can be used to advertise another product, review a price plan, etc.
Ability to add " checkboxes " to the auction display. For example, allow your advertisers when placing their auction to choose from a set of options, such as, in the case of an Automobiles site: power locks, AC, power steering, keyless entry, etc. When the advertiser checks these boxes, those options will show up on the auction display page in a separate list format. Each option in the list can have a small image of your choice in front of it.
User can show a "SOLD" sign next to their auction after it sells. This helps you, as the admin, to market your site by showing that your current customers are selling their items from using your site.
Admin can implement up to 20 Site Wide Fields to be used on the during auction placement. These fields can be used to ask the seller various questions about the item for sale. If the seller fills in a question, it will be displayed on the Auction Display Page.
Seller can input a title to each photo uploaded. For example in the Real Estate category the seller may want to label their photos: Master Bedroom, Entry Hallway, Brick Fireplace, etc.
Ability for users to vote and leave a comment on the buyer and seller.
Ability to automatically display a "NEW" image next to each category and subcategory when an auction has been placed in that category within a certain time period designated by the admin.
Admin can allow users to have their personal affiliates page , which displays only that users auctions. The user has their own unique url to their auctions on your site and can post that url on their own site to redirect their visitors to their personal "storefront" . The affiliate has the ability to load their own html to their personal affiliates page.
Ability for a user to create signs and flyers for any of their auctions. Sign and/or Flyer is dynamically generated with the auction's data on an Admin implemented template. For example, signs are great for printing out and posting on an Automobile. Flyers are great for printing out and posting on a bulletin board. Also, each sign and flyer advertises the item for sale and instructs the potential buyer to access your auctions site for more information on the item...thus, FREE MARKETING FOR YOU THROUGH YOUR OWN CUSTOMERS!

Auction Expiration

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Expired auctions automatically purge from the database after 30 days.
If allowed by admin, user can choose during the auction placement, the number of days before the auction will expire.
User can view their expired auctions in their personal password-protected account.
Auctions are removed from active status by the user or automatically upon expiration of auction.
Email alert of auction expiration is sent out at a time you specify prior to the expiration date.
Manually restart auctions as the administrator after expiration.
Auction renewal process.

Email Alert notification (Auction Filters)

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Auction Search Filters are automatic filtering engines that search the contents of auctions at the time they are placed and automatically send a notification to the user who has initiated an auction filter.
Auctions that meet the user's filter criteria are sent via email to the user Search by state/province or country if fields are used Search by zip code
Users can set up as many search filters as they want in their User Management section.
Users can log in to their personal account to view and delete their current auction filters.

Personal Messaging System

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User messaging system allows the user to control the level of exposure of their contact information. This sophisticated message center allows the user to maintain privacy during the initial stages of the auction listing process. Features include:
User can choose "private communication" where they can view, reply and delete messages sent to them through the provided messaging facility; only their username is exposed to other users/visitors User can choose "public communications" where a user's email address is exposed to others and they receive all communications through their email address.
Ability to force users to log in before they can contact the seller of an item. Allows only registered users to be able to contact sellers.
Admin can select to have a blind copy of all "notify friend" and "contact seller" messages sent to the admin as well.

Searching & Browsing Capabilities

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Sophisticated search system that allows for a variety of different search criteria.
Search is driven by category when "search" button is picked while inside a category.
Search by keyword.
Search by predefined dropdown box values.
Search by Auction ID#.
Or simply search by browsing.
Ability to add U.S. zip codes and search based upon mile radius surrounding the zip code entered. Additional $99.00 for any Geodesic product.
Improved search returns.
Can be integrated with the GeoProducts ZipSearch Module . This allows for a search by U.S. zipcode and a search radius in miles from that zipcode.
Additional Quicksearch box can be conveniently placed anywhere and on any page. Module allows for search by keyword and category.
Ability to deactivate the standard search page and insert your own customized search page .
Browsing State Filter allows visitors to weed out auctions from a results table by selecting a state from a dropdown menu.
Browsing Zip Code Filter allows visitors to weed out auctions from a results table by selecting a zip code from a dropdown menu.

User Registration & Controls

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Easy to use registration process which uses an optional email address verification routine that:
Reduces fake registrations Ensures unique email addresses are required (no duplicates within the site) Assures that the user registering at least has current access to the email address used
User has flexible control over their auctions and preferences through their personal account area. This "User Management Facility" contains:
My active auctions My expired auctions My current information Place new auctions Auction filters My favorites Communications (GeoAuctions messaging system) Communication configuration Signs and flyers generator (enterprise version only)
Notify a friend of an auction by using the GeoAuctions messaging system.
Optional email confirmation can be sent to confirm registration. If admin uses this approach, registration is not complete until the user clicks on the link within the email. This serves as a built-in email checker as well as a welcome message to the new registrant.
Optional immediate registration process where the user is automatically signed into their new account upon registration completion.
Lost password routine emails the user's password to them.
Registration process consolidated to one page .
Admin decides which registration fields are required and which are not. If the user fails to fill in a field, they are prompted to with an error message .
System automatically checks for duplicate usernames during registration.
Admin has ability to suspend users .
Ability to create as many user groups as you want. When a user registers they will have the option to enter a "promotional code" that you create. This allows you to advertise radio spots to some groups with one code, newspaper spots with another code, and etc. You can then assign a different pricing plan to each group. If the registrant does not have a code, they will be placed in a default user group/price plan of your choice.
Admin can distribute Discount codes that are attached to Groups so that users can enter specific codes to get discounts when they place auctions.
When a user enters a code during registration the admin can display a Splash Page that tells the user some additional information. For example, use the splash page to go over the advertised pricing scheme that they will enjoy while using your site.
Ability to turn on / off each field in the registration process.
Ability to designate the maximum number of characters allowed in each field during registration.
Additional Registration Fields that the Admin can enter and ask users during the registration process.
Admin has the ability to block certain email addresses .

Additional Admin Controls

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Admin can edit and delete auctions by logging into the client side with the admin's password and using quicklinks appearing in all listings.
Admin Control Panel allows administrator to manage virtually all aspects of the program through the Graphical User Interface.
Administrator can specify required fields in the admin facility, as well as, show/noshow certain fields.
Ability to set the maximum number of characters that will be displayed for each field in various tables.
Ability to set maximum number of characters that users can enter in each text field when entering auctions.
Supports Sendmail on Unix servers.
Advanced email settings to accommodate for different hosting requirements.
Admin can send bulk emails to entire user database or to select user groups.
Admin is alerted when an auction is edited.

Security

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Notification by e-mail to the administrator when a user registers.
Ability to remove "bad words" as defined by the administrator.
Checks the validity of e-mail addresses form (someone@somewhere.com).
Checks to make sure that users entered all necessary contact information.
Code written to allow for register globals "on" or "off" without sacrificing security.

Software Updates & Support

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Free updates on our programs for One Full Year from the date of purchase.
Unlimited Free email support for One Full Year after purchase.
Online "User Forum" for troubleshooting and sharing tips and tricks with other users of GeoClassifieds.