Hosted Auction Website

eBay Alternatives: Hosting Your Own Auction Site

eBay is a platform familiar to most internet users. While its prominence may have decreased somewhat, it continues to function as the world’s largest online auction marketplace.

It remains a valuable resource for generating revenue through the sale of unique items, or for securing advantageous prices on difficult-to-locate products.

Auction Tools and Their Limitations

Here at MUO, we frequently explore and recommend auction-related tools. Examples include sniping tools such as Gixen and goSnipe, as well as mobile auction solutions like SoLow.

The majority of these tools are designed with eBay functionality in mind.

Despite its benefits, eBay doesn't always cater to smaller, more specialized requirements.

WeBid: A Self-Hosted Auction Solution

Many non-profit organizations, for instance, may desire a dedicated online auction platform to benefit their charitable causes.

Alternatively, website owners might wish to integrate an auction feature focused on niche products relevant to their existing content.

For these scenarios, WeBid provides a powerful solution.

This script allows you to host a fully operational auction site directly on your own web server.

Installation and Configuration

WeBid is available for free download from SourceForge.

Once downloaded, extract all contained folders and files into a subdirectory within your web server’s public hdocs directory.

The installation and configuration process closely resembles that of WordPress.

Like WordPress, WeBid is built upon the PHP and MySQL technologies.

This makes it a relatively straightforward process for those familiar with these platforms.

WeBid Installation Guide for Your Web Server

Following the download of the necessary files into your designated auction directory – for instance, /hdocs/WeBid/ – locate the file named "config.inc.php.new". Open this file and modify it to reflect the MySQL database name created specifically for your auction platform, along with the corresponding username and password possessing complete access privileges.

Avoid utilizing the "root" user; this was executed on a local testing server, minimizing security concerns. For a production environment, establishing a dedicated, secure user via PhpMyAdmin is crucial. Save the altered file and rename it to "config.inc.php". Subsequently, access your website and navigate to the directory containing the WeBid files.

If your domain is registered as "mysite", the address would resemble "http://www.mysite.com/WeBid". Upon opening this URL in your browser, the installer configuration interface will appear.

Populate all required fields with information pertaining to your file location and database name. Successful completion will be indicated by the confirmation messages displayed at the bottom of the installation configuration page.

With all indicators displaying a positive status, proceed by clicking the "Install" button. After the installation script completes its process, you will be prompted to remove the installation directory. Deleting this folder allows subsequent visits to the WeBid directory via your web browser to automatically log you into the administrator account.

The administrator panel serves as the central hub for customizing and managing your entire auction site. This is where user accounts are managed, auction configurations are defined, and all aspects of your auction platform are controlled.

As illustrated by the available tabs, extensive customization options are present, enabling you to create a unique auction experience. You can modify the fee structure, alter the user interface, and implement numerous other changes.

User experience customization includes enabling or disabling account authentication, determining account activation methods (with or without administrative involvement), and tailoring the initial message displayed to new user registration requests.

The fee structure is entirely flexible, ranging from completely free auctions to charges for various user actions. Alternatively, for charitable organizations, fees may be entirely absent.

Once users establish their accounts, listing a new auction is a straightforward process. If operating a charity with predominantly buyer users, a single seller account can be created and managed by an administrator. Regardless, the listing process is consolidated onto a single form.

Initially, comprehensive details about the item are entered.

The form concludes with image uploads, pricing input, and feature selections such as highlighting, followed by submission. The auction immediately becomes active (or at the scheduled activation time). The auction format is designed to be user-friendly, mirroring familiar platforms like eBay.

While numerous auction platforms exist for listing items, possessing your own hosted auction website offers unique advantages. With a web hosting account and approximately 30 to 60 minutes, you can deploy this system and host an auction site for a small group or a global audience. The application of this system is entirely at your discretion.

Do you envision potential applications for your own auction site? Experiment with WeBid and share your experience regarding the ease of setup and its intended use. We encourage you to share your insights in the comments section below!

cc licensed flickr photo shared by bloomsberries