BidStation

What do you like best?

BidStation is very simple and intuitive to use, but if you need assistance, you can always get in contact with a representative. The developer is very helpful and communicative, and wants to ensure you have a good experience using their product. I also appreciate that it links to Square, a product we already use, to accept payments and keep cards on file. Lastly, I really appreciate the merge documents that come with the software so that you can use the data that you've already entered to create bid sheets, bidder numbers, and more. In all, BidStation saves me a lot of time and helps me keep accurate records.

What do you dislike?

There are some inconsistent keyboard commands in the program. For example, in some windows, you can hit 'Enter' to execute an action, while in others, you have to use your mouse to click a button. Unfortunately, I never remember which windows won't let me use the 'Enter' key, so I end up hitting it a few times until I realize it won't work. It's a minor complaint, and hopefully something that they'll update and become more consistent with.

Recommendations to others considering the product:

BidStation is one of the most inexpensive auction and event management softwares that exists. It's upfront about its pricing and doesn't take a cut of what you raise. It has a simple to understand interface, and the developer is always happy to email or call to answer questions, walk you through the program, and more.

What problems are you solving with the product? What benefits have you realized?

Like I previously mentioned, BidStation definitely helps me save time and keep better records at our annual fundraising event. It has also helped staff maintain a more professional attitude during the event, as we're no longer constantly scrambling to put receipts together before the next stage of the event. Lastly, we've heard from attendees that they feel check-in and check-out go much smoother and take much less time than before.