Modifying a script

[emery92ax]

Hi, I am about to purchase an established website which has a script of which essentially is for auto bidding. The design currently only enables the administrator to post items for sale. My hopes are to be able to modify the program to allow other users to post items as well. Like ebay.

And so my question is can a script be easily modified to add this feature?

[djr33]

You would need to integrate user accounts that have certain permissions levels (or perhaps everyone has the same permissions).
But without information about the system, it's not possible to give more specific information.
For example, what type of database are you using, what server side programming language, and what is the structure of the user system (or, if you don't have one, how do you plan to make one)?

None of the operations should be that difficult, but as a complete system it will be multi layered and might be confusing. Just approach it one step at a time and it should be possible.

[emery92ax]

As I stated before I haven't completed the purchase yet, and so for the moment the information I have is limited to the listing info. I will copy and paste it below. Would you please review it and hopefully it'll contain the specific info needed? Thanks

The auto bidding system is already in the script. You can control auto bidders from Control panel of the site. Just click and click, no line editing or anything.



You can for example put that there are 7 auto bidders and that they bid last 20 seconds just like the real bidders. Then you have an option that last (let's say) 4 bids must be from your auto bidders. If that is true, the 5th bid will come from your auto bidder too and it will always be the winning bid.



In other words, you can't lose any auction. And you can close and open new auto bidders any time you want and change their names. It's a win - win situation!



I made Bidishot.com design myself and it's unique.



OVERVIEW:



This site is based on a a powerful, scalable & fully-featured bidding script that lets you create the profitable online penny auction website, just like swoopo.com or madbid.com. Manage your entire online auction operation without HTML knowledge: create new auctions within seconds, set up an auto bidder so your products sell for the price you want, add new pages using the built-in CMS (Content Management System) and much more!





FEATURES:



1. A completely automated system that was built with usability in mind. Features include the ability to duplicate multiple auctions, block bidders, peak-only bidding, engine to award free bids, and much more.

2. You decide when your auctions finish. Price too low? Use the auto-extend feature. Not enough bidders? Use the auto-bidding feature. Making a profit has never been so easy.

3. Create & edit pages, news updates & blog posts seamlessly

4. Monitor, engage and interact with your visitors in real-time using the powerful CMS (Content Management System). Update your website within seconds - no coding experience needed!





MORE FEATURES:



1. User registration and account verification.

2. Paying per bid and the price increasing by a set amount.

3. The time increasing by x number of seconds every time a bid is placed.

4. The ability for members to login, update their account, purchase more bids and pay for their won auctions.

5. Paypal as the payment gateway.

6. Ability to give users free bids. Let your users receive free bids for registering, winning their first auction and for buying bid packages for the first time.

7. Add, edit, delete and clone auctions.

8. Full product inventory

9. WYSIWYG Editor - no ugly code!

10. View the winning bidder and update the status of the auction e.g. pending, running, ended and completed.

11. View, edit, add, delete and suspend users.

12. View users bidding history, purchased bid packages, add free bids to the user and refund bids for the user.

13. Manage the entire website content anywhere in the world with an internet connection!

14. SEO options to boost search engine rankings

15. Update the latest news articles and add new articles.

16. Manage the website categories, add, edit and delete new categories, which can be unlimited levels deep.

17. Edit general website settings including turning on and off various features at a click of a button.

18. Powerful Bid Butler (automated bidding system) - the ability for users to book their bids in advance.

19. Refer a friend section. Members get free bids by referring a friend.

20. Newsletter system





SERVER:



Here is a list of server requirements:

PHP 5.2.0 (or Higher)

Linux Server

MySQL 4.2 (or Higher)

IonCube Loaders

GD Library (free)

This site is hosted by Hostgator.com. The hosting is less than $100 a year. The bidding script is tested and works perfectly. With high volume traffic you should take a dedicated server of course.



Different themes (overall layout design) available upon request.

I can edit available theme(s) for a small fee.

[traq]

Here's a question: is this script open source? make sure the license allows you to make changes before you buy it.


You can for example put that there are 7 auto bidders and that they bid last 20 seconds just like the real bidders. Then you have an option that last (let's say) 4 bids must be from your auto bidders. If that is true, the 5th bid will come from your auto bidder too and it will always be the winning bid.
that's messed up. dishonest, IMO.

[emery92ax]

According to the terms of the proposed sale, I would be purchasing the script as well as the copyright. Would that mean I could modify it? My ultimate goal to have a functioning auction site, I didn't design the script.

[emery92ax]

Here's a question: is this script open source? make sure the license allows you to make changes before you buy it.

This is my first time ever attempt to run a website. Forgive me if I should already know this. But could you clarify how a 'license' is involved in a transaction like this?

Also does anybody know how a person confirm the ownership of a script? How can I verify that the person selling me this, can?


that's messed up. dishonest, IMO. My only modivation is to have a fully functional auction site, sorry I didn't design it.

[traq]

According to the terms of the proposed sale, I would be purchasing the script as well as the copyright. Would that mean I could modify it?

No idea. I'd have to read it, but I'd be happy to give you my (non-professional, non-guaranteed) opinion. Would you like to post a link?


sorry I didn't design it.
sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you. It just seems that it would be preferable to put a "reserve" price on an auction, rather than pretend to outbid someone to get out of selling something if you change your mind.

[emery92ax]

Hi thank you for you assistance? Sorry for my computer ignorance, I hope by link you mean the website address? And it is www.clickbid.net. And if I can suggest another site www.biddingforgood.com this is a site that I am trying to emulate. As stated before, maybe I didn't say before, but I'm hoping to utilize this script twice, once as it is. But I'd also like to clone it into a second site, which would be a charitable auction site.

[traq]

I meant a link to the terms, not the site/script. Does you mean the current owner is selling the script and all rights to it, or does he sell copies of the script and rights to use it as a regular product? (Can others buy the script too, or is the whole thing going to be yours and yours alone?)

[emery92ax]

I pasted the product description in a message which is a few messages up. And while it doesn't say in the product description, I did ask him in an email about the ownership of the program. But according to his response he is selling the script as well as the copyright.
ps. if after you review this, if you happen to know of any other auction sites that are for sale, please let me know. I like the styling of this one, the layout, and the styling of the auctions look like www.bidz.com which is very appealing to me. I'm looking right now on another for sale site, which they are offering some for cheaper than what this guy is selling, however I would have to give up the style, and I don't know how easy they can be altered.

[traq]

Well, it sounds like he (claims to have) written the entire site and code himself, and is selling it outright. If that's the case, then it would be yours to do with as you please. But I would definately read any fine print. And, if your contract doesn't specifically say that everything is yours in its entirety, I would ask to add such a clause.