Methods and systems for facilitating bids on products and services

Abstract

Methods and systems for bidding on items include a predetermined price or range associated with an item, the price not disclosed to bidders. Successful bids conform to a predetermined success rule(s) determined independently of the amounts of other bids. Successful bids can be immediately communicated to the successful bidders. Price adjustments, typically discounts, can be determined and communicated prior to fulfillment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bidding system, comprising:
 at least one network-enabled computer having a processor, a memory for storing programming and processing instructions, a system interface for receiving data and programming from an operator and a network interface for communicating bi-directionally with user devices over a data communication network;   the memory storing an identification of an item for sale from a supplier to buyers in a designated geographic region, the supplier providing a total quantity of the item;   the memory further storing a floor price for the item determined by the supplier;   the network interface for transmitting the identification of the item for bidding to user devices of a plurality of bidders within the geographic region over the data communication network, where the floor price of the item is suppressed from the plurality of bidders and each of the plurality of bidders is authorized to submit a predetermined number of bids on the item;   the processor receives, via the network interface, a first bid from a first bidder for a first quantity of the item less than the total quantity, the first bid within the predetermined number of bids and including a first bid price determined by the first bidder; and   when the first bid price is at least equal to the floor price, and independent of other bids by other bidders, transmitting an acceptance of the first bid to the first bidder substantially immediately in response to the first bid;   after said acceptance, the processor receives, from a second bidder in the geographic region via the network interface, a second bid on a second quantity of the item less than the total quantity in the auction at a second bid price, the second bid price at least equal to the floor price and lower than the first bid price, and;   the processor accepts the second bid from the second bidder; after which the processor completes the sale of the first quantity of the item with the first bidder at the second bid price in place of the first bid price, based on the processor accepting the second bid, wherein bidding continues when there is a remaining quantity of the item and at least one bidder remains in the geographic region.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , the acceptance comprising a success code transmitted to the first bidder, wherein when the success code is entered into an online merchant site offering the item, the first bidder is authorized to purchase the quantity of the item from the merchant site for the second bid price. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the first bidder is authorized to share the success code with third-party purchasers, such that third-party purchasers may purchase the item for the second bid price. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the first bidder is authorized to offer the success code for purchase by third-party purchasers. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the success code is transmitted as a printable coupon that may be used by the first bidder to purchase the quantity of the item at the second bid price from a physical retail location of a merchant in the geographic region. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the success code may be presented by the first bidder at a physical location of a merchant offering the item in the geographic region, such that the first bidder may purchase the quantity of the item at the second bid price. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of items are available from a seller, and the processor selects the item for bidding from the plurality of items based on at least one of inventory level of the item and a profit margin of the item. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the processor selects the item for bidding based on the inventory level and the profit margin in the geographic region. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the supplier is in the geographic region. 
     
     
         10 . A bidding system, comprising:
 at least one network-enabled computer having a processor, a memory for storing programming and processing instructions, a system interface for receiving data and programming from an operator and a network interface for communicating bi-directionally with user devices over a data communication network;   the memory storing identifications of a plurality of items for sale from a supplier, the supplier providing a total quantity of the item;   selecting an item from the plurality of items for bidding;   the memory further storing a floor price for the item determined by the supplier;   the network interface for transmitting an identification of the item to user devices of a plurality of bidders over the data communication network, where the floor price of the item is suppressed from the plurality of bidders and each of the plurality of bidders is authorized to submit a predetermined number of bids on the item;   the processor receives, via the network interface, a first bid from a first bidder for a first quantity of the item less than the total quantity, the first bid within the predetermined number of bids and including a first bid price determined by the first bidder; and   when the first bid price is at least equal to the floor price, and independent of other bids by other bidders, transmits an acceptance of the first bid to the first bidder substantially immediately in response to the first bid,   after said acceptance, the processor receives, from a second bidder via the network interface, a second bid on a second quantity of the item less than the total quantity in the auction at a second bid price, the second bid price at least equal to the floor price and lower than the first bid price, wherein the processor accepts the second bid from the second bidder; and after which the processor completes the sale of the first quantity of the item with the first bidder at the second bid price in place of the first bid price, based on the accepting of the second bid; and bidding by other bidders continues when there is a quantity of the item remaining.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the processor selects the item for bidding from the plurality of items based on at least one of: an inventory level of the item and a profit margin of the item. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the item is available for bidding only to bidders within a geographic region. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the item is selected based on at least one of: an inventory level and a profit margin in the geographic region. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the supplier is in the geographic region. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the acceptance comprises a success code. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the success code may be presented by the first bidder to at least one of a physical location of a merchant and an online website offering the item for sale, such that the first bidder may purchase the quantity of the item at the second bid price. 
     
     
         17 . A bidding system, comprising:
 at least one network-enabled computer having a processor, a memory for storing programming and processing instructions, a system interface for receiving data and programming from an operator and a network interface for communicating bi-directionally with user devices over a data communication network;   the memory storing identifications of items for sale from a supplier in a geographic region to buyers in the geographic region, the supplier providing a total quantity of the item;   selecting an item from the plurality of items for bidding based on at least one of: an inventory level of the item and a profit margin of the item;   the memory further storing a floor price for the item determined by the supplier;   the network interface for transmitting the identification of the item for bidding to user devices of a plurality of bidders within the geographic region over the data communication network, where the floor price of the item is suppressed from the plurality of bidders and each of the plurality of bidders is authorized to submit a predetermined number of bids on the item;   the processor receives, via the network interface, a first bid from a first bidder for a first quantity of the item less than the total quantity, the first bid within the predetermined number of bids and including a first bid price determined by the first bidder; and   when the first bid price is at least equal to the floor price, and independent of other bids by other bidders, transmitting an acceptance of the first bid to the first bidder substantially immediately in response to the first bid;   after said acceptance, the processor receives, from a second bidder in the geographic region via the network interface, a second bid on a second quantity of the item less than the total quantity in the auction at a second bid price, the second bid price at least equal to the floor price and lower than the first bid price, and;   the processor accepts the second bid from the second bidder; after which the processor completes the sale of the first quantity of the item with the first bidder at the second bid price in place of the first bid price, based on the processor accepting the second bid, wherein bidding continues when there is a remaining quantity of the item and at least one bidder remains in the geographic region.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the item is selected based on at least one of: an inventory level of the item and a profit margin of the item in the geographic region. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the acceptance comprises a success code. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the success code may be presented by the first bidder to at least one of a physical location of a merchant and an online website offering the item for sale, such that the first bidder may purchase the quantity of the item at the second bid price.