Based on feedback provided by our auctioneers and other recent events, we upgraded Ignite early this morning to introduce new functions and changes.
1. Faster image gallery uploads
2. Grid-style gallery organizer
3. Property Information Package Tracker module improvements
4. Removal of Scribd iPaper
We are currently experiencing a problem with Scribd, the third party digital paper provider that powers the document displays in Ignite. We are working with Scribd to resolve the problem and will post an update here as soon as the cause of the problem is determined and resolved.
UPDATE: 9:10PM EDT Digital paper service is temporarily disabled until the problem with Scribd can be resolved. Visitors to auctions will still be able to download the original document to access the information.
UPDATE: 11:59PM EDT Due to a policy enforcement change at Scribd, we are discontinuing the inclusion of Scribd’s digital paper service with Ignite. In light of this, we do encourage all customers to use platform- and software-neutral file formats, such as PDF, for document uploads. More information regarding the discontinuation of the Scribd iPaper service in Ignite will be published in a separate post once our team has an opportunity to review the situation in more detail.
Based on feedback from our customers, the default image gallery layout in the Ignite auction detail templates now displays thumbnails in a grid display with five across at a fixed width. This change will affect all sites using the default templates and is intended to improve the look and flow of the page. While the change will, unfortunately, add additional vertical length to image gallery pages, the majority of the feedback we received from auctioneers indicated that the uniformity of a grid-style display was more important to them and their customers than the excessive amount of vertical scrolling now needed to view large galleries.
For select sites with limited horizontal width, there may be slight anomalies in the display on select browsers. Please use the Ignite support ticket system (Ignite login required) to report these incidents on your site as needed.
Grid display on an AuctionServices.com Auction Detail Page
This change was brought about by feedback from auctioneers, so please keep the feedback coming (whether it be positive or negative) and know that we are listening!
Please let us know how we’re doing by filling out this brief survey about Ignite:
CLICK HERE TO BEGIN SURVEY NOW
Your feedback helps us to continue to develop and build effective products for the auction industry. We appreciate your input!
The AuctionServices.com Team
In a nutshell you know I have been buying mailing & printing services for over 30-years and have never seen, heard of or experienced anything quite like the service we received from Xpressdocs that was connected through our ignite system.
We approved artwork for a postcard mailing at 2:00 PM Wednesday, they printed and shipped us 5,500 postcards that were on my doorstep a little before 2:00 PM Thursday (yesterday) they also printed and mailed another 3,500 +- postcards that left their facility yesterday.
The price was lower than any other printing/mailing service we have used over the past 30-years (When you figure postage increases they have no control over) and the customer service response time was lighting fast.
The order was not that big money-wise at a little under $2,000 so its not like they were making some sort of huge profit.
When I saw the integrated mailing service built into Ignite, I was more than a little skeptical to say the least. Being introduced to Eric at the AuctionServices.com booth at the NAA C&S and having a face to put to the voice and e-mails increased my confidence but not that much. I have heard a *LOT* of stories from printers over the years and his was not much different.
We had a hard time finding the right mailing list and I told everyone we were shopping the job against tried and true vendors but I would give them a shot and “He who scored the list would get the job…”
The list was for property owners in a certain county and Eric, on his own initiative located the entire list from a government source for free. Then he worked with me personally to ‘clean up’ the list removing duplicates, government agencies and reduced the size from 12,800 to about 8,500 mailable names. They ran the list against the USPS CASS system to remove a couple hundred more bad addresses.
We had some internal issues and were not able to prepare the artwork & copy to do the mailing according to my schedule and were ready to cancel the entire job. When I told Eric about our problems he simply said “send the components and give us a shot” so out they went.
1/2 hour later there was a draft proof in our inbox waiting for approval. We had to make about 4 or 5 minor changes and sent it back. 10 minutes later there was an updated proof with our changes waiting for our approval.
I said go ahead print, ship & mail it, never believing for a minute that we would see 5,000 plus postcards sitting on our front porch shipped from Texas to Maryland overnight for less than $20 more.
We never saw the FedEx man come and go yesterday but there were two big boxes of professionally printed high gloss, imprinted, sorted, ready to mail postcards before 2:00 PM on our doorstep.
You are welcome to use me as a testimonial or reference for the Xpressdocs any day of the week.
Sincerely,
Billy Burke, CAI – AARE
Auctioneer
Check out the Xpressdocs link-up by clicking on the Printing & Mailing Services button on your Ignite dashboard. Save 20% off your first order using code Auction0809 thru August 31!
“We are really pleased with the hits on auctions that we get from our (state) website – much much more than the hits we receive on our auctions posted on National!!!! thanks for the good work.” ~ D.S.
Last night we rolled out the new optimization for Ignite. I could not believe how fast auction lists now come up!!! We have been working on this optimization since before the NAA Conference & Show in July. However, it could only be rolled out after we changed templates and a few other items, which we accomplished over the weekend.
If you’re using Ignite you will be extremely pleased with the speed that your auctions and as a result your website loads up now. Bench-marked calendar loading averaged less than 3 seconds.
If you’re not using Ignite you can look at any of our state sites and or portals to see the speed.
http://auctionservices.com/auction-portals.php
Google Partnership:
On a different note we have not formally announced this yet but we have partnered with Google for email management via their Apps. We have moved two auctioneers so far in a beta mode. They are extremely pleased and we are as well…
The short of it all is that Zimbra, our current email client, and three servers are not doing it for us and the 2,800+ email accounts that we manage. Google has all the horsepower plus many great features included. All email that our auctioneers currently have in the Zimbra system will be ported over for them after we have setup their email accounts. They email addresses will still be youremailaccount@yourdomain.
This is a huge advantage for our clients and will streamline email plus scan junk mail much better as well since we have the power of the Google backbone…
We will do this transition in batches not to have anything fall through the cracks. Please stay tuned for more information…
Respectfully,
Richard A. Romanus Sr.
President & CEO
AuctionServices.com, Inc.
Roanoke, VA 24018
Office: 540-206-3311
Stuart Bain from AuctionServices talks with Aaron Traffas from AuctioneerTech about the new Ignite auction software suite. Recorded at the 60th International Auctioneers Conference and Show in Overland Park, KS, in July.
New Feature!
Last night, while you were sleeping, the Ignite elves were busy rolling out a new feature for your Ignite dashboard. We are very pleased to announce the integration of printing and mailing services to the Ignite Suite.
Our first preferred provider, XpressDocs, has worked with us to integrate their services into the Ignite platform, making it easy for you to list your auction in Ignite, and then use those same images and text to create agency-quality direct marketing materials in minutes! You can design postcards in several sizes, rack cards, flyers, brochures and more, using professional templates, or upload your own designs. Orders placed by 4pm central time are printed and shipped the same day.
XpressDocs also offers all-in-one flexible direct mail options, including: demographic business and consumer lists, street lists, mail to your own lists, free CASS list and more.
Click here to download a flyer with pricing examples.
? Unparalleled print quality and design
? Dozens of auction and real estate templates
? Upload your own files
? Overnight turnaround time
? Demographic lists
Come by the AuctionServices.com booth at the NAA convention in Overland Park, KS, next week where we’ll be happy to answer your questions about XpressDocs printing and mailing services. If your company has a service you would like to talk to us about integrating with Ignite, drop an email to HIDDEN EMAIL.