Auction Flex Reviews

The most features, PERIOD

Comments: We have had a lot of success with auctionflex, we recently opened a second account when we expanded and opened an office in another state.

Pros:

This software, written and enhanced over a period of over a dozen years, has FAR AND AWAY the most features of any product on the market. If you are a general merchandise auctioneer, you should consider auctionflex on your short list for its versatility.

Cons:

The software is SO FEATURE rich, that there is a significant learning curve to operate it. Because it is not a true cloud based product (its cloud version is actually just a remote desktop connection to their server farm), it is easy to have item lockouts if multiple team members are entering data for the same auction at the same time.

As a bidder, it just doesn't come any easier!

Comments: Allows me to participate in online auctions without missing out on the live component. Critical for people with mobility challenges or in areas where distance prevents travel to live auctions.

Pros:

Easy to register to bid, read all disclosures, and jump into the action without too much bureaucracy or trouble. Once registered, the software recognizes the user almost immediately, allowing bidders to re-visit their bids, up their offers and watch live action.

Cons:

Back arrow kicks you out of the program, requiring user to sign in again. The "back to auction" button should be visible and accessible on all detail and bidding screens.

How did I step into this money pit?

Comments: Completely, absolutely negative - including financially!

Pros:

Nada. Not one thing. Bad software, bad documentation, bad support.

Cons:

Hard to say what was my least favorite part of Auction Flex. I'll list just a few. I could write a full page on each of these, but I have wasted enough time on AuctionFlex.1. If you look for help, you will find half a dozen (or more) versions - with no indication on which is the newest one.2. Incomplete and contradictory instructions.3. The regional 'helper' assigned to me was mostly unaware of the issues I brought up and in general...'helpless'.4. One example: One customer did not understand (or like) reserves. He complained to AF support. They took his side and said I should work with him.

Great Auction Software

Pros:

I love the easy to use interface. All of the tabs you need are right there on the easy navigation screen. Plus the export to Quickbooks option makes billing a breeze.

Cons:

The only con I can think of is you cannot have a customer checked into an auction twice. We have In house and online bidders. Some of our in house bidders go home after they won an item and buy online as well. There should be a feature that let's you check an in house bidder in to the auction with an online number as well.

Unintuitive and limited function

Comments: Hands down unimpressed with this platform.

Pros:

I did not like the software. I have no good experiences to share about auctionFlex.

Cons:

The number of sketchy users on this platform makes all auctioneers look bad. Spreadsheet upload is archaic and glitchy. Far better interface with our new service.

Don't do it

Pros:

Worked ok during auctions. Check out was easier.

Cons:

Poor customer service. They take your money out automatically, but when you need something it takes hours if not days for a response. Just extremely unhappy with service . Program is ok but I still dont recommend.

Cannot depend on servers to keep data up to date, accurate or backed up

Comments: I am disappointed with Auction Flex/HiBid. It is very hard to navigate, expensive, huge learning curve on the auctioneer side, and you are unable to adjust anything, spelling, update photos etc.. Without chance of destroying bids. I had 153 new lots, that "just disappeared" 2 days before auction close. They had been uploaded to the online bidding piece HiBid.com, but according to Auction Flex Support, they were unable to pull the online data to re-populate the back office piece. I was then told that I would not be to automatically clerk the lots after closing of the auction. Lazy programmers not wanting to sync their piece-milled software. The cherry on top was when the person called me to explain how they couldn't make anything right, she offered to help me upload my next auction to see what I was doing wrong.

Pros:

The ability to charge customer credit cards on file. The ability to grade bidders for non-payment.

Cons:

They do not have backups. No auditing to research what actually happened in the event something goes wrong. There is not an option to restore data after the Auction Flex 360 "loses" it.

Embarrasses us on a daily basis

Pros:

Clerking works well. The HiBid function isn't bad. The shipping engine is good, with the occasional bugs.

Cons:

We use Auction Flex to manage our entire business. It is nearly impossible to learn and random errors occur unless you know the 'Setttings and Options' menu by heart. This menu has 32 tabs of settings with awkward titles that the average user will have no idea what they are for or what they mean. It is completely unreliable for client communications. I have to watch every email sent to consignors and customers for blank PDFs. Their PDF engine also either creates enormous files that will not email or smaller PDFs with pictures on top of the text. The system is now emailing our absentee bidders telling them they are outbid on an auction that has not even occurred yet. I've attempted to contact Auction Flex support four times by phone or live chat today and no one answers. They have also removed their support phone number from their website.

Frustrating that nothing else is available

Comments: We use it because nothing else is available.

Pros:

We like the ability to have on line auctions.

Cons:

Bugs in the software. Prices realized printed incorrectly and didn't match bid history. Not windows intuitive, very hard to make it work without support. Support is very frustrating. You always get answering service and then eventually a call back.

This site allows the seller to rate the buyer

Comments: Auctionflex or hibid same company. I had accidentally bid on a item that was not ending yet.
1 I called immediately to retract the bid.
2. I won a item and seller never sent it to me. I wrote and sent emails for a month before the seller sent the item. I was upset. And called hibid.com to complain.
3. I retracted a bid after finding out it was knock off item. The auction still had 3 hrs...
Now for these reason. I get a "negative 7" feedback. Now if I want to bid. I have to ask for permission and my bid won't be accepted unless auctioneer approved. I still don't know why it how this could be. I buy a lot. 1 was an accident. 2 was a complaint cause the seller could not reply. You know how annoying it is. When you have to ask the seller for permission for that reason? Sorry I just cancelled my account. If you call and complain about anything or retract. You get slammed. I use proxi and auctionzip. This place sucks. Sorry but its how I feel

Pros:

Software was easy. But it's complicated and a pain in the was if you retract a bid or complain about the auctioneer

Cons:

The seller rates the buyer. Any calls or,complaint. They strike u for it.

Great platform for the auctioneer

Comments: I would reccomend it to anyone.

Pros:

Easy to use and setup sales. Easy use for the bidder to login and bid.

Cons:

Techinical support could be better. Sometimes its hard to get someone on the phone

Outdated program

Comments: Frustration to no end.

Pros:

Nothing - great concept but reality is another story.

Cons:

Too many "bells and whistles" making it difficult to use. Similar programs at ebay, amazon, etsy very easy to use as well as computer friendly. I am/was shocked how poorly this program operates inasmuch as learning to use it.

Very difficult to use Bidopia. Had to refund everyone from my first auction!

Comments: If you are a computer novice quit thinking about AuctionFlex right now. Very difficult to use and to get someone who wants to take the tie to train you seems to be nearly impossible. I have heard good remarks about the live auction software but the on-line Bidopia is terrible! One line tutorials. Then, after you purchase or rent the software they can charge you $95 an hour for anything over an hour in support or after hours; should have suspected something when I saw that but I tried it. Just, for me anyway, a nightmare from the start. Going to give them one more shot and if it fails again I am gone. My first auction had all sorts of extra charges appear. It was so bad I just refunded the bidders and then the software didn't want to let me do that! Sent an email asking for help...."crickets"... It might be ok if I could just get someone willing to help.

FREE 30 day trial, did not use and canceled in 2 weeks. They charged me money, would not refund

Comments: None, learned a costly education.

Cons:

Terrible, there is nothing I can say about a company that steals others MONEY. They say easy to use, another lie. NEED TO BE A COMPUTER PRO TO USE. Hard to use. Poor videos. Stole my money and said it is company policy. So 30 day free trial really costly, NOT FREE. BEWARE of the FREE lie.

Overpriced, outdated, inflexible

Comments: Absolutely the worst decision I have made was to buy this software. Just to install it was a nightmare to run more than one computer, was told by technical support that I needed an IT person. Hired an IT person that quickly recognized the technology was from the 1990's!!!!!! This is such basic software, he was able to write us a custom program for less than Auctionflex would cost us for 2 months.

Best Software for Professional Auctioneers

Comments: A comprehensive software for professional auctioneers - all the features you need, reports, invoicing... plus HiBid.com online auctions and simultaneous live auctions with online bidding. Great value and the best customer service I have ever encountered. My auction company would not be as efficient without Auction Flex!

Awesome Product. Very User Friendly.

Comments: I opened an online auction about 10 months ago now and Auction Flex was a huge part of our success. The software is great and easy to use. Their tech support is always very helpful and polite. I would highly recommend to anyone getting into the business.

Veteran auctioneer.

Comments: Great platform. Some trade offs. Would like an easier way to upload than CSV files. Overall, I would be happy to recommend

Great Software, Very dependable

Comments: 10 years using Auction flex Very satisfied never had any problems with software and very easy to use.