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INVENTORY PROGRAM OR DATABASE for WEB SITE

FIRST POST EVER - NEED HELP !
I have a ton of U.S. and world coins.
I want to purchase the best inventory program that i can get.
ANY suggestions ???
then i would like to take that database or spreadsheet, and make a web site of all my coins for sale ??
ANY IDEAS ???

Someone must have done this before, i really do NOT want to have to reinvent the wheel.
There is a program called ExactChange that has a database of 26,000 world coins inc US.

PLEASE just give me any ideas, suggestions, or links.
thank you, sincerely, BILL

Comments

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    Wolf359Wolf359 Posts: 7,666 ✭✭✭
    There are free web based retail solutions like Open Cart. Check my web site for an example. Click here

    Of course, photographing and loading the coins is the hard part. There are no simple cut and dried solutions here. You are looking at a lot of work.
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    TomBTomB Posts: 22,963 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Most folks will reply that they have simply built their own database to fit their own needs using Excel. It is free, easy to learn and on most computers.
    Thomas Bush Numismatics & Numismatic Photography

    In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson

    image
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    DorkGirlDorkGirl Posts: 9,994 ✭✭✭
    image

    Why don't you just sell a few at a time here on the BST Forum? Making the database, then a website, then trying to sell them is a lot more work. Just take some decent pictures, put them on Phototbucket (free picture hosting) and sell them here. Easy.
    Becky
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    RobertSRobertS Posts: 487 ✭✭
    SPAM, SPAM, SPAM
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    derrybderryb Posts: 38,555 ✭✭✭✭✭
    No spam. He's not asking you to visit a website, he's asking for help.

    Excel is the way to go, search the forum for Excel, lots of tips available.

    "A car is a tool that takes you from one place to another. Everything beyond that is a payment for other people's perception of you."

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    THANKS ALL for the responses and ideas
    I still think I have too many coins, I want that inventory list of everything i own - a mindboggling collection
    I need the BEST inventory program i can get - and i need the database for it, as the base of the web site.
    If i can buy the Krause world coins on Excel or Access, i would - anyone know if i can ??
    I am a CPA so i know spreadsheets, but i do NOT want to have to reinvent the wheel.
    there are many commerical programs out there, but geared for collectors, and you cannot get your inventory list over to a web site.
    again, my best guess is to use EXACTchange program
    http://www.exactchange.info/
    it has over 26000 different coins, put them in there, then export the list to spreadsheet or CSV file to use as my database for web site.
    ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS OR COMMENTS ???
    thank you, sincerely , bill
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    spam, spam, eggs, and spam

    merse

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    what spam?
    i do not own or have any interest - i NEED ADVICE
    I NEED a coin inventory program that i can use for a web site
    please help and advise, thanks
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    ShamikaShamika Posts: 18,785 ✭✭✭✭

    Most everyone here uses Excel and I very much endorse this. I much prefer the spreadsheet I've developed for my own collection than anything I've ever seen.

    Buyer and seller of vintage coin boards!
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    messydeskmessydesk Posts: 20,737 ✭✭✭✭✭
    There is no best program that is the Eierlegende Wollmilchsau of coin collection software.

    Suggestion 1: Download as many trial versions of software as you can and see how you like them. I did this once a long time ago and hated most of them almost immediately. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like ExactChange has a trial version. Pay attention to what you like and don't like, as this will be a learning experience

    Suggestion 2: Organize a small, representative sampling of your collection in Excel or Access, use the inventory the way you want to, and discover what your requirements are. You'll find you don't want many of the features offered on some commercial titles.

    Converting a database to a website is conceptually easy, but you also have to consider how you want the website to work. Shopping cart or telephone/e-mail? Auto-update based on sold inventory or push a new inventory from the database? How automated do you want picture uploads to be? These are requirements that will drive what your database needs to do.
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    MsMorrisineMsMorrisine Posts: 39,423 ✭✭✭✭✭
    if you are going to use the databasee to then run a website checkout system off it, then you will need a real database, not excel, and a real website with database capabilities and retail checkout system with security.


    you need to start asking about a whole software package and retail web site service.


    perhaps you can browse the many web sites of the dealers here and find one you like, then ask what and who they use.

    Current maintainer of Stone's Master List of Favorite Websites // My BST transactions
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    derrybderryb Posts: 38,555 ✭✭✭✭✭
    bill, turn on you PM (private message) function in your profile so you can receive PMs.

    "A car is a tool that takes you from one place to another. Everything beyond that is a payment for other people's perception of you."

  • Options
    derrybderryb Posts: 38,555 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>if you are going to use the databasee to then run a website checkout system off it, then you will need a real database, not excel, and a real website with database capabilities and retail checkout system with security.


    you need to start asking about a whole software package and retail web site service.


    perhaps you can browse the many web sites of the dealers here and find one you like, then ask what and who they use. >>


    Best advice yet! image

    "A car is a tool that takes you from one place to another. Everything beyond that is a payment for other people's perception of you."

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    RussRuss Posts: 48,514 ✭✭✭
    With that many coins it'll be a mammoth undetaking no matter what approach you choose. All I can say is eat this elephant one bite at a time.

    Russ, NCNE
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    this is the FIRST message i ever left on any sight,
    i turned on my private message like the one man told me to.

    FANTASTIC ADVICE !!!
    I will read and re-read all your ideas !

    I however, have been looking at 500 web sites, talked to dealers at shows, there is a program out there but it is like 50000 and another i am even considering that is 4000+ that is set up for dealers doing business and takes layaways etc to actually run the business. HOWEVER, they will NOT sell the portion of the program that hooks up to their OK web site.

    exactchange does have a demo, costs like $85, has 26000 us and foreign coins, but is a standalone program that i cannot acquire the database, SO i would be doing if for the first time !!

    I am spending nite and day on this, looking at web sites, call the collector programs to see if they would sell their database, no they will not
    thru a friend at coin club, i acquired 4 programs that he purchased, they are designed for collectors and i can not get that database which is key.
    the problem is to get your coins with all the info already in for THAT COIN, such as mintage, weight, diamentor, etc etc etc already in there to automatically list that info when you do ebay etc etc rather than type all that in there.
    i happen to like that exactchange since it already had the pcgs coin facts link which is incredible info.

    REWARD : IF SOMEONE FINDS THE SOLUTION I WILL PAY, PAY BETWEEN $100 TO $1000 !!

    i will be attending the PHilly coin show next week and my sole objective is not to take any coins, but ask dealers what they are using, and see how they make labels for coins etc etc.
    then there are TWO completely different way of numbering your coins in your inventory, like you can 1, 2, 3, 4 etc etc OR ALL of one coin date might be 7907- and then xxxx like the pcgs coins.
    THEN, you also must decide if you have 5 identical coins, some dealers give each a different # and others the same # and just inventory x of them.

    I STILL THINK IT IS OUT THERE, I JUST DO NOT KNOW ABOUT IT YET,
    SO PLEASE KEEP GIVING YOUR SUGGESTIONS AND IDEAS !!

    SINCERELY, THANK YOU !!
    BILL
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    << <i>bill, turn on you PM (private message) function in your profile so you can receive PMs.

    Also, disregard the spam trolls, it helps them build post count. >>



    This is blatant spam, and I am not a troll.

    Have fun pm-ing with this individual. Although you may offer solutions, I have a pretty good idea he will not like any of them better than exactchange - IT IS THE MOST AMAZING SYSTEM EVER!!! ACT NOW FOR A FREE GINSU KNIFE.!!!

    merse

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    jedmjedm Posts: 3,243 ✭✭✭✭✭
    He does mention that in every one of his posts, doesn't he?
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    that is my best solution so far - but i have NOT purchased it
    i am not selling or suggesting
    i just want a BETTER SOLUTION - A COMPLETE SOLUTION
    you are a jerk and idiot if you think i am spamming
    i have a problem, want advice, you are wasting time by responding
    it is NOT the solution to my problem or else i would not be posting

    for those serious, i think i have to buy a program, put stuff in, then export to a spreadsheet or cvs file, then put into a database, and hook that up to a shopping cart and web site

    ANY suggestions, ideas, etc ???
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    ANY SUGGESTIONS OR IDEAS ???
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    Dear BIL,

    It seems that I have misjudged you. Instead of a spammer, you are a searcher for honest advice.

    So, please tell us why you do not like exactchange. Why are you looking for something else? What is it that makes that system unworthy of your purchase? What fatal flaws does it have that sent you here on your quest for knowlege?

    BTW, name calling is not permitted here, so kindly leave words like 'jerk' and 'idiot' out of your response.

    merse

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    Dear Abit,
    sorry about that, i was upset you calling me a spammer, when i do not endorse or have purchased that nameless product.
    I was very upset, and i accept your appology also.

    there are alot of good coin collector inventory programs, a dozen nice programs, and there are even 53 listed on ebay ranging from bad to great.
    however, they are limited it getting the info out to use

    if i only have u.s. coins, a red-book info would be enough, but have 25 priority mail boxes of foreign coins also !!!! lol

    I think there HAS TO BE a program out there, and i am willing to purchase it, just cannot find it.
    i guess next week i call every single coin program distributor and ask they if they would just sell the database info.
    see that already has all the info, KM# , mintage, size, weight, etc etc, stuff you can automatically put on ebay etc.

    unless i find something, i will be forced to buy a program, list the coins, export into spreadsheet or csv file, import into my database, and then use with a shopping cart -- i think i am going to use prostores instead of an ebay store - prostore is only fee plus .005% instead of ebay .10 .

    so i appreciate you reading this, i am so frustrated in trying to find something i can use.

    KEY >>>
    again, i am looking for any database of all coins - u.s. and foreign - that i can use as a database to make a complete inventory of everything i own, and then somehow list all that stuff on a web site, even if i do not have everything priced for sale.

    I have stuff i would pay to have attributed like over 300 bust halfs, 400 civil war tokens, etc etc etc etc
    so i can take pics and put on net, might be easier to attribute with the blown up pics ??
    but i probably got over 3000 world proof sets so i need the foreign coins also

    AGAIN, ANY SUGGESTION OR IDEAS very appreciated, thanks for taking the time to help me, thank you
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    Wolf359Wolf359 Posts: 7,666 ✭✭✭
    There is really no shortcut here, sorry. It's a tremendous amount of work you're looking at.

    I take consignments, 5% of gross. That's the quickest way to market outside of do-it-yourself.
  • Options


    << <i>There is really no shortcut here, sorry. It's a tremendous amount of work you're looking at.

    I take consignments, 5% of gross. That's the quickest way to market outside of do-it-yourself. >>



    I know this does not help, but on my forum when a new member drops links "I call it SPAM". The story just does not jive, here is a guy that has a massive collection but does not know how to go about putting it on a web site to sell them. I hope that PCGS has no-follow links active so the website gets no credit for the link. I will give credit that he came back to participate and even throw an insult or two, I hope that after my post I do not end up on the receiving end of his insults...
  • Options
    mingotmingot Posts: 1,807 ✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>There is really no shortcut here, sorry. It's a tremendous amount of work you're looking at.

    I take consignments, 5% of gross. That's the quickest way to market outside of do-it-yourself. >>



    I know this does not help, but on my forum when a new member drops links "I call it SPAM". The story just does not jive, here is a guy that has a massive collection but does not know how to go about putting it on a web site to sell them. I hope that PCGS has no-follow links active so the website gets no credit for the link. I will give credit that he came back to participate and even throw an insult or two, I hope that after my post I do not end up on the receiving end of his insults... >>



    the user has not actually linked his url so not sure what nofollow (or the lack of) would have to do with anything.

  • Options


    << <i>

    << <i>

    << <i>There is really no shortcut here, sorry. It's a tremendous amount of work you're looking at.

    I take consignments, 5% of gross. That's the quickest way to market outside of do-it-yourself. >>



    I know this does not help, but on my forum when a new member drops links "I call it SPAM". The story just does not jive, here is a guy that has a massive collection but does not know how to go about putting it on a web site to sell them. I hope that PCGS has no-follow links active so the website gets no credit for the link. I will give credit that he came back to participate and even throw an insult or two, I hope that after my post I do not end up on the receiving end of his insults... >>



    the user has not actually linked his url so not sure what nofollow (or the lack of) would have to do with anything. >>




    Crash course on search engines, search engines use different formulas to rank sites. Among the things they value, simply mentioning a site on a relevant site, gives the other site more credibility. Links themselves are not as important as they used to be, but they do not hurt. When you put no-follow rules, essentially you are telling Google to ignore links on your sites and thus prevent spammers from benefiting from links to their sites.
  • Options
    FIRST, I WANT TO SAY I AM VERY IMPRESSED BY THE DEPTH OF KNOWLEDGE BY PEOPLE ON THE FORUM !! I just spent 10 hours reading posts, i am impressed !

    i am very confused about the last 3 posts.
    I did not intend to do anything wrong.
    i just do NOT know what to do.
    I am just afraid i could go tomorrow, and this stuff would be sold for pennies on the dollar.
    i created this mess, and it is my responsibility to do something about it, and not leave it as a problem for the next person.
    I had a massive collection, and then in the past year i also purchased TWO massive "collections of a lifetime." If i told you, you would not believe it.

    AGAIN, any advice or leads on how to inventory a massive collection, and get it on the web would be appreciated.
    again, i am willing to pay for advice, leads to the program, or how to do it.

    AGAIN, MY PLAN OF ATTACK
    buy the best collector program i can get
    put stuff in there
    export it to excel or cvs file
    import into a database
    study web sites - have looked at 500+
    get my categories - think i might use ebay cats
    found this >
    http://www.isoldwhat.com/getcats/index.php?RootID=11116&L2C=256&L3C=48023#48023
    pay a web designer to hook up database to their designed web site - maybe prostores
    price the stuff to SELL
    Stuff i really like i will put in title "PQ" so it retail prices
    other stuff that should be attributed just put pics and POR and pay to have attributed maybe on a % basis above normal

    on the pics
    i think i might take the 2 day photo class at the pittsburg ana show
    need to take fantastic pics for the RARE coins
    but also like a production line for the cheaper coins
    there is also a program i came accross that you can put 30 coins on a scanner, and it AUTO-separates into 30 different pics and just do one side etc

    on the coin titles for ebay
    if i do a spreadsheet there is a way i can automatically create description titles by combining all the columns like u.s., date, mintmark, condition, etc etc into one simple description like " USA 1885 CC Morgan Silver Dollar PCGS MS-64 nice toning etc etc AND then import the price xxx

    how do people find my web site >
    instead of ebay store do a prostore - % fee is only .005 vs 10%
    how do people find me ?
    i give link to ebay sellers to send to my store
    the link gives them 5 % off
    BUT as the prostore affillate program allows me to also give a kick-back to the ebay referrer like maybe 5%.
    so if the ebayer does not have what that buyer is looking for, they could refer, and get a 5% of sales for the entire lifetime of any purchases that person make.
    And when i look at the crazy prices i see, like i would be happy to sell an entire collection of 14 prestige proof sets for $800, and Home Shopping Network wants $ 2400 for the same thing.
    I also study the completed sales on ebay, and see all the crazy high asking prices of stuff not sold vs the actual sales.
    for someone to look at go to ebay, go to advanced search, hit the completed box, and put in any item, it is amazing what you learn about what is going on.

    i still have to
    1 find the perfect inventory program with the most info, pcgs #, ebay cat #, etc.
    2 decide how to number the coins either 1 2 3 4 etc, or use the first four digits of the pcgs and then last four from my use etc
    3 decide how to number the same exact coin, some use different numbers to keep track of each, and other use same number and just say you have 6 of them.
    4 decide to sell for pennies on the dollar OR do this as a business which i think i can do.
    5 i sent 4000 indian cents to Littleton and they kept only 1000 coins at 1.25, so the rejection rate is too high and i still have to deal with how best to get the most vs the extra time to do it
    6 set up a BULK SLABBING DEAL with #1 PCGS !! NEED advice later
    7 need advice on attributing, who to use, and see if they will do a % over for stuff they find over.
    8 need advice on slabbing stuff like i have alot of orginal OLD commems in their ORGINAL envelopes and packaging with the orginal ordering letters and boxes and papers, should i slab them ?
    9 if this were just u.s. coins it would be easier, but i actully have bags of like 1668 (year) foreign silver coins etc etc and then 1000's of foreign proof set from every country in the entire world.
    10 i have some really RARE coins like 1792 half dismes but also 250,000 wheat cents and 250,000 BU cents etc

    xx so many other issues

    SUMMARY, i just decided to type out my plan of attack so i can clearly see my own plan, and also IF any others had ANY comments, ideas, feedback, advice, or tell me who to ask.
    i do NOT want to re-invent the wheel.
    i even thought about using the Littleton coin numbers, etc etc
    i think i need to just purchase the best database i can get and do it.
    i am going to the philly show next week just to ask dealers and see how they inventory stuff.

    again, not trying to cause a problem, i just go this problem, if anyone can offer advice or have contacts on how to do it
    sincerely, bill
  • Options
    mingotmingot Posts: 1,807 ✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>

    << <i>

    << <i>There is really no shortcut here, sorry. It's a tremendous amount of work you're looking at.

    I take consignments, 5% of gross. That's the quickest way to market outside of do-it-yourself. >>



    I know this does not help, but on my forum when a new member drops links "I call it SPAM". The story just does not jive, here is a guy that has a massive collection but does not know how to go about putting it on a web site to sell them. I hope that PCGS has no-follow links active so the website gets no credit for the link. I will give credit that he came back to participate and even throw an insult or two, I hope that after my post I do not end up on the receiving end of his insults... >>



    the user has not actually linked his url so not sure what nofollow (or the lack of) would have to do with anything. >>




    Crash course on search engines, search engines use different formulas to rank sites. Among the things they value, simply mentioning a site on a relevant site, gives the other site more credibility. Links themselves are not as important as they used to be, but they do not hurt. When you put no-follow rules, essentially you are telling Google to ignore links on your sites and thus prevent spammers from benefiting from links to their sites. >>



    crash course in nofollow:

    it's an attribute of an anchor tag. if there is no anchor tag there is no way to attach a nofollow attribute to it.

    OP did not use actual link. No actual link means no anchor tag. no anchor tag means nothing to decorate with a nofollow attribute.




  • Options


    << <i>

    << <i>

    << <i>

    << <i>

    << <i>There is really no shortcut here, sorry. It's a tremendous amount of work you're looking at.

    I take consignments, 5% of gross. That's the quickest way to market outside of do-it-yourself. >>



    I know this does not help, but on my forum when a new member drops links "I call it SPAM". The story just does not jive, here is a guy that has a massive collection but does not know how to go about putting it on a web site to sell them. I hope that PCGS has no-follow links active so the website gets no credit for the link. I will give credit that he came back to participate and even throw an insult or two, I hope that after my post I do not end up on the receiving end of his insults... >>



    the user has not actually linked his url so not sure what nofollow (or the lack of) would have to do with anything. >>




    Crash course on search engines, search engines use different formulas to rank sites. Among the things they value, simply mentioning a site on a relevant site, gives the other site more credibility. Links themselves are not as important as they used to be, but they do not hurt. When you put no-follow rules, essentially you are telling Google to ignore links on your sites and thus prevent spammers from benefiting from links to their sites. >>



    crash course in nofollow:

    it's an attribute of an anchor tag. if there is no anchor tag there is no way to attach a nofollow attribute to it.

    OP did not use actual link. No actual link means no anchor tag. no anchor tag means nothing to decorate with a nofollow attribute. >>



    I do not want to pollute the thread with semantics and if you like to discuss SEO we should start a new thread or take this to pm's. You are correct, unless there is an anchor tag then attaching nofollow is not possible, I assumed incorrectly that a link is a link, however with that said there is still value on the link for SPAM purposes whether there is a html tag or not, google will see the link when it crawls the page and it will give credit to the site. So while nofollow is not applicable, this does not mean that the SPAM is not effective without the actual link.
  • Options
    i honestly do NOT know what you guys are talking about on my request for help.
    can you PLEASE make everyone aware that this spam is NOT ME !!!!
    ITS that guy that offered to have me sell my stuff for a 5% commision and left a link, is that right ?
    THANKS
  • Options
    derrybderryb Posts: 38,555 ✭✭✭✭✭
    So, are all the posters who mentioned Excel guilty of spam?

    "A car is a tool that takes you from one place to another. Everything beyond that is a payment for other people's perception of you."

  • Options
    Hi Bill and welcome to the forum, your request for info is a good one and I apologize for jumping the gun. I run several forums and deal with allot of spam and they usually begin the way your first post did. I hope that others can give you more ideas and again I apologize for calling you a spammer, it does appear that you really want some help and I think you came to the right place. I have no experience in the subject matter because I do not have a store, but I want to wish you the best of luck!

    Derby,

    The answer to your query is no, someone that mentions Excel is not a spammer. I called the post spam based on the way the original post was formatted. In this case I was dead wrong and for that I will eat a piece of humble pie and apologize to Bil.

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