PDA Database Software

by Chris
(Baltimore )

Original Comment:

March 31, 2014

So you buy the PDA, you buy the scanner and plug it in. To get the Amazon database, do you have to pay a service for monthly access?

Chris

Response:

April 27, 2014

Hello Chris;

First, I must apologize for the late reply. Somehow your post ended up in my SPAM folder and I just found it.

In answer to your question, yes, the scanner is plugged into the PDA. To access pricing data, you must subscribe to a price-lookup service and download pricing data directly into your device. Remember, a price lookup service isn’t the same as inventory management software. Price lookup data is for your PDA while inventory management software is for your desktop.

You should update your PDA database once daily, or at a minimum, prior to each time you venture out into the field to go book scouting in those cases where you don’t scout every day. If you only go book scouting on the weekends, for example, then it makes no sense to update your PDA during the week because you’re not going to use it.

If you’re only book scouting on the weekends, then you can simply update your PDA device on Friday night and then again on Saturday night so it’ll be ready Saturday and Sunday mornings. Of course, if you want the absolute most current data, you can wait and tell Saturday and Sunday mornings to update your PDA just before you’re ready to leave. It only takes 15 – 20 two download your pricing data so it’s not that big of a hassle.

Subscriptions to a price lookup service typically run about $40 per month for Mediascouter or ASellerTool. However, for the budget conscious, ScoutPal is a less expensive alternative at only $10 per month. Nevertheless, I strongly recommend you use either Mediascouter or ASellerTool for online bookselling because they seem to be the stronger products. Don’t let the cost discourage you because the service pays for itself with just a couple of sales. Then it’s all gravy.

I hope this response satisfactorily answered your question. Don’t forget that you can get unlimited answers to your questions in my bookseller's forum by going to the Forum Guidelines page and signing up for a FREE MEMBERSHIP. You'll get useful advice from me and other experienced booksellers to help you grow your business and make it more profitable. Make sure you sign up today and introduce yourself to everyone!

Joe Waynick
Bookseller, Author, Mentor

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