Comparing and Purchasing Consignment Software

This is an 'entertaining' and profitable consideration because there are such huge differences between the 'best and worst' of consignment software and vendors - in price and in business practices.

The good guys don't charge annual fees to use their software. Smart. They get most of the business by applying a simple formula:

The bad guys try to appear to be competitively priced by drawing attention to their initial prices while failing to place equal emphasis on the fees that lie in wait after the sale. (Liberty has gone so far as to advertise "$85 Consignment Software" on the Internet then disclose on the web site, 'Well, that's $85 per month!'.)

The good guys lay everything out up front. They are good honest business people and they have nothing to hide, so there's nothing hidden and no surprises after purchase.

The bad buys know that most people get confused and discouraged when attempting to make heads or tails out of the difference in software programs. What a great opportunity to slide a few thing by unnoticed, by burying unfavorable ownership policies in arcane places like on website subsubpages and in 'disclaimers' that are seldom found or read.

Example: 'Consignpro' - Miami, Fl. - Most software can be sold when you're done with it. Not Consignpro. The buyer has to buy your business, use the same name, same address, same phone number - virtually doesn't happen. Where is this important provision disclosed? On one subsubwebpage with one link to it from a sub-page and in a 'disclaimer' somewhere in the program. That essentially assures no one will see it and when will they find out? When they're ready to sell their software to someone else. Mission accomplished.

Refrain from considering vendors who cheat to get your business.

The good guys don't set price and policy traps. They price their programs fairly and they don't lay in wait with big plans to abscond with your money 'later' with fees they played down prior to purchase.

The bad guys know you're confused, maybe impressionable and they know you may not be thinking 3-5 years down the road if and when your business flourishes and you want and need more computers. You must purchase additional copies of the software for each computer. The day that you make that decision, 3-5 years from now, is way too late to find out how much that is going to cost, and the difference in pricing is large. In round numbers, each additional copy of the software will cost $300 or $50-$100.

The good guys: "We price our programs reasonably for everyone and we don't expect our users to subsidize our sales revenue by over-pricing or by price trapping."

The bad guys: "We just want to get you in the door and when it's closed, have we got fees for you! We're building for retirement! Come on in and bring your checkbook!"

The good guys don't connive.

The bad guys dig big holes in the ground and cover them up with leaves, hoping you'll wander along and fall in. Gotcha! Liberty: Most software providers provide a free or affordable 2nd copy of the software for 'home use'. Liberty: Add $295. QuickBooks? Add $199. Support? Add $600+ PER YEAR. Data Conversion: Add $200. Printer Help? $45. Scanner Help? $20. Hardware? Forget it - way too expensive!

Here's a beaut: 'Consignpro' - $250 per year support fees (using 5 computers) - The program uses an inferior database component. It has a reputation for losing or damaging your data. 'Consignpro' - in additional to the annual service fees - charges $69 each time your data needs a 'tune up'. Oh, printer help $45; data conversion $200, data storage $72 PER YEAR...

What's the deal? The 'bad guys' are Liberty, CCE and Consignpro. They claim that having been around the longest naturally makes them the best. Unfortunately consignment software isn't a fine wine or a cigar which gets better with age. Back in the good ole days these 3 were getting $1,000 and more up front and healthy endless yearly service fees, and if users didn't pay the fees, they didn't get service or updates (bug fixes, product enhancements).

Lastly - One-Legged Software

...is software standing on one leg - one programmer solely responsible for program maintenance. Yes, he may have a secretary or part-time helper which allows them to say 'we'. These individuals claim that it's to your advantage to 'talk directly to the "Creator" of the software. You're talking to him because there's no one else to talk to, and when he's gone, support for your software will be gone. Choose a software company - not one programmer who is trying to give the appearance of being a 'company':

Consignpro: Brian Wilson, "CEO", Visual Horizons Software LLC
"with offices in New York and Miami!"

Wilson is an individual operating out of an apartment in Miami. There is no corporation and no office in 'New York'.