Description

The Shotgun Life “In-the-Room Live Connexion” lets bidders use the Internet to participate live in the auction-room action through the integration streaming audio and video plus Instant Messaging. An encrypted, secure console allows the auction administrator to monitor the proceedings as they happen to ensure precise bidding.

The system also collects and stores a record of all bids and transactions. This helps automatically compile an archive for historical pricing or dispute resolution.

In addition, The Shotgun Life “In-the-Room Live Connexion” collects contact information for all bidders, expediting all future marketing endeavors.

The Shotgun Life “In-the-Room Live Connexion” is a subscription-based service available on an ad-hoc basis – eliminating any software purchases. The only hardware requirements are consumer-quality video cameras, microphones and one or more PCs. A broadband Internet connection is necessary.

The customers’ database catalog can be fully integrated into The Shotgun Life “In-the-Room Live Connexion” or ad-hoc links can be established for each individual auction. Either way, the bidders can preview all the lots of the auction.

For the auctioneer, the Shotgun Life team can provide a customized look-and-feel with your own logo, corporate colors and images. The system becomes a fully integrated extension of your own live auction proceedings.

Benefits

The benefit to auction houses is a vast increase in the number of bidders at a negligible cost to all participants. Bidders can now log into a live auction and reap all the advantages of a front-row seat from their office, home or airport lounge – virtually anywhere they have an Internet connection.

That’s because the Shotgun Life “In-the-Room Live Connexion” has been designed from the ground-up specifically for live auctions.

It is not an e-Bay style system where individual bids are submitted in time-delay mode to meet a pre-scheduled deadline. By comparison The Shotgun Life “In-the-Room Live Connexion” is live and in-the-moment – providing a level playing field for bidders who choose to take part remotely.

The system provides lively interaction. Instant Messaging can be exchanged between participants in a group and the administrator. Although the Instant Messaging is only viewable between members of a particular online conversation, the administrator can monitor all the Instant Messaging exchanges.

When the gavel comes down, the Shotgun Life “In-the-Room Live Connexion” includes secure links to all major credit cards, so that the winning bidder’s account can be immediately charged.

The Shotgun Life “In-the-Room Live Connexion” is the most cost-effective and secure way for auction houses to increase the number of bidders and sell more fine guns at higher prices.

Features

The follow is a list of standard features in The Shotgun Life “In-the-Room Live Connexion”:

• Automatic incremental bidding in an amount
• Multiple administrative consoles
• Streaming video of the auction room for bidders
• Banner advertising
• Ability to view the catalog prior to auctions
• All bidders can see other bids in the live auction
• A privacy wall prohibits bidders from seeing the confidential and personal information of other bidders
• All terms of the auction can be set by the administrator
• The bidder can participate in any number of simultaneous auctions from a single computer – using a single payment method

Conclusion

The Shotgun Life “In-the-Room Live Connexion” leverages the power of the Internet for the auctions of quality firearms. All the disadvantages of phone-in bidding disappear in favor of a real-time virtual presence in the auction room for bidders from around the world. In addition to expanding the number of participants in an auction, we believe that the Shotgun Life “In-the-Room Live Connexion” can help build loyalty among existing and new customers – providing a significant growth opportunity for auctioneers.

Please contact:
Irwin Greenstein
SGL Media
PO Box 5790
Pikesville, Maryland 21208 USA
Office phone: 410-484-2038
Mobile phone: 443-799-5974
Email: igreenstein@shotgunlife.com

Shotgun Life is the first online magazine devoted to the best in wing and clays shooting. For more information about Shotgun Life visit www.shotgunlife.com.

Irwin Greenstein

Irwin Greenstein is Publisher of Shotgun Life. Please send your comments to letters@shotgunlife.com.

www.shotgunlife.com